Lunchtime Live

'There will always be a place for them': Do soap operas reflect our society?

13 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

How important are soaps in discussing national issues? Between Fair City introducing a far right character to discussions surrounding storylines like ...

RTÉ: 'There's too many people too well paid'

13 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

RTÉ has refused to publish a list of its top 100 earners, saying it would be “inappropriate” to ask staff for permission to release their names a...

Castletown House 'going to be a no-go for a lot of people'

13 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Communities in North Kildare are protesting today about access to a major public site being cut off.  Access to the Castletown House estate ...

Student deferred univerisity course due to lack of 'affordable' accommodation

12 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Third level students around the country are struggling to find accommodation for the start of the academic year.  UCD and Trinity students u...

Morocco earthquake: ‘The waves were coming through the concrete floor’

12 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Following the devastating earthquake in Morocco, the death toll is now close to 3,000 people. It was a 6.8 magnitude earthquake, the strongest in the ...

People 'more likely to indulge' when working from home

12 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Working from home is apparently playing havoc with our diets! We’re far more likely to snack on indulgent things and eat more often when doing ...

School Uniforms: 'I don't agree with the little suits'

12 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The school day routine has arrived back in families lives with a bang. However, uniforms are still a contentious issue among parents. How do you feel ...

'We couldn't get any help' - Young mother dies following gastric sleeve surgery in Turkey

11 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Mother of four Shannon Meenan Browse from Derry sadly died last month following gastric sleeve surgery abroad. Her family wants to tell Shannon’s st...

Character references 'shouldn't be allowed' in sexual assault or rape trials

11 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis have apologised over the weekend after character letters they wrote for their former That 70’s Show co-star Danny Mast...

'It's pretty loud' - Should busking be regulated?

11 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

A video of ‘buskers’ in Cork has gone viral because people are complaining about the quality. It’s someone dressed up as a leprechaun, blaring a...

Cut-the-Cost: Here's the best way to save on your electricity bills

11 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

As the cost-of-living crisis continues to bite across the country, Newstalk is here to help with a new online series highlighting the best w...

Calls for ‘some sort of training’ for owners of restricted dog breeds

11 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Should certain breeds of dogs be fully banned?  The UK Home Secretary, Suella Braverman, has announced she has commissioned urgent advi...

'It could potentially lead to escalation': Ryanair's Michael O'Leary gets pied

08 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

As you may have heard Ryanair Michael O’Leary was hit in the face with two cream pies yesterday while preparing to deliver a petition to the Europea...

Calls for 'qualified youth workers' to be employed as Dublin's safety wardens

08 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

A new plan for Dublin’s North Inner city will see community safety wardens on the streets.  They’ll focus on areas like Wolfe Tone Squar...

Carers: 'We are completely isolated'

08 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

More people are continuing to get in touch with Lunchtime Live about their experiences as carers and the lack of support for them in Ireland.Andrea wa...

‘Nobody’s listening’ - Parent carers call for more supports

07 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

On Lunchtime Live yesterday, Gayle shared her story about caring for son with profound needs. She described how she was unable to attend her own mothe...

Smart home devices: Why you need to read the terms and conditions

07 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Those of us that own smart home devices are often being asked for loads of personal information that is then potentially shared with social media comp...

‘I just want to know that she’s safe’ - Mother of missing Cavan teen

07 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The daughter of a Cavan based family went missing while on holiday in Paris last month. Seventeen year old Amber Victoria Palm was staying in Dis...

Farmers protest: 'We're being thrown to the wolves by the Minister'

07 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The IFA have decided that they will picket a proposed meeting called by the Minister for Agriculture today.  They are unhappy with a decisio...

Reduction in speed limits 'a knee-jerk reaction'

06 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Speed limits are set to reduce on Irish roads under new plans, but will it make people slow down?  Will this work to make our roads safer? O...

Tourists being charged €99 for 'evening experience' at the Cliffs of Moher

06 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Clare County Council have been accused of ripping off tourists by charging €99 for watching the sunset from the Cliffs of Moher.  The Clif...

