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Lunchtime Live

Newstalk

Andrea Gilligan invites callers to have their say on the topics of the day - get in touch by emailing lunchtimelive@newstalk.com

CONVERSATION THAT COUNTS | Ireland’s national independent talk station for news, sport, analysis and entertainment

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277 episodes
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English

Episodes 277

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Tuesday · 12 min
Closure of dementia unit brings backlash from those impacted
Eight dementia patients are set to be moved due to the closure of a dementia unit in St Stephen’s Hospital in Glanmire, Cork. This has brought backlash from residents and their families about where they will be placed after the unit is closed. Eddie Mackessy, whose wife is one of the eight dementia patients being moved and Thomas Gould, Sinn Féin TD for Cork North Central join Andrea to discuss.
Tuesday · 10 min
Don’t Miss: Animals, East of Eden, The Rest is Science
Entertainment News Content Creator Holli Breslin joins Andrea with the things you don’t want to miss this week! Image: Netflix
Tuesday · 17 min
‘Do not consume’ water notice issued for Tipperary & Waterford - are you affected?
A ‘do not consume’ water notice has been issued for south Tipperary and parts of Waterford. More than 11,000 residents have been told they must not consume their tap water until further notice. Those in the affected areas should not use their tap water for drinking, preparing food, cooking, or brushing teeth… Are you impacted by this? Joining Andrea to discuss is Máirín McGrath, Independent Councillor for Cahir LEA, John Harney, from Harney’s Final Furlong pub in Tipperary and listeners.
Monday · 9 min
Ask the Medic: Perimenopause
For this week’s Ask The Medic, Consultant Endocrinologist D. Mary Ryan joins Andrea to discuss all things perimenopause ahead of World Menopause Day.
Monday · 9 min
Video Doorbells - a blessing or a curse?
Video doorbells - do you love them or hate them? And how much are we being watched in our everyday lives without realizing it? Joining Andrea to discuss is Ciara O’Brien, Irish Times Business and Technology Journalist, Jenny Sheehan, @workerscottage on Instagram and co-host of ‘Rip It Up: The Renovations Podcast’ and Isibéal Ní Cheallaigh, Irish voice of Ring Doorbell.
Monday · 18 min
Are there enough supports for children with Autism in supermarkets?
Often here on the show we talk about the lack of supports for those with Autism, but how about a good news story for a change? Lucinda joins Andrea to share her story, as well as Amy deBrun, actress and writer.
Monday · 14 min
Have you overpaid on the “politeness premium”?
New research by AIB reveals that, Irish consumers lose an average of €150 each year as a result of a “politeness premium” which sees them overpay on shared bills. The study suggests that fewer than one in 20 Irish adults will always ask for money they are owed back, with as many as 90% saying they would let as much as €50 slide rather than have a conversation they consider difficult. AIB has said almost €600 million is lost a year due to the “politeness premium”. Have you experienced this, and should you swear off splitting bills and overpaying? Joining Andrea to discuss this is Saoirse Hanley, Money Journalist with the Irish Independent, as well as listeners.
Monday · 16 min
Buying a Home: Handling Competition
If you are trying to buy a home of your own, you will know that the buying process is not straightforward. There will be multiple viewings, bids and competing offers. So, how should you handle it as a first time buyer? Clare Connolly, Managing Director of Clare Connolly Estate agents in Dundrum, joins Andrea to discuss!
Monday · 10 min
Make-A-Wish issue appeal after bear goes missing
Make-A-Wish Ireland have issued an urgent appeal after their mascot, a giant teddy bear called Hope, has disappeared. For more on this, Andrea is joined by Susan O’Dwyer, Make-A-Wish Ireland CEO and Katie Ball, the mother of Cohen who we spoke to as part of our Make-A-Wish Week earlier this year…
October 9 · 11 min
Ask Me Anything: Sports Photographer
For this week’s Ask Me Anything, James Crombie, Press and Sports Photographer joins Andrea to answer any of your questions about his career!
October 9 · 11 min
Has your handwriting gotten worse?
Angelina Jolie has been exposed for her messy writing, which people are calling illegible, but is it more relatable than we would like to admit? Joining Andrea to discuss is Speech Writer Cormac Lally, Columnist with the Irish Examiner and Chair of the Communications Clinic Terry Prone and Sheena Mitchell, a pharmacy owner and health advocate at wondercare.ie.
October 9 · 17 min
American firing squad execution to be live streamed - does this cross a line?
The Pentagon has said an upcoming firing squad execution will be live streamed. This is the first military execution in America for more than 65 years, and it is being made public… Have we gone too far? Does this cross a line? Joining Andrea to discuss is Ronan Lupton, Barrister and Senior Council, Philip Arneill, Head of Communications and Research at Cybersafe Kids and listeners.
October 9 · 15 min
Survey finds endometriosis diagnosis wait times at 14 years on average!
A new endometriosis survey has revealed that the average wait time for a diagnosis is 14 years. Up to one in seven women in Ireland are estimated to have endometriosis, yet there is very little research and services available on this condition. Andrea is joined by listeners to discuss this…
October 9 · 12 min
Regional Roundup with Shane Beatty
Breakfast Briefing Presenter Shane Beatty joined Andrea with a roundup of some of the stories from across the country this week.
October 9 · 14 min
Irish man stuck in Greece hospital - family speaks out
Keith Twomey is 52, he's from Cork and he's currently in hospital in Greece, after he was struck by a car on September 11th while on holiday in Rhodes. His family say they've spent over €37,000 trying to bring him back home, and they're now looking for help. Keith's brother, Graham, is a colleague in the wider Bauer Media group, and joins Andrea to discuss what’s happening.
October 8 · 8 min
The Home Squad: Wet Weather Entrances
As the wet and dreary weather becomes more common, how do you get your house ready so that the area around your front door isn’t a mess? This week, the Home Squad are here to discuss wet weather entrances! Joining Andrea to discuss is Jenny Sheehan, Co-Host of ‘Rip it up: The Renovations Podcast’ (@workerscottage on Instagram) and Jenny Butler, Interior Architect & Design Director of Jennifer Anne Interior.
October 8 · 10 min
Should you already be booking your summer holidays?
Have you thought about your family holiday next year? Travel agents are warning that people should be planning ahead if they are confined to school holidays in order to avoid price hikes next year... Travel Expert Eoghan Corry joins Andrea to discuss.
October 8 · 14 min
Autistic child left without school place for second year in a row
Roman has been left without a school place for the second year in a row. Roman Slator will be six in December, and spends his days at home with his mum, Jade Slator, who works just one day a week so she can care for her son. Roman received an autism assessment in July 2025. After a two-and-a-half-year wait, it was too late to apply for a place in a special class for September that year… They are still waiting on a school place, and Jade joins Andrea to share her story.
October 8 · 14 min
Why does nobody host friends anymore?
Once upon a time, it was the norm to pop into your neighbours house for a cup of tea or invite your friends around for dinner, but have we moved on from those days? In the US, the number of people who regularly host friends or family fell from 42% in 1975 to 12% in 2026, a 70% drop over the last 50 years. So, why does nobody host their friends anymore? Joining Andrea to discuss is Brendan O’Loughlin, Presenter of 98FM’s Big Breakfast and Tara O’Connor of The Design Table.
October 8 · 13 min
The Making of Celine Dion!
We're doing 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, who’s going to talk through the life and work of Celine Dion!

Showing 21–40 of 277 episodes