Lunchtime Live

Rob O’Donnell, who had an unsuccessful bid with the Green Party in Limerick in the local elections has had more bad news as around 40 out of his 100 election posters have gone missing. He joins Adrian Kennedy to discuss why this might have happened, and what the cost is behind the ones stolen.

Half of Irish workers would refuse job offers with no option to work from home, new research has found. Around 47% of Irish jobseekers have revealed they would refuse a job offer if the company did not have hybrid or fully remote working policies in place, according to the study. So, should working from home be expected these days? Joining Adrian to discuss are Tracy Keevans, Director with Morgan...

Despite what you might think from the weather, the summer is here, and that means many people will be packing their bags for a trip abroad. But, there’s nothing worse than other, annoying tourists bringing the tone down and making us all look bad. So, how can we be better tourists? Joining Adrian to discuss are Amy Lynch, Destination Editor for the Lonely Planet and Anne de Jong, Co-Founder of the...

The Irish Independent’s JJ Clarke was recently tricked out of €800 following an online scam. He joins Adrian Kennedy to discuss what exactly happened.

Many parents in Dublin 15 have seemingly found themselves unable to secure school places for their children for this September.  Guest host Adrian Kennedy is joined by parents in the area whose children have been unable to find a place. They discuss why this might be the case.

Sarah Love, who runs the Girl Drinks Gunness page (@girl_drinks_guinness on Instagram) has been to 400 different pubs across Ireland, the UK and Europe, and has put the Railway Bar, Bundoran on the top of her list! She joins Andrea to discuss what makes the perfect pint of Guinness.

Our summer memories series is back! We chat to some well known faces and reminisce over those long summer days! Irish TV and radio personality Baz Ashmawy joins Andrea Gilligan to discuss. 

As the school year is drawing to a close, the age old debate on whether or not you get the teacher a present rolls around.  Joining Andrea to discuss is journalist Chrissie Russell.

An interesting piece in the Irish Times today where columnist Justine McCarthy is critical of people using the term ‘girls’ to refer to women.  She says - calling grown women ‘girls’ is inherently belittling. What do you think?   To discuss, Andrea is joined by writer and broadcaster, Barbara Scully, Joe O’Shea, editor of CorkBeo and listeners.

The big Irish wedding seems to be back! Andrea Gilligian is joined by Eimear, who sat 340 guests at her wedding! They discuss what it was like, and the positives and negatives with it. Also joining are journalist Édaein O’Connell and wedding planner Lyndsey Moynagh.

From Leitrim mansions for sale to Marilin Monroe look-alikes in Wicklow, Breakfast Briefing presenter Shane Beaty joins Andrea Gilligan to go through some of the stories around the country you might have missed.

A new survey conducted ahead of the Euro 2024 kickoff has shown that almost three in 10 Irish people would like to see England win the tournament. At the same time - half of those surveyed would prefer to see the Three Lions get eliminated early doors. Will you be supporting England in the Euros? Andrea is joined by listeners to discuss.

From the type of bulb to the perfect amount of lamps – what are the best ways to light up your home? Andrea Gilligan is joined by Sarah Louise from Sarah Louise Interiors and Colin Baker from Decwells Expert Hardware to discuss. 

Willie Wyse is a taxi driver in Cork, and refuses to take card payments. He is fighting NTA rules, in place since September 2022, that taxi drivers must accept card payments. Willie joins Andrea to discuss why he is doing this, and what the consequences are if he continues to break the rules.

Center Parcs has defended the major price differences between its offerings in the UK and Ireland by insisting the two areas are ‘very different markets’. So, why is it so much more expensive to holiday in Ireland? One person who’s been to Center Parcs Ireland is Kieran Cuddihy, host of The Hard Shoulder. He joins Andrea to discuss the price gap, and his experience. Also joining to discuss are Sio...

After lengthy counts, the last council seat in the country has been filled in County Kildare.  Tom McDonnell, a builder from Newbridge says that his victory is a stepping stone to the Dáil where he wants to bring in incentives to get Irish women to "breed" more. He joins Andrea to discuss his reasoning.

It's Throwback Thursday, where we look back on things that happened this week in history. 98fm’s Ciaran O’Connor joined Andrea Gilligan to rewind the clock. Image: Amblin Entertainment

Members of the Irish Airline Pilots' Association at Aer Lingus have voted overwhelmingly in favour of industrial action up to and including a strike. Last week, IALPA members voted overwhelmingly to reject a Labour Court recommendation that pilots should receive pay increases totalling just over 9% as part of an interim settlement. The figure was well below the 23.8% that the pilots had been seeki...

From rail line closures to the lack of tea trolleys - Barry Kenny, Communications Manager with Irish Rail joins Andrea Gilligan to answer all of your train-related questions.

Good news for Irish plane spotters after Dublin Airport has submitted plans for an observation facility! Andrea Gilligan is joined by Aviation Expert Simon to discuss.

This week is Men’s Mental Health Week, highlighting some of the mental health struggles men have that may get swept under the rug otherwise. Joining Andrea to discuss fatherhood’s impact on mental health is Health and Wellness consultant Fin McKenna.

Golfing legend Rory McIlroy and his wife Erica Stoll have called off their divorce, after supposedly resolving their differences. Is this something that actually happens? How rare is it to see a divorce get cancelled? Andrea is joined by Family Law Solicitor Keith Walsh and Clinical Psychotherapist Stephane Regan 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. Today FM’s Cathal O’Sullivan joined Andrea in the studio to put a smile on your faces…

There is seemingly a lack of Deposit Return Scheme machines at certain festivals, despite thoughts that there would be reverse vending machines set up. With an option to donate your return to charity, how much money is left on the table? And how much plastic goes to waste? Joining Andrea to discuss are Mary Gamble, Director of Fundraising for Barnardos, JP McMahon, Chef and Restaurateur and listen...

Welcome to The Pod Squad!  We’ll review podcasts every Tuesday so you’ll have something new to listen to.  This week Andrea is joined by host of Tech Talk on Newstalk Jess Kelly and 98fm producer and Food & Travel writer Russell Alford to review ‘Million Dollar Lover’! Image: BBC Podcasts