‘I had no support’: Woman misses mother’s funeral due to lack of care staff for son

06 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Gayle, a listener, reached out to Lunchtime Live about on ongoing issue she is having. Gayle is a full time carer for her 21-year-old son who had auti...

Disabled golfer told buggy could not be accepted on Ryanair flight

05 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

A disabled golfer has criticised Ryanair after being told his golf buggy could not be accepted onboard.Ian St John had booked a flight from Cork Airpo...

'You say goodbye twice': Martin King on his mother’s battle with dementia

05 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Ireland AM Presenter Martin King lost his mother Christina to dementia in 2019 after an eight year battle with the disease. He joined Andrea on ...

Cyberbullying: 'Policies in schools are not working'

05 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Over a quarter of primary school children and 40% of secondary school children face cyberbullying.  They are huge numbers of our children th...

Woman to raffle Dublin City apartment 'for the price of a pint'

05 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Are you feeling lucky? How about entering a raffle to win a house? Karen is putting her house up for raffle and she joined Andrea to tell her how it w...

'It's not fair on our kids': Children with additional needs facing issues with school transport

05 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Andrea was joined on Lunchtime Live on Newstalk by parents Aaron Daly and Aisling Hughes to discuss issues their children who have autism are facing w...

'It's of its time' - Is Grease problematic?

05 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

While it is no doubt one of the most famous and beloved musicals of all time, ‘Grease’ has been getting a critical re-evaluation from modern audie...

'It is incredibly insensitive' - John Gilligan interview to air on TV despite backlash

05 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Tonight the first of a three part interview series with Notorious Dublin drug dealer John Gilligan will air on Virgin Media. ‘Confessions of a Crime...

Ask the Expert: Dr. Sumi Dunne

04 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Andrea Gilligan was joined by Dr. Sumi Dunne, a GP and Lecturer to answer any questions you might have for a doctor. 

Summer Memories with Pat Kenny

01 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Our summer memories series returns where we chat with some well-known faces and reminisce over those long summer days!  Broadcaster Pat Kenny j...

‘A good reason for telling a white lie’ – A third of women admit to making excuses to avoid hen parties

01 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

New research by One Fab Day found that a third of women admit to making excuses to avoid hen parties. Jessica O’Sullivan – Editor of One Fab Day a...

‘People want to be able to take them apart’ – Should court cases be broadcasted?

01 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Today it was announced that Donald Trump's impending trial will be live streamed online, this lead us to ask should court cases be broadcasted and tur...

‘Who Benefits from this?’ - Does Only Fans glamourise sex work?

01 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Following on from a discussion last week with Irish Only Fans star Megan O’Neill, a mum earning around 10k a month on the site, a listener got in to...

‘Give us back our flag’ - Tricolour banned from Ex Defence Force Member's Funeral Mass

01 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Tommy Sheehan an ex-Defence Forces member got in touch with the show following the passing of his friend of Denis Barry last week because he was not a...

'I need a home now' - Mother with stage 4 cancer facing homelessness

31 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Andrea was joined on Lunchtime Live by a listener to the programme, Andrea Clarke. Andrea you got in touch because she is dealing with a stage 4 cance...

'People are looking like clones of each other' - Is it time to ditch make-up?

31 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Mary McCarthy, writing in the Irish Independent today says we should lose the lippy and set a good example to teenage girls. She argues, we don’...

'Children accept that people are different' - Teaching gender identity in schools

31 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

An exclusive poll carried out by Newstalk shows that the idea of whether or not gender identity should be taught in schools seems to be split almost r...

'A bit excessive' - Should planes have child-free zones?

30 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Imagine being on a child free zone on a flight – no children screaming, no stressed parents. No babies crying for 8 hours. Sounds like bliss right? ...

Tipperary crash: 'It is heartbreaking'

30 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The deaths of three members of one family, including a three year old boy, in a car crash near Cashel has caused huge shock in the home community.&nbs...

