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Newstalk
Andrea Gilligan invites callers to have their say on the topics of the day - get in touch by emailing lunchtimelive@newstalk.com Listen and subscribe to Lunchtime Live on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Download, listen and subscribe on the Newstalk App.You can also listen to Newstalk live on newstalk.com or on Alexa, by and asking: 'Alexa, play Newstalk'
Episodes
Mentioned books

Sep 11, 2025 • 10min
The Home Squad: Adding Luxury to your Home
When you want to add a bit of luxury to your home, how do you balance the budget, and avoid making things look gaudy?Well, the Home Squad are here to talk about adding luxury!Joining Andrea to discuss is Arlene McIntrye, Creative Director of Ventura Design and Sarah Twigg Doyle, Interior Stylist & Design Colour Consultant.

Sep 11, 2025 • 7min
Should Brain McFadden be left out of Westlife tribute stamp?
An Post has unveiled a tribute stamp to Irish boy band Westlife, but left out founder member Brian McFadden.The stamp celebrates 25 years of the band, but was it right to leave Brian out?Joining Andrea to discuss is Broadcaster & Westlife fan Clare Ronan, Ronan McGreevey, Irish Times Journalist and Historian and Newstalk’s own Laura Hannon.

Sep 11, 2025 • 10min
Why was this Irish grandmother detained by ICE in America?
Irish grandmother Donna Hughes-Brown, a resident of Missouri who is married to a US Navy veteran, is being held in isolation in a detention centre in Kentucky operated by Immigration and Customs Enforcement.She was detained following a July visit to Ireland, when they attended a funeral and visited family in Cork and Drogheda.Her husband Jim Brown joins Andrea to discuss what is happening.

Sep 11, 2025 • 15min
RTÉ considering withdrawal from Eurovision 2026 over Israel participation
RTÉ is considering withdrawing from Eurovision 2026 over Israel’s participation.Do you support this decision? Should Ireland not take part if Israel is involved?Joining Andrea to discuss is Chair of the Irish Campaign to Boycott Eurovision Zoe Lawlor, President of Ireland’s Eurovision Fan Club Frank Dermody, Newstalk’s Henry McKean and more.

Sep 11, 2025 • 13min
Emmy Nolan talks about being in the new Conjuring film!
Emmy Nolan is a young Carlow actress who everyone is talking about. The 10-year-old plays a pivotal role in the new Warner Bros movie, ‘The Conjuring: Last Rites’.Andrea is joined by Emmy and her mum Shauna Ray Lacey to discuss what it was like to be in the film.

Sep 11, 2025 • 9min
The Making of Hozier’s ‘Hozier’
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 Hozier’s first album: ‘Hozier’!

Sep 11, 2025 • 18min
Charlie Kirk shooting - how are videos of his death still online?
US Conservative activist Charlie Kirk was shot dead at Utah Valley University yesterday. Video footage circulating across various social media platforms shows the 31-year-old father of two being shot in the chest when on stage.Known for his combative college campus appearances, the footage shows the moment the gunshot was fired, and you can see Kirk bleeding profusely.How are these videos allowed to be uploaded to social media sites like TikTok and X, and why are they still circulating hours after the incident occurred?Andrea is joined by Ronan Lupton, Barrister and Senior Council, Stephen O'Leary, Founder of Online News Media and Social Media Monitoring and Analysis company Olytico and listeners.

Sep 10, 2025 • 7min
Celebrating Love Donegal Day!
Today celebrates the 6th consecutive year of #LoveDonegalDay, and what better way to celebrate by getting some of our favorite Donegal voices on!Joining Andrea to discuss is Newstalk’s own Ciara Doherty, Kevin Dooher, Content Creator and Photographer and ‘Donegal Daddy’ Michael!

Sep 10, 2025 • 7min
New exhibition explores the history and origins of cancer
Cancer Revolution, a new exhibition in Stephen’s Green Shopping Centre, explores the history and origins of cancer.It covers everything from fossil records of cancer in dinosaurs to today’s cutting-edge breakthroughs in immunotherapy and genetics.The research done to discover this kind of science is helping to pioneer future medicine.Luke O'Neill, Professor of Biochemistry in the School of Biochemistry and Immunology at Trinity College Dublin and one of Cancer Revolution’s ambassadors joins Andrea to walk through the exhibition!Image: Breakthrough Cancer Research

Sep 10, 2025 • 9min
Reasons to be Happy: Cheese, Newspaper, Tinder for Gingers
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.98FM’s Cathal O’Sullivan joined Andrea in the studio to put a smile on your faces…