Lunchtime Live

Concerns that Michaela McCollum show 'can glamourise the perpetrators of crime'

27 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Michaela McCollum's docuseries ‘High: Confessions of an Ibiza Drug Mule’ was released on Netflix at the weekend. Michaela, who was jailed for two...

70-year-old woman running in 41st Dublin Marathon

27 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

The Dublin City Marathon returns this weekend after three years off due to the Covid pandemic. It’s on Sunday with apparently a record number of 25,...

Increase on bus fare is 'unfair on students'

27 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In the past, Andrea has spoken to listeners about the reduction of fares on public transport. However, Tim got in touch with the show, he’s disguste...

'Loneliness is a killer' - Brent Pope on isolation in the workplace

26 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Port Safety Week at Dublin Port is aimed at looking at issues hauliers face – like loneliness and isolation. There are a number of jobs out there th...

'Full swing back' to collecting CDs post-Covid

26 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Are you an avid CD collector or do you still listen to them? Or have streaming services taken over from the traditional vinyl or CD? Andrea was joine...

'My child could die because somebody wants a birthday cake'

26 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Does your child's creche or montessori have rules around what baked goods or foods can be brought in by a child? Newstalk's Simon Tierney received a n...

'We've rinsed Dublin of that club culture' - DJ Mark McCabe

25 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Pubs will be able to serve until 12.30am every night of the week under new rules proposed by Justice Minister Helen McEntee. The new legislation will ...

New guidelines for treating obesity are 'a game changer'

25 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

New guidelines released by the HSE today will call for obesity to be treated as a disease. Campaigners are welcoming this and saying it will help in h...

How to make the perfect cup of tea

25 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

How do you make the perfect cup of tea? Do you scald the cup first? A tweet from Sophie Grenham has caused a lot of debate in the Newstalk office this...

System to house Ukrainian refugees is 'broken'

24 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

The Ukrainian Ambassador to Ireland has criticised the Government’s failure to provide accommodation to incoming refugees, calling it unacceptable. ...

Gentrification of areas creating a 'nightmare' rental market

24 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

A group of tenants living across more than 30 apartments in a Dublin city property have been served eviction notices. The landlord intends to sell the...

'I was quite self-conscious about it' - Devin Toner on growing up tall

21 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Are people too quick to comment on other people’s height? TV Presenter and Author Richard Osman has spoken out about how his 6’7 height has often ...

Green Party Councillor wants smoking banned at 'bus stops and Luas stops'

21 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

There are new proposals to ban smoking in public parks and beaches in Ireland. It's thought of as being the next stop in Ireland’s smoking ban. Toba...

Cairns: 'Housing crisis has gone from crisis to disaster'

21 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Frank O’Connor and Jude Sherry, who published the Derelict Ireland report, will be joined by Holly Cairns and the Social Democrats co-leaders, Roisi...

Dressing as serial killers for Halloween is 'insensitive'

21 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

eBay have removed Jeffrey Dahmer Halloween costumes from their online auction site. eBay say that they have a ban on items closely associated with vio...

Humphreys: 'Uncertainty not good for anybody' as Truss resigns

20 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Britain's Prime Minister's announced she will resign - and a successor will be in place within a week. Andrea was joined by Newstalk's Kieran Cuddihy...

Dublin City Council 'looking at' charging SUVs more for parking

20 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Should people who drive bigger cars have to pay more to park them? It’s one idea being floated by Dublin City Council, to disincentivise people from...

Balbriggan residents 'object strongly' to proposed playground

20 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Residents in Balbriggan are objecting to the construction of a new playground in the local area because they fear it’ll attract antisocial behaviour...

'It's massively upsetting' - Sister trying to access late twin's social media accounts

20 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

What do you do with a loved ones social media accounts when they pass away? Unfortunately it was a situation Donna Ahern found herself in when her twi...