'We have too many TDs' - Next Dáil will have 14 extra TDs

30 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The Electoral Commission published its constituency review this morning  It recommends an increase of 14 TDs to 174 seats in the next Dáil ...

'What he did was clearly wrong' - Should Luis Rubiales resign?

29 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The Spanish football federation’s regional presidents have demanded that Luis Rubiales “immediately resign” from his role following his conduct ...

Saying 'No' to wedding gifts 'would make life a lot easier for guests'

29 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Would you ever rock up to a wedding without a gift? Or do you feel there’s pressure to give them? Kirsty Blake Knox, Columnist with the Irish I...

'Children were crying' - More flights cancelled due to UK technical fault

29 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Hundreds of people’s travel plans have been disrupted following air traffic faults in the UK. The travel disruption could last for days as furt...

Parents 'struggling' to pay voluntary contribution to schools

29 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

How much do you pay in Voluntary Contribution in your child’s school? An exclusive Newstalk poll carried out by Amárach shows that 42% of pare...

School Bus service in chaos

28 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Schools return this week, but there’s added stress for some families after being told this week that there are no buses available to take the childr...

Friend of Canadian Ironman pays Tribute

28 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Last week tragedy struck at the Cork Ironman with the death of two competitors- Brendan Wall and Ivan Chittenden. Lisa Bentley is a close friend ...

When it comes to alcohol free drinks – what is acceptable? 

28 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Kristen Bell has revealed she allows her children to drink non-alcoholic beer. The actress, who starred in Frozen and Veronica Mars, has two daughters...

Friends of Clonmel crash victims say they 'lit up every room'

28 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The community of Clonmel continues to grieve today after the deaths of four young people from a car crash on Friday night. The four victims are Nicole...

Should disposable vapes be banned?

28 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Should disposable vapes be banned? Electric Picnic have announced they're banning single-use vapes from this year's festival. Have you notic...

Summer Memories with Brian Warfield

25 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Our summer memories series returns where we chat with some well-known faces and reminisce over those long summer days! Wolfe Tones Singer Brian Warf...

The Cost of Being Single: Retirement

25 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

All this week we’ve been talking about the Cost of Being Single. We’re highlighting the things single people deal with, that those in couples don’...

'Absolutely horrific' - Controversial Michael Collins mural condemned

25 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

A controversial mural depicting Irish revolutionary Michael Collins on the front of a packet of Chickatees is dividing opinions online. The strik...

'We can't serve our beers in there': Laois brewery calls on Electric Picnic to promote local

25 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Would you like to see more local Irish beers at festivals? Heineken seems to be the main beer in a lot of them, but would you prefer to see some craft...

Open drug dealing 'rampant' in Dublin City

24 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Yesterday Garda Commissioner Drew Harris said that violent attacks in Dublin have not increased, despite the public narrative to the contrary, and Dub...

The Cost of Being Single: Socialising

24 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

All this week we’re going to be talking about the Cost of Being Single. We’re highlighting the things single people deal with, that those in coupl...

'It does no one any harm': Do Irish stereotypes offend you?

24 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Do Irish stereotypes bother you or are they just a bit of craic? American football team Notre Dame, known as ‘The Fighting Irish’ are visitin...

The Cost of Being Single: Parenting

23 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

All this week we’re going to be talking about the Cost of Being Single. We’re highlighting the things single people deal with, that those in coupl...

'Tough trading times' for pubs in Ireland

23 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

A new report from the Drinks Industry Group of Ireland has revealed there has been almost 2,000 pubs closures across Ireland since 2005...

'Saying yes to everything can be soul destroying': Learning to say 'No'

23 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Newstalk Breakfast presenter Ciara Kelly was writing in the Irish Independent about the importance of saying no. Her piece reads: 'Just say ‘no’ t...

