Lunchtime Live

As you may be aware, Galway is home to some of the best Irish Food, which Andrea and the audience will be sampling throughout the show. Joining to discuss just how nice the food is in Galway, and to give their take on traditional Irish food is Chef & Restauranteur JP McMahon and Ronan O’Halloran, General Manager of Glenlo Abbey.

The Claddagh ring is synonymous with Galway, so while the show is broadcasting from the city: what is its history? Eóin Ó Néill, acting Collections Officer with Galway City Museum and Feile Rodgers from the Claddagh Jewelers join Andrea to discuss!

Newstalk’s Summer Tour is back, with Lunchtime Live coming to you from The Galmont Hotel in Galway in association with ESB! What is so great about Galway, and how it is a haven for Irish tourism? Joining Andrea as part of a panel to discuss is Mandy Maher, Stylist with Ireland AM, Catwalk Model Agency and Founder of the Platform, Podcaster Alan Clarke and Broadcaster Ciara King.

We continue a county-by-county journey across Ireland, exploring all 32 counties that make up this remarkable island. Have you been to some of these places and hidden gems?  Today, Andrea is joined by Travel Content Creator Kevin Penrose to find out what the best things to see and do are in County Armagh.  Image: Discover Northern Ireland

A new survey revealed one in three gen zers now text or call when they arrive at someone's door because they think it's less awkward.  Among Gen Z who text or call, 39 per cent say it feels less intrusive, while nearly 19 per cent say ringing the doorbell simply feels too formal.   So, are doorbells on the way out? Andrea spoke to listeners to hear their take. &n...

With the opening of the new Popeyes food chain, it begs the question, have we followed in America's footsteps and prioritising convenience?  Andrea spoke to listeners to hear their opinions

Author and meteorologist Joanna Donnelly was out cycling when she became the target of one bus drivers road rage. She had joined Andrea to talk about it.

Breakfast Briefing Presenter Shane Beatty joined Andrea with a roundup of some of the stories from across the country this week. 

Sligo Councillor Donal Gilroy has called for an increase in the number of dog wardens in the county due to ongoing serious issues.   This comes after the Minister for Agriculture confirmed that his department will continue funding the service in 2026, with an additional €2 million being made available to local authorities to support the employment of dog wardens.  And...

Looking to spruce up the outside of your house with a lick of paint? The Home squad are here with their dos and don’ts.   Jenny Sheehan, Workers Cottage on Instagram and Co-Host of Rip it up: The Renovations Podcast and Jenny Butler, Interior Architect & designer Director of Jennifer Anne Interior joined Andrea to discuss.  

Love Island’s Tom Clare and Molly Smith were blown away on their ‘Nearly weds’ podcast when they were told about how much Irish people give as wedding presents.   Andrea heard from Ciara Elliott, Editor One Fab Day, Stylist Laura Mullet and listeners to hear ow much they give at a wedding.

Footballer Shane Long has spoken candidly about the guilt he felt after having to leave his wife just three hours after the birth of their first child to fulfil his football commitments.    Reflecting on his experience, Long has thrown his support behind Movember’s campaign urging the Irish Government to improve paternity leave provisions for fathers.  A new report reveals that fath...

In January 2023, writer Bethany Joy Dawson told her husband “I cannot do our life anymore”.   She joined Andrea to talk about recovering from burnout and moving to Sligo.  

We’ve decided to do a deep dive on some of our favourite albums to explore the stories behind them.  What did the artists really think of each other? Where did the inspirations from the songs come from?  Joining Andrea to discuss is Alan Buckley from the Irish Rock ‘N’ Roll Museum Experience.  

The Government is considering a range of measures to target the misuse of electric scooters following an increase in incidents involving the vehicles. Currently, you must be over 16 and remain at a speed limit under 20km an hour to drive them, but there are concerns that these rules are not being follow. Andrea spoke to listeners to hear their views.

Lunchtime Live were contacted a few days ago by a concerned uncle who shared the deeply personal story of his nephew Barry, who has a rare genetic condition called Von Hippel-Lindau syndrome, which causes tumours to grow uncontrollably in his body. To make matters worse, a new drug used to treat the condition called belzutifan isn’t available in Ireland, despite being allowed in the UK and Norther...

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…

Tallaght driving test center has been forced to cancel 160 tests due to a delay in the completion of tests.   The wait in Tallaght is up to 12 weeks, but the longest wait has been revealed in Raheny at a staggering 25 weeks.   Anyone in Raheny applying for a test now must wait until November 30th before being “invited” to select an appointment time in the following three to five weeks, w...

Professor Shane Higgins, Consultant Obstetrician & Gynaecologist at the National Maternity Hospital, joined Andrea to discuss the 4th Trimester – something that probably isn’t discussed enough. What it is ? And how to manage it.

We've received an email from a listener who says they were shocked and upset after receiving a letter from their child's school. The letter informed parents that any student who commits to playing a school sport will be required to pay €360 for one sport, or €420 if they participate in more than one. Is it reasonable for schools to ask parents to contribute these amounts, or does it place an unfai...

Are you counting macros, hitting your 10k step goal and getting 8 hours sleep every night? Well, while many of us are trying to be healthier... are we actually losing community in the process...Stephen Flynn from The Happy Pear and Newstalk Claire McKenna joined Andrea to discuss how we can find the right balance when trying to achieve wellness goals.

For this week’s Ask the Expert, Andrea is joined by Pat Keville from Plant Store.ie , to discuss all your questions about indoor houseplants!  

Irish Mirror's Head of Sport Brian Flanagan recently thought he’d nabbed some bargain GAA gear, but all was not as it seemed.   Brian joined Andrea to tell all about the scam.  

The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) warns that dirty dishcloths, floor cloths or tea towels can cause microbiological contamination AS they are often used for multiple tasks, including wiping surfaces, drying hands, cleaning spills and drying dishes.    Joining Andrea to spill all the tea towel life hacks is The Irish Examiner’s Digital Features Editor, Denise O’Donoghue.&nb...

New EU proposals could spell the end of airline charges for cabin luggage, but Ryanair's Michael O'Leary is fighting back! Andrea was joined by travel blogger Tara Povey as well as listeners to share their views.