Lunchtime Live

From €80 t-shirts to a record wool map of Ireland, Alex Rowley from the Newstalk Newsroom joins guest host Anna Daly with stories from around the country that you might have missed this week…

Fingal County Council has approved plans to introduce paid parking at Blanchardstown Shopping Centre, despite growing local protests. The new system, proposed by the centre’s owners, aims to improve traffic flow, but residents, workers and public representatives say it will place extra costs on staff and undermine what has long been a key community space in Dublin 15.So, is parking getting too expensive? And have you ever decided not to go somewhere simply because the parking charges put you off?Guest host Anna Daly is joined by listeners to discuss.

Anna’s guest has launched a petition calling for a once-off national holiday on March 27th, 2026: the day after Ireland’s World Cup playoff semi-final. The aim is to give the whole country the chance to come together and support the team during what could be a rare and historic moment for Irish football…If Ireland reaches the final, the petition also calls for March 31st and April 1st to be declared once-off holidays too. Supporters are encouraged to sign - and remember to verify their signature so it counts.Brion Kennedy, Irish Football Fan and Petition Founder and Daniel Hussey, Freelance Sports Journalist.

Many people living with conditions such as IBS and Crohn’s disease can be left in distressing situations when they suddenly need to use the toilet. For them, this isn’t a matter of convenience - it’s a medical necessity.Yet, many bars and restaurants restrict toilet access to paying customers. So, what does that mean for those living with long-term digestive conditions, and how can society better support them?Anna Daly’s guest is calling for the introduction of a ‘bowel card’ - giving people immediate access to toilet facilities when they need it most, helping to remove anxiety, uncertainty and embarrassment.Maria Crowe joins to discuss, as well as Mark Wall, Labour Party TD for Kildare South and Emily Larkin, Founder of Invisible Disability Ireland.

Gen Z are accused of many things: that they’re chronically online, surgically attached to their phones, avoidant of eye contact and allergic to small talk.They are, we’re told, the loneliest generation, and supposedly the one least able to hold a conversation with a stranger…So, it may come as a surprise to learn that they, not the extroverted, freewheeling generations before them, are the ones bringing back communal dining!Joining guest host Anna Daly to discuss this is Leslie Shoemaker, Psychologist and Lecturer in TU Dublin and Gráinne O’Higgins & Dearbhaile Gaffney, organisers of Mingle Meets Supper Club.

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 Amy Winehouse’s album ‘Back to Black’!

Dublin’s MetroLink project is expected to need around 8,000 construction workers.Programme Director Sean Sweeney has said Ireland may have to recruit many from abroad to meet that demand.But, with construction already facing labour shortages and workers continuing to emigrate due to high living costs and the housing crisis, serious questions are being raised about how the State can attract and house the workforce needed to deliver the project.Joining guest host Anna Daly to discuss is Cllr Feljin Jose, Spokesperson for Transport for the Green Party, Architect, Rósín Murphy, Iarnród Éireann's Apprentice Training Manager, Conor Doolin and more.

If you have a lack of confidence in yourself, how likely is that going to be carried over to your children? And, what should be done about it?Joining guest host Anna Daly to discuss is Personal Trainer and mam Georgy Dillion and Life Coach Mark Fennell.

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 guest host Anna Daly in the studio to put a smile on your faces…Image: Universal Pictures

Defibrillators when used are often lifesaving. With many registered defibrillators provided in towns and villages, they are a great resource.While registered, however, it can often be hard to locate. By adding these to Google Maps, residents and visitors will be able to find the nearest defibrillators in the event of an emergency…Do you think Google should make defibrillators available on Google Maps? And if so, how do we use them when needed?Joining guest host Anna Daly to discuss is Patrick Higgins, who called on the HSE and Google to work together, David Hall, CEO of Lifeline Ambulance and listeners.