Leaving Cert exam is 'unfair and outdated'

23 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

This Friday over 60,000 students will receive their much-anticipated Leaving Certificate results. It’s a seminal moment in Irish life and one most o...

The Cost of Being Single: Holidaying Alone

22 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

All this week we’re going to be talking about the Cost of Being Single. We’re highlighting the things single people deal with, that those in coupl...

‘I get a lot of hate’ - Irish mum is one of the world’s top OnlyFans models

22 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

An Irish mum is in the top 1% of earners on the site OnlyFans. OnlyFans is a site where people can pay for content like photos, videos and live stream...

NCT going cashless 'needs to be stopped'

22 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The NCT has said goodbye to cash! NCT Ireland have announced that going forward payment must be made in advance of attending you appointment. They hav...

The Cost of Being Single: Cost of Living

21 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

All this week we’re going to be talking about the Cost of Being Single. We’re highlighting the things single people deal with, that those in coupl...

‘The world is gone mad’: Queen's ‘Fat Bottomed Girls’ taken off album

21 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Queen’s 1978 hit ‘Fat Bottomed Girls’ has been dropped from a greatest hits compilation targeted at younger listeners. The new greatest hits alb...

'We can hear them cracking' - Donegal creche crumbling from mica

21 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Geraldine Burke, who runs Letterkenny Community Childcare got in touch with Lunchtime Live about the problems her creche is facing due to mica. Gera...

Ironman Youghal: 'People shouldn't have been in the water' - participant

21 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Tragedy unfolded at the Cork Ironman race yesterday as two men passed away during the race. Post-mortems are due to be carried out on the bodies. Ma...

Summer Memories with Mary McEvoy

18 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Our summer memories series returns where we chat with some well-known faces and reminisce over those long summer days!  Actress Mary McEvoy joined...

Coping with Miscarriage: 'We need more help in this country'

18 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Yesterday on Lunchtime Live, we heard from a few of our callers about their experience of miscarriage and coping with life after it. There were also c...

Taxi driver 'punched and kicked' in assault in Dublin City

18 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Jamil Ghafoor, a Dublin taxi driver was assaulted while walking on O’Connell Street back in May. The attack has left him bedridden for months and un...

RTÉ: 'Let's stop feeling sorry for Ryan'

18 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The Director General of RTE Kevin Backhurst announced last night that negotiations for Ryan Tubridy’s return to his Radio One show had ended as 'tru...

‘I was completely traumatised’: Calls for paid leave for early miscarriage

17 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Are we any closer to getting paid miscarriage leave in the workplace? Women who have suffered a miscarriage are still only entitled to sick leave, how...

'The place was fake' - Brazilian student scammed out of €6000 on an apartment

17 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Levi Amarillo, a Brazilian student was conned out of €6000 by someone renting out a property in Dublin. Levi and his partner woke one night to find ...

'The punishment must be a deterrent' - Should a life sentence mean life in prison?

17 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

A Young Fine Gael justice document is calling on Government to introduce tougher sentencing for criminal offenders. The document titled ‘Building a...

Government 'have to come on board' to solve creche crisis

16 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

More than 180 creches have closed in the last two years. The rate at which providers are shutting down has apparently slowed dramatically since the la...

Shane Filan: Talking about loss helps remember ‘the happy times’

16 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

There are very few of us in this country who haven’t been touched by cancer. Westlife’s Shane Filan sadly lost both his parents within 10 months o...

'We need to hear from the Garda Commissioner' about Gardaí presence at ATMs - Murphy

16 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

There were long queues at various ATMs last night as a technical glitch allowed customers to withdraw more money than they had available in their Bank...

'More that has to be done' to keep young people in Ireland

15 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

What are some imaginative ways to reimagine our cities and towns in order to make them more attractive to tourists and also keep our young people from...

'It's a fight every day to carry on': 25th anniversary of Omagh bombing

15 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Today Ireland remembers one of the biggests atrocities the country saw, the 25th anniversary of the Omagh bombing. 29 people were killed and the att...