'It's terrifying' - Dubliner's attempts to bring surrogate triplets home from Kenya

19 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Dublin man Edward O’Reilly says that he should have been bringing his three newborn babies home from Kenya, but instead – all he brought home is t...

'Flights aren't accommodated for overweight people'

19 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

A woman in the US has caused a storm online recently demanding a refund for having to sit between two overweight people. American Airlines in turn, pr...

'I stand over it' - Fine Gael TD on comments made about O'Connell Street

19 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

One of the main streets in our capital city has been dubbed as dangerous and full of druggies and crime in the Dáil. O’Connell Street in Dublin has...

Comedian Fabu-D apologises for filming homeless man doing 'push-up' challenge for money

18 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

A video online has sparked controversy after Comedian Fabu-D challenged a homeless man to complete the press up challenge for money. In the video, the...

Meal prep is 'one of the best things to reduce food waste'

18 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Tánaiste, Leo Varadkar has been mocked online after revealing his partner Matt Barrett’s meal prep for the week. However, the fact that none of the...

Woman charged €125 for cancelling restaurant reservation

18 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Is €250 too steep for a restaurant cancellation fee? A Michelin star restaurant in Cork charged a couple that fee after the cancelled their booking ...

'Women's sizing is a con' - Brendan Courtney

17 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Our shopping habits have completely changed in recent years, with more of us choosing to buy online rather than in store. And about half of us have sa...

Calls for 'lifetime bans' for assaults on players and officials

17 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

A man is alleged to have grabbed a 9 year old boy by the throat during hurling blitz in Tipperary at the weekend. Andrea was joined on Lunchtime Live...

American man charged 'more money' for services because of his accent

14 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Geoff, an American joined Adrian Kennedy on Lunchtime Live to discuss the treatment of people from the US in Ireland. He says when people providing se...

Is sending 'Thank You' cards a dying art?

14 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Apparently, 'Thank You' notes are becoming a thing of the past. Do you still write thank you notes, or is a quick and handy text ‘thanks’ the way ...

Public transport in Ireland is 'years behind' other European countries

14 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

The Government is telling us that they want more and more people to take public transport. They are encouraging people to leave their cars behind – ...

Ask The Expert: Buying a House

13 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Every week, we give you the chance to put your questions to the experts. This week, Adrian Kennedy put your queries to Property Expert and Buyer's Age...

'None of the churches are going to get help paying the bills this winter'

13 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

David Quinn, Columnist with the Irish Catholic and Sunday Times, wants the State to help Churches in paying their energy bill this winter. David join...

Council workers using drones to locate and clear bonfires

13 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Is it time to start ratting out your neighbours for leaving rubbish out for bonfires? Ballyfermot Drimnagh Councillor for Sinn Féín, Daithí Doolan ...

Students 'crying out' for purpose-built student accommodation

13 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Thousands of students around the country have staged a walk out today over issues they say aren’t being resolved. They’re protesting about the sta...

'I don't think it was deliberate' - Dublin Councillor reacts to chant in Irish dressing room

12 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Videos have been circulating on social media of the Irish women's national soccer team singing an offensive song in their dressing room after their wi...

Wolfe Tones singer 'very proud' of Irish women's song choice

12 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

The Football Association of Ireland has apologised, after players on the Women's National Team were seen signing an offensive song following their Wor...

U-11 boy 'dropped' from team after mother questioned playing time

12 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Fiona, a listener, got in touch with Lunchtime Live after reading Jen Hogan's article in The Irish Times about children being sidelined playing juveni...

Remembering Tupperware and Tupperware Parties

12 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

How long have you had your tupperware? Philip Nolan tweeted that his sister still has the Tupperware bowls that they had when they were kids. Andrea ...

Offensive song in dressing room was 'regrettable' - Amber Barrett's Dad

12 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

History was made last night as the Ireland’s women football team qualified for the World Cup for the first time. Andrea was joined on Lunchtime Liv...

