Lunchtime Live

With the cost of living constantly rising, financial independence is more important than ever. But, when you're sharing groceries, bills, and a mortgage with a partner, what does that actually look like? Should you pool all your money, or keep some separate in case the relationship doesn’t work out? Joining Andrea to discuss is Claire Auchmuty, Divorce and Relationship Coach, Rebecca Reid, Author...

Almost €19 million was raised last year from discretionary parking fees at hospitals. So, should parking charges at hospitals be abolished? Joining Andrea to discuss is Suzanne Dowd, Advocacy Officer at The Irish Cancer Society as well as listeners.

Milan’s La Scala theater has warned that they will ban anyone who shows up wearing shorts, tank tops and flip flops. Has fashion gone out the window nowadays, and are people dressing too casually for day-to-day life? Do we need to bring back suits and heels to the office or should people wear what they feel comfortable in? Joining Andrea to discuss is Newstalk Breakfast Presenter Shane Coleman, St...

It’s How I Live Well time! Where someone joins to discuss what they do to improve their life… This week, Andrea is joined by Mental Fitness Expert for Elite Performance, Martha Donnelly, to talk about the benefits you can get from mental strength training!

Garda recruitment numbers this year are down. They had a target of about 1,000, but numbers are looking closer to 650… So, what would make you want to become a Guard? Joining Andrea to discuss is Tara McManus, Assistant General Secretary of the Garda Representative Association, as well as listeners.

Dr Nina Byrnes, GP at Generation Health Medical Clinic joined Andrea Gilligan to tackle your medical queries…

Last Friday, the topic of issues facing people in wheelchairs when they travel was discussed. One listener, Carmel, got in touch with her frustrations when it comes to those limitations. She, along with Tom Randles from Randles Hotel Killarney, joins Andrea to discuss…

Housing Minister James Brown has proposed changes to building guidelines that would allow for smaller, more affordable apartments. Sinn Féin has strongly criticised the move, calling it “utter madness” and accusing Fine Gael of failing to tackle the housing crisis effectively. We want to know, what do you think? Could reducing apartment size be the answer for housing? Joining Andrea to discuss is...

A heatwave is coming for Ireland this week, but it’s still nice to get away – spend some time by the beach or exploring a foreign city. But apparently 72% of us haven’t booked our holiday yet for this year. A huge number of us are leaving it very late. So, are you looking for some inspiration? Joining Andrea to discuss is Ciara Mooney, Managing Director of Freedom Travel and Solo Travel and Travel...

Welcome to The Pod Squad! We review podcasts every week so you always have something new to listen to. Ciaran Bradley from Newstalk’s Digital team and Ellen Butler from the Newstalk Newsroom join Andrea to review ‘Stick to Football’! Image: Acast

The GAA has issued a statement clarifying the final score of Sunday’s All-Ireland SHC semi-final, revising the official score to: Tipperary 4-20 Kilkenny 0-30.  The final score was initially given as 4-21 to 0-30 but has been amended... But, did this mistake change the course of the game? Joining Andrea to discuss is Tommy Rooney, Off the Ball’s GAA Correspondent, Eddie Keher from the Kilkenn...

Architect and Home of the Year judge Hugh Wallace joins Lunchtime Live to share his summer memories. From travels to Zimbabwe to his favourite holiday song. Listen here for all this brilliant conversation.

Pat Carty, freelance arts journalist, joins Lunchtime Live to discuss the return of Oasis — what’s real, what’s rumour, and whether Liam and Noel Gallagher will keep it together long enough for a world tour. Listen here.

Dr Ann-Marie Creaven, psychologist at University of Limerick, joins Lunchtime Live to explore why making new friendships gets harder with age — and how to open yourself up to connection. Listeners also share how they’ve built friendships later in life, and the challenges they faced. Listen here.

Edel Carey, school liaison officer with the Irish Wheelchair Association, and Joan Carthy, National Advocacy Manager with the IWA, join Lunchtime Live to discuss the challenges of travelling as a wheelchair user. Travel agent John Galligan also joins to explain how accessibility is improving (and where it’s not). Listen here.

In this week’s Regional Roundup, Shane Beatty checks in with stories and voices from across the country. From #lovedonegal day reaching 99 million people to Bruce Springsteen's ancestral Kildare home becoming a tourist Mecca. Listen here.

Independent Senator Michael McDowell joins Lunchtime Live to argue that banning bedsits may have made housing less accessible. He’s joined by listeners who share their views on whether small, single-occupancy units should return to ease the housing crisis — or if those conditions are a step backwards. Listen here.

Pat Keville from Plantstore.ie joins Lunchtime Live to help listeners with their summer planting dilemmas, from wilting herbs to container vegetables. He’s joined by Peter Dowdall, better known as The Irish Gardener, to offer more advice on minding your indoor and outdoor plants, Listen here.

With the summer holiday season in full swing and temperatures climbing across Europe, many of us are reaching for insect repellent to avoid those pesky, itchy bites. But what exactly causes these bites, and is there anything we can do to stop them?  To help us understand more, Andrea is joined by Collie Ennis, Zoology Research Associate and Biodiversity Officer at Trinity College Dublin, and...

Earlier this week tickets went on sale for the All-Ireland hurling semi-finals in Croke Park, with stand tickets for either day costing €60 each.   Many people have been complaining about the cost of tickets, which have increased in recent years.  So, have GAA tickets become too expensive? Andrea speaks to listeners impacted by the rising prices. Listen here.

Joyce, June and Paula Kavanagh are three sisters born into a large family of ten children in the late 1950’s-early 1960’s in a disadvantaged area of Dublin, where their father sexually abused them daily from age three or four right up to their late teens. In 1989, they made the decision to bring charges against their father and, in 1990; the Irish State took a successful case against him. The sist...

In this week's The Making of, we do a deep dive into The Beetles' iconic, influential and incredible Abbey Road Joining Andrea today is Head tour guide at the Irish Rock ‘N’ Roll Museum Experience Alan Buckley. Alan talks us through the road to Abbey Road and the ever-lasting impact this album has. Listen here.

With fast fashion increasingly under fire for its environmental impact, online retailer ASOS has taken a firm stance against 'serial returners’  This growing trend has prompted ASOS to tighten its return policies, identifying repeat offenders and warning them that their accounts could be permanently closed.   What does this mean for online shoppers who depend on these sites to find...

Andrea speaks to Mary Fogarty and Leoni Maher from The Cottage café in Loughmore, Co. Tipperary, who were in Leinster House campaigning for long-term government support for Ireland’s community cafés. They’re joined by café managers Louise Lawlor from the community café in Portland Row and Amy from the Priory Café and The Edge Community Café, who share how important a role these cafés play. Listen...

98FM's Cathal O’Sullivan joins Andrea for a look at some of the good news stories of the week, including Luas 2050 plans, a crisp festival, the Devil Wears Prada sequel and where is the most popular spot to get down on one knee. Listen here.