Lunchtime Live

The HSE’s BreastCheck national screening service has missed its screening targets yet again.   Figures revealed that the service target last year aimed for 195,000 screenings, but only 137,134 were performed.  Aontú Leader and Meath West TD Peadar Tóibín, Fine Gael Senator and founder of Breast Friends Senator Teresa Costello, and listeners joined Andrea to discuss. 

It’s time for some summer memories! We chat to some well known names and faces and reminisce over those long summer days. Presenter Katja Mia joins Andrea to reminisce!

Did you know AI can write books? Not very good ones, mind you, but you wouldn’t know that before you bought them. But, what happens when they start writing them in the name of a well known author? And what happens if that author is you? Author Vanessa Fox O’Loughlin, whose pen name is Sam Blake, joins Andrea to discuss what happened.

A recent discussion on smartphone use for children and adolescence has sparked criticism against beauty influencers. It is believed that social media is the root cause for eating disorders as well as the increase in steroid use. Should beauty influencers be blamed for these issues, or do we simply need to clamp down on children’s access to social media? Andrea is joined by Consultant Dermatologist...

This weekend sees Ireland welcome back the Aer Lingus College Football Classic for the first U.S College Football game of the 2025 season. The highly anticipated match between Kansas State University’s ‘Wildcats’ and Iowa State University’s ‘Cyclones’ - the game will be broadcast live on ESPN to an estimated U.S. audience of 4.5 million people. Up to 22,000 American tourists are set to travel to I...

From a Meath church being converted into a nightclub to a ‘nose’ of Tralee winner, Breakfast Briefing Presenter Shane Beatty joins Andrea Gilligan with plenty of stories from around the country this week!

An English tourist is in critical condition following an assault in Dublin City Centre yesterday morning. With this most recent attack it brought up a lot of questions about our capital city. Has Dublin gotten too rough? Do you feel safe in Dublin? Andrea is joined by listeners to discuss.

Lunchtime Live's Reasons to be Happy looks at some of the news stories that you might have missed that will leave you feeling more optimistic. 98FM’s Cathal O’Sullivan joined Andrea in the studio to put a smile on your faces…

Every Wednesday afternoon, we’ll be talking Making Babies. Andrea will be joined by Professor Shane Higgins, Master of the National Maternity Hospital to cover every area of trying to have a baby. From the very start of knowing how to prepare, right up to pregnancy – and all the bumps in the road in between. This week, Shane joins Andrea to discuss a baby’s movement in the womb.

Children who vape are three times more likely to become smokers, that’s according to new research from the University of York and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. With this in mind, do we need to fast track the ban of disposable vapes? Andrea is joined by listeners to discuss.

Kneecap’s Mo Chara is back before Westminster Magistrates’ Court this morning, accused of displaying a Hezbollah flag during a London gig last November. The case has sparked a major show of support. Fans and campaigners have gathered outside the court, filling the streets with music, chants, and live performances in solidarity with the Belfast rapper. Andrea is joined by some of the voices who wil...

Listener Seán got in touch with the show due to a frustrating experience with the Gardaí - where an apparent glitch on their end led to his car getting impounded… He joins Andrea, along with Motoring Journalist Dave Humphries, to discuss what happened.

For this week’s Ask the Expert, Andrea is joined by Dr. Mary O’ Kane, Lecturer in Psychology and author of ’Perfectly Imperfect Parenting: Connection Not Perfection’ to answer all of your parenting questions!

Do disposable BBQs pose a danger to the environment? Listener Declan got in touch with the show after finding some left on the beach and joins Andrea, along with Dave O’Reilly, Chair of Tidy Towns, to discuss.

A London bar has come under fire for adding an automatic 4% service charge to all drinks ordered at the bar. This adds around 30 pence to all pints ordered at the Well & Boot in Waterloo station. As the cost of living continues to spiral, is tipping culture out of control? Joining Andrea to discuss is Caolán Barron, owner of the Sky and The Ground Pub, Oliver from Wall & Keogh Teas and mor...

In July, Megan Slough Royal and her family were completely shocked to find that mother Maureen Slough had undergone an assisted suicide at a clinic in Switzerland. How did they find out? Through a message on Whatsapp… The Pegasos Clinic has since changed their policies following this situation, and Andrea is joined by Megan to discuss what changed, and her reaction to it. If any of these issues ha...

The Rose of Tralee kicked off yesterday, bringing with it a full swing of festivities across Kerry. The event has endured since its first iteration in 1959, but need it go on any longer? Is it outdated? Joining Andrea to discuss is Cathal O’Sullivan, 98FM Producer, Lisa O'Sullivan Shaw (@modernirishmom on Instagram) Regional Judge for Kilkenny & Meath and Katie Makk from the Opinions Matter Po...

With the Leaving Cert results around the corner, there is an annual debate on whether or not it is the correct way to set students up for life. Many people think it is a great set up, while others feel it should be totally scrapped. Joining Andrea to discuss is singer-songwriter Mary Coughlan, Principal at Alexandra College Dublin, Barbara Ennis and more.

Drumcondra GP Dr Brian King joined Andrea Gilligan to tackle your medical queries.

Can we learn from Paris to become slightly more car free? The French city has recently become ‘congestion free’, and apparently it has worked wonders. Andrea is joined by Sunday Independent Motoring Editor, Geraldine Herbert, to discuss.

As everyone will know, Oasis played in Dublin over the weekend. The Gallagher brothers’ performance has been widely praised by attendees, but complaints have since rolled in about a lack of organisation from the venue. What went wrong, or could have been better? Andrea is joined by listeners, including Gareth Dunleavy. Curator of Oasis WTS fan page and Caoimhseach Connolly from the Newstalk Newsro...

Welcome to The Pod Squad! We review podcasts every week so you always have something new to listen to. Newstalk’s Rory Galvin and Presenter of the ‘For Tech’s Sake’ podcast Elaine Burke join Andrea Gilligan to review ‘Flesh and Code’! Image: Wondery

This summer, you have probably been surrounded by ice creams and barbecues. For those of us trying to make healthier food choices, temptation is everywhere, especially when it's often easier, and cheaper, to eat ultra processed foods. Joining Andrea to discuss why we find it so hard to eat healthily is Dietician and TodayFM Presenter Shelly Gray, Editor at DMG Media Sarah-Jayne Tobin and Professor...

When travelling, whether it is by bus, train or plane, there is nothing more annoying than listening to someone else's music or podcast. Last week, Irish Rail announced that they would fine €100 to anyone playing loud music in a new campaign to highlight poor travel etiquette. How do you feel about people playing music out loud on public transport? Joining Andrea to discuss is Communications Manag...

It’s time for some summer memories! We chat to some well known names and faces and reminisce over those long summer days. Journalist Bryan Dobson joins Andrea to reminisce!