Frontline workers who haven't received pandemic bonus feel 'let down'

11 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Staff from nursing homes all around the country have gathered outside the Department of Health this afternoon in protest about the pandemic payment. T...

Putting seagulls on the contraceptive pill is 'a crazy idea'

11 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Should we put seagulls on the pill? That is one suggestion from Dublin Councillor Aoibhinn Tormey. She says that there is a huge problem with gulls at...

'I was told I'd go to hell' - Coming out in 1990's Ireland

11 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Andrea was joined on Lunchtime Live by comedian and writer Orla Doherty. Orla is speaking at Shine Festival today – which is an empowering event for...

Local Guard Brendan O’Connor reflects on trauma of the Cresslough tragedy

10 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Andrea reflects on the tragedy in Creeslough, in her home county of Donegal. She talks to locals in the area including Garda Brendan O’Connor who wa...

Should those working from home be monitored by cameras?

10 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

A court in the Netherlands has ruled an employer violated the human rights of a staff member by demanding he had his webcam on for 9 hours a day. Do ...

Alternative schools are 'redefining what learning is'

06 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

What do you think about the idea of a school where kids get to pick what they learn? Where there’s no rules, no homework and no one in charge. There...

'I thank god for him!' - Gogglebox's Ettie on Grandson Tadgh

06 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Today is Grandparents Day and we’re celebrating the special relationship between grandchildren and grandparents. What traits, traditions or hobbies ...

Allegations of fixing are 'heartbreaking' for young dancers

06 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

An Coimisiún Le Rincí Gaelacha has appointed a former Court of Appeal judge to get to the bottom of allegations of mass competition fixing between I...

Ibec objection is 'a massive insult' to domestic violence victims

05 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

IBEC says employers should be able to ask for 'proof' to stop the 'potential abuse' of paid leave, for victims of domestic violence. The business lobb...

Fitness expert 'would not encourage' getting up at 5am

05 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Would you get up at 5am to cram more in to your day? TikTok’s 5am-9am club is a new trend where people get up extra early to cram more activities in...

Ireland voted the friendliest city in Europe

05 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Ireland has been ranked the friendliest country in Europe according to readers of Condé Nast Traveller. The travel magazine said: “Countless global...

'It takes a village' - Two families co-living in Offaly

05 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Have you ever imagined living your life in a different way? So many of us are used to living in a house, maybe with a partner or a family, commuting t...

'Archaic systems' limiting Ireland's night-time economy

04 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

The new Sale of Alcohol Bill which could see pubs open until 6am has been delayed, Government officials have confirmed. The bill, aimed at transform...

'Serious prejudice towards L-Drivers' on roads

04 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Brendan Tierney, a driving instructor in Sligo got in touch with Lunchtime Live to voice his concerns about the attitudes towards learner drivers on t...

Groups 'fighting to save' green spaces

04 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Have we got enough green areas in our towns and cities? A new café is currently being built in a Dublin Park, but locals feel they’re being ignored...

Dating in Rural Ireland

04 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Liadán Hynes, Author of ‘Courting: Tractor dates, Macra babies and Swiping Right in Rural Ireland’ joined Andrea on Lunchtime Live to discuss the...

'We do treat older people like a burden in this country'

03 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Catholic Bishops over the weekend expressed concern that old people were being treated like a burden in conversations around assisted dying. They’ve...

'There should be a choice!' - Cafés trialling only serving alternative milks

03 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

A café in London has banned dairy products completely because they say that the mass production of animal milk is cruel and unethical. Some cafés in...

GAA coach's ban on juveniles playing soccer is 'not fair'

03 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

A GAA coach in Carlow has been criticized after telling his under 17 team that if he saw there name down for the soccer squad, they wouldn’t be play...

'It kept me sane during the pandemic' - Uptake in outdoor activities since Covid

30 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

The pandemic impacted us all in different ways but for some it reignited a love for the outdoors and brought them closer to nature during a time of in...