Those from Northern Ireland 'perceived as not being quite Irish'

15 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Derry girls creator Lisa McGee has expressed her frustration at her identity being dismissed as “not properly Irish” because she hails from Northe...

Varying clothes sizes in high street shops 'frustrating for people'

15 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Anyone who buys clothes in normal chain shops will have experienced the madness that is the varying clothes sizes between different shops. You could b...

Cash tips 'benefit the staff more' in hospitality industry

15 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Restaurants in St Tropez in France have been criticized for keeping lists of people who don’t leave decent tips, and refusing to let them book a tab...

‘It’s not unique to humans’ – Why pets grieve for their friends

15 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Dog behaviourist Suzi Walsh and Vet Tim Kirby joined Adrian Kennedy on Lunchtime Live to discuss helping your pets grieve when they lose a friend...

Pub owners 'going to have to pay a price' amid Diageo price hikes

14 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

How much have you paid for a pint recently? Diageo will increase the price of its stout and beer products by 4 cent from today – just six months ...

Rules around tattoos for Gardaí are 'over the top' - Former Garda Sergeant

14 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Three Gardai trainees have been sent home from Templemore – until they get their tattoos removed. It’s understood the tattoos were mostly on lo...

Summer Memories with Nicola Tallant

11 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Our summer memories series returns where we chat with some well-known faces and reminisce over those long summer days!  Author and Crime Journalis...

The Irish Obsession with Sporting Homecomings

11 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

On July 1st 1990 thousands lined the streets to celebrate the Irish football team who were greeted as champions despite bowing out in the quarter fina...

Children taking their father's surname 'a relic that arcs back centuries'

11 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Should women consider giving their children their last name instead of the baby's father's surname? One London barrister, Dr Charlotte Proudman spark...

Extending free GP care to under 8's 'going to be difficult' for doctors to cope with

11 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Free GP care will be available for children aged six and seven for the first time from today. GP Visit Cards allow the holders to see their docto...

Disability activist ‘fighting just to live in a home’ due to lack of staff

10 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Author and Disability rights campaigner Geraldine Lavelle got the keys to her new home back in May, however a lack of care staff has put a halt to the...

New parking charges 'detrimental' to businesses in Co Clare

10 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Plans by Clare County Council to introduce year-round paid parking in tourist hotspots such as Kilkee, Lahinch, Doolin and Spanish Point have been met...

Travel Q&A with Eoghan Corry

10 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

With holiday season at it's peak, Eoghan Corry, Editor of Air and Travel Magazine, joined Andrea Gilligan to answer any niggling travel questions list...

Teacher shortages: Children who require additional support ‘going to suffer’

10 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Primary schools all around the country are struggling to fill teaching places. Shortages have been put down to things like poor wages and the high ren...

‘A sixteen-year-old should be a sixteen-year-old!’: Should the voting age be lowered?

09 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Should the voting age be lowered? Lowering the voting age is among a series of issues the new Electoral Commission has been asked to research. Andre...

The Decline of Cinema Etiquette: Food, phones and full blown conversations

09 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

With the recent Barbie and Oppenheimer mania and the record breaking numbers of people that went to see them - there have been reports of a decline in...

'It's madness!' - Private schools received over €128 million in State funding last year

09 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Last year the State provided over €128 million in funding to private schools, it has been found. Over the last five years payments from the Gover...

Living with a Chronic Illness: 'I live a very small life'

08 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Living with a chronic illness in Ireland can be difficult – from prolonged waiting times for a diagnosis to having to travel abroad for treatment, t...

Social media 'fuelling' mum-shaming

08 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Summer can be a stressful time for parents. Children are off school and most parents still have to work. This can often see parents 'shaming' for the ...

'We're here to send her off' - Fans gather in Bray to pay tribute to Sinead O'Connor

08 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Fans are lining the seafront in Bray to pay tribute and bid farewell to Singer Sinead O’Connor as her funeral cortege passes by. Newstalk's Chief ...