Lunchtime Live

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 Is it outdated?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!

After news broke of the death of nine-year-old Harvey Morrison Sherratt, who had spina bifida and scoliosis, but waited nearly three years for surgery, parents of children with scoliosis have been speaking out about long waiting times and the devastation they have brought to their families… With waiting lists for scoliosis surgeries having grown, and Tánaiste Simon Harris coming under increased pr...

Oasis are back for their first gigs on Irish soil since 2009, with the Oasis Live '25 reunion tour arriving in Dublin for two sold out performances at Croke Park on Saturday and Sunday. Are you excited for the shows? Were you lucky enough to get a ticket? Andrea is joined by Oasis superfans to share in the excitement!

It’s rare that we get such good weather in the summer, but that has been happening recently! But, do we get the chance to make the most of them? Should we get time off work when it’s sunny so that we can go out and enjoy it? Joining Andrea to discuss this is Laura Bambrick, Social Policy Officer with the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, Sinead Dalton, Content Editor of Evoke.ie and Alan O’Reilly fr...

From brown bread making to wedding rollercoaster taking, Breakfast Briefing Presenter Shane Beatty joins Andrea Gilligan with plenty of stories from around the country this week!

Independent brewers are facing challenges due to “astronomical” input cost increasing. It comes as some brewers have had to shut their doors due to high running and production costs… High water charges and “archaic and arcane alcohol licensing laws” are some of the other reasons for these closures and the loss of multiple jobs. What needs to be done to keep these breweries in business? Joining And...

Should pets be allowed in public dining spaces? Do you mind having dogs around while you’re drinking a coffee – or to take it one step further – would you eat a sandwich with a cat climbing all over you? What do you think? Is there a hygiene concern? Joining Andrea to discuss is Ronan Flood, Co-Owner PYE Dundrum and The Barbers Bar in Grangegorman, Michael Moynihan, Columnist with the Irish Examin...

Rather than calling in a professional, what are the jobs that you can do yourself, without worrying about breaking the bank? Well, the Home Squad are here to talk about simple DIY fixes! Joining Andrea to discuss is Jenny Sheehan, Irish Examiner Columnist and former winner of ‘Home of the Year’ (@workerscottage on Instagram) and Martin Glynn, Founder and CEO of The DIY Academy.

More than 100 organisations have signed a joint letter calling on Israel to stop the "weaponisation of aid" into Gaza, as "starvation deepens". Humanitarian groups, including Oxfam and Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), say they are increasingly being told they are "not authorised" to deliver aid, unless they comply with the stricter Israeli regulations. Joining Andrea to discuss this with his unique...

Are you guilty of doing things or going places, just to take photos of them? If you don’t post about it online, were you even really there? Feature Writer Chrissie Russell explores this in a piece in the Independent today, and joins Andrea, along with Stylist and Journalist Laura Mullet and Journalist Saoirse Hanley to discuss.

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 Head Tour Guide at the Irish Rock ‘N’ Roll Museum Experience, Alan Buckley, who’s going to talk through Oasis’ ‘(What’s the Story) Morning Glory?’!

Since the Government took office in January, the number of children awaiting scoliosis surgery has risen from 112 to 131, despite 303 procedures being carried out by Children’s Health Ireland (CHI) up to July. CHI noted that the list is constantly changing as patients are added and removed. In 2017, then–Health Minister Simon Harris pledged that no child would wait more than four months for surger...

Would 40 degree temperatures put you off your summer break? Apparently not - a lot of us are still booking our holidays in Europe, despite the heatwave! So, are there cooler places we can look to, to escape the roaring temperatures? Joining Andrea to discuss is Sarah Slattery, Founder of the travelexpert.ie .