PCOS: 'There's not enough awareness for women'

30 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

September has been polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) awareness month. It’s also known as PCOS, and I must admit, I really don’t know much about i...

Bylaws needed to 'limit' busking in Killarney

30 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

There have been complaints in Killarney that the busking there has gotten out of control. Some businesses are even turning up their speakers outside t...

'A really good guy' - Coolio remembered by Dubliners

29 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

The rapper Coolio has died. He was a regular resident of Dublin in recent years too. He was working on a song with Christy Dignam from Aslan and worke...

Ask The Expert: Irish Rail

29 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Every week, we give you the chance to put your questions to the experts. This week, Andrea puts your rail travel queries to Barry Kenny from Irish Rai...

Cheaper rent and higher salaries make emigrating 'more attractive'

29 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Despite all the doom and gloom about the cost of living in Ireland, the number of Irish people returning to the Emerald Isle is at its highest level s...

'Young people are having sex but we're not being educated on it'

29 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Minister for Health, Stephen Donnelly is planning to extend free contraception scheme to 16-year-old girls, even though the current age of consent is...

Trinity fellow 'exhausted' from sleeping in hostel dormitories

29 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

We’ve been hearing many stories recently of students unable to find college accommodation. Some are sleeping in their cars, some doing huge daily co...

In-Law Relationships: 'I felt I wasn't good enough'

29 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Do you have a difficult relationship with your in-laws? If that is the case there may be some light at the end of the tunnel. Aisling Burke and mot...

'Irish language is being strangled at source' by holiday homes

28 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

The provision of housing for native Irish speakers in the Gaeltacht is “one of the greatest threats” to Irish language survival in Gaeltacht areas...

'Lifetime ban' warranted in some cases of referee abuse - Wexford County Board

28 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Last night the Wexford GAA chair Micheál Martin invited the county’s referees to a meeting to discuss the recent violence. He joined Andrea on Lun...

Budget 2023 'doesn't go far enough' for lone parents

28 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Andrea was joined by Gayle, a listener in Dublin and Rachel Morrogh, Irish Cancer Society Director of Advocacy, to discuss the announcements from yest...

Maynooth students 'angry' over termination of new student centre

28 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Maynooth University have announced that construction on their new student centre, which was due to be completed next year, has been terminated. The pr...

Why do smart devices all have female voices?

27 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Do digital assistants having female voices – like Siri and Alexa – teach a new generation to view women as subservient? Dr Kate Devlin, Writer a...

Referee assaulted three times wants 'harsher punishments'

27 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

There have been more incidents of violence towards referees in GAA games over the weekend. There were issues during games in Mayo, Kerry and Wexford t...

Empty nest syndrome: 'More an opportunity than a crisis'

26 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

As we near the end of September, most students that are moving out for college will have done so by now. And a lot of homes around the country will be...

Budget 2023: Free books for primary school children

26 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

The budget is due to be announced tomorrow. One measure being introduced includes the State providing free school books for all primary school student...

Eating Irish: Irish Food and Drink Producers

23 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

All this week, Andrea is taking on the challenge of only eating Irish produce for all her meals. Today, on Lunchtime Live, Andrea spoke to those produ...

Number of people getting botox in Ireland has 'exploded'

23 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Beauty writer Laura Kennedy wrote a piece in The Irish Times today about getting botox. She says it has undeniable effects and makes her look so much ...

Eating Irish challenge 'has been life changing for me'

23 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Freelance journalist, Ellie O'Byrne, has been taking on the Eating Irish challenge for the past two years. She joined Andrea on Lunchtime Live to ch...

Further possible fines for those 'misusing' electric vehicle chargers

23 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Andrea was joined on Lunchtime Live by Joe, who sent an email into the show raising an issue he had around charging etiquette for electric vehicles. ...

Eating Irish: Cocktails and Cheese

22 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

All this week, Andrea is taking on the challenge of only eating Irish produce for all her meals. Today, on Lunchtime Live, Andrea got to try the best ...

