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 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
Aug 27, 2025 • 14min
Shane and Gillian Filan take on Irish Cancer Society's Relay for Life!
The Relay for Life is a 24-hour event run by the Irish Cancer Society, with multiple events taking place all across the country.Westlife’s Shane Filan and his wife Gillian will be taking part in the Sligo event on September 13th, and join Andrea to discuss!
Aug 27, 2025 • 9min
Reasons to be Happy: The Traitors, Gold Medals, Jacket Potatoes
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…
Aug 27, 2025 • 20min
Should referees be given more respect?
Sport Ireland have set up a ‘Respect the Ref’ campaign, which will cost up to €70,000, is aiming to tackle abuse faced by referees and match officials.Do referees deserve more respect both on and off the sidelines?Joining Andrea to discuss is Secretary of the Dublin branch of the Irish Soccer Referees’ Society and President of the national body, Sean Slattery, Off the Ball’s Adrain Barry, Kilkenny Camogie Player, Laura Murphy and more.
Aug 27, 2025 • 12min
Making Babies: Going into labour at home
Every Wednesday afternoon, we’ll be talking Making Babies.Andrea will be joined by Professor Shane Higgins, Master of the National Maternity Hospital to cover every area of trying to have a baby. From the very start of knowing how to prepare, right up to pregnancy – and all the bumps in the road in between.This week, Shane joins Andrea to discuss going into labour at home.
Aug 27, 2025 • 9min
Who are the biggest power couples through the years?
Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce are officially engaged, and the internet can’t get enough.As the worlds of pop and pro sports collide, we’re diving into the magic of power couples: what makes them iconic, why we’re so obsessed, and how two people can become even more influential together than apart?Joining Andrea to discuss is Mikie O'Loughlin, Showbiz Editor of RSVP and Holli Breslin, Entertainment TikTok Reporter.Image: @taylorswift on Instagram
Aug 27, 2025 • 23min
Why are Special Education Needs places so limited?
Why does there seem to be such a struggle for parents to get their children into a Special Education Needs (SEN) school?Listener Rachel Lowry got in touch with the show with her struggles, and joins Andrea to discuss, along with other listeners with similar problems.
Aug 26, 2025 • 10min
Ask the Expert: Wedding tips
For this week’s Ask the Expert, Andrea is joined by Wedding Planner Lyndsey Moynagh to answer all of your wedding-related questions!
Aug 26, 2025 • 6min
Looking ahead to Electric Picnic
Newstalk reporter Laura Donnelly joins Andrea to discuss Electric Picnic’s lineup and weather forecast ahead of events kicking off this weekend.
Aug 26, 2025 • 9min
School bus crisis leaving children stranded
Wexford mother Laura Molloy joins Andrea to discuss how a local school bus crisis is impacting her family.
Aug 26, 2025 • 19min
How bad reviews can impact businesses
A cleaning company recently targeted by extortionists was bombarded with one-star reviews on Google three weeks ago. Livia Andoreanu from Happy Clean, a domestic cleaning service in Blanchardstown, Dublin, joins Andrea to discuss her situation. Lily Store in Limerick’s Elaine Clogan and food writer Dee Laffan also join the show to discuss the impact of bad reviews on a business.