Customer uses an 'excessive' amount of electricity in Dublin café

22 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

A customer at Oscars Café Bar in Dublin, spent four and a half hours in their café and ordered two drinks and plugged 3 devices into an extension th...

Ask The Expert: Pensions

22 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Every week, listeners have the opportunity to 'Ask the Expert', in a slot where our expert guest answers some of your burning questions. As the Gover...

81-year-old grandmother gets her first tattoo

22 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Grandmother, Pat Ryan got her first tattoo recently at the age of 81. Have you done anything unusual later in life? Andrea was joined by Pat on Lunc...

Eating Irish: Wicklow Way Wines

22 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

All this week, Andrea is taking on the challenge of only eating Irish produce for all her meals. But how hard is it to drink only Irish products too? ...

Access to Home Births

21 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

The HSE have recommended that pregnant women who live for more than half an hour away from a hospital should no longer have the option of a home birth...

Paid Parking: 'A very positive thing for businesses'

21 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Is paid parking detrimental to towns? Or does it cut out people taking advantage of free parking? Andrea was joined by listeners on Lunchtime Live to...

'It's not a crime!' - Café bans customers wearing pyjamas

21 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Sage&Stone Café in Duleek, Co Meath has banned customers wearing pyjamas on their premises. A social media post from the café reads "we draw the l...

'Where there's no deterrent, you're going to have anarchy' - Garda car rammed in Cherry Orchard

20 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Videos circulated online last night from the Cherry Orchard area in Ballyfermot in Dublin. Phone camera footage shows two stolen cars being driven dan...

Mother-of-two driving 280km a week to bring her daughter to school

20 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

We’ve been hearing about the horrors around school bus journeys for the last few weeks. Some parents have gotten in touch with the show today becaus...

Eating Irish: Buying Irish Produce

20 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

All this, Andrea is taking on the challenge of only eating Irish produce for all her meals. Yesterday she hit the shops to do a big shop and realised ...

Eating Irish Challenge

19 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

A few weeks ago, Andrea was joined by Organic Farmer, Lisa Fingleton on the show. She is challenging people to eat only Irish produce for the month of...

Government 'out of touch with the reality many are facing' - The rising price of energy

19 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Energy companies have been slammed for increasing their standing charges by as much as €300. In some cases, customers will now have to pay as much a...

Has Halloween become over commercialised?

16 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Halloween used to be the festival of homemade costumes and cheap sweets. But it seems to be slowly becoming more and more commercialised. Are we in da...

Has the glamour gone out of travelling?

16 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Delays, lost bags, big queues and cancelled flights – anyone travelling abroad recently has likely been affected by one issue or another. Has all th...

Mother-of-two with brain condition waiting almost a year for surgery

16 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Jac Sinnott, a mother of two from Waterford says she is feels like she’s living a half life while trying to be an activist to receive the healthcare...

Ask The Expert: Tech for your Commute #MyCommuteNT

15 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Every week, we give you the chance to #AskTheExpert. This week, we put your questions to Colin Baker, from Back from the Future about tech for your co...

Assaults on taxi drivers 'becoming more prevalent'

15 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Taxi drivers in Dublin are saying that the city is getting violent, and as a result some of them are too concerned to take night shifts. Andrea was ...

Should restaurant menus include carbon emissions?

15 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

A restaurant in the UK has added carbon emissions to its menu so customers can see the environmental costs each meal has. ‘The Canteen’, in Bristo...

GPs 'simply cannot cope with the demand'

15 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Some 700 GPs are due to retire in the next six years, according to the Irish College of General Practitioners (ICGP). At least 2,000 new GPs will be n...

'Young people are never in the moment' - Phones banned at Dave Chappelle gig

14 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Those attending Comedian Dave Chappelle at the 3Arena tonight won’t have access to their phones. At Dave Chappelle's gigs you will be asked to si...