Lunchtime Live

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Oct 30, 2025 • 13min

Irish family in Jamaica on Hurricane Melissa destruction

Hurricane Melissa has been called the “storm of the century”.It’s one of the most powerful in Atlantic history, and has left a path of destruction in the Caribbean, hitting the Bahamas, Cuba and Jamaica.So far, dozens of people have been confirmed dead.In Jamaica, it's estimated up to 90% of homes in the devastated town of Black River have been stripped of their roofs.Orlagh Kilbride lives in Kingston, the island’s capital, with her family, and joins Andrea to discuss.Image: AP
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Oct 30, 2025 • 10min

Would you give up your seat to someone on public transport?

Would you give your seat to the disabled or elderly on public transport? Newstalk Reporter Kyle Butler noticed some worrying behaviour after he moved to Dublin, and joins Andrea, as well as Mark Fennel, Author & Life Coach, to discuss.
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Oct 30, 2025 • 15min

The Making of Westlife!

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 some of Westlife’s greatest hits as the band celebrates their 25th anniversary!
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Oct 30, 2025 • 16min

What should be done to bring workers back from Australia?

Nearly €450,000 was spent on an ad campaign to entice Irish builders to come home. Ads were posted on billboards and on social media with tag lines like ‘You’ve built Sydney, now come and build back home’.Is this money well spent? Or an enormous waste when housing targets here aren’t being met?Andrea is joined by listeners to discuss.
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Oct 29, 2025 • 11min

Can scary movies soothe anxiety?

As Halloween week creeps in, many people are getting into the spirit by settling in for a good scare with their favorite horror movies. For some, that means spending most of the film peeking through their fingers, bracing for whatever terrifying moment might jump out from the screen.Well, if you are in any way anxious, scary movies may be your best friend. Research carried out has discovered that fictional tales of terror may bring some psychological benefits, including reducing the anxiety we feel about events out in the real world.Would you watch a scary movie if it reduced your anxiety?Joining Andrea to discuss is Dr Sarah Cleary, Karen Beckett, Chartered Psychologist and Researcher and Patrick Osborne, author and Screenwriter.
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Oct 29, 2025 • 8min

Reasons to be Happy: Guaranteed Laughs, Fred Again, Lord of the Rings

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…
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Oct 29, 2025 • 19min

Lights switched off early after Ladies’ County Finals in Kildare

Kildare Freelance Photographer Aisling Hyland posted on Instagram in recent days to voice her disgust over the lights being switched off at both Camogie and Football Ladies County Finals in St. Conleth’s Park…She joins Andrea to discuss, as well as Deirdre Hurley, Chair of Laurence's Ladies, Ciara Wheeler, St. Laurence's player, Niamh Tallon, Founder of Her Sport and Róisín Forde, Maynooth Camogie player.
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Oct 29, 2025 • 13min

Making Babies: Listener Questions

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 answer some listener questions!
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Oct 29, 2025 • 7min

Making Halloween healthy for kids!

With Halloween week well underway, many parents and children are decorating their homes and prepping their costumes to take to the streets on Friday night to Trick or Treat.The dreaded fear for most parents is just how many sweets their children will consume on Friday night. Is there a way to manage the amount of sugar our children will eat this Halloween?Joining Andrea to discuss some healthy tips for this spooky season is Siobhan Berry, known on Instagram as @mummycooks.
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Oct 29, 2025 • 22min

Carer ordered to pay €22k back to state - why?

Noel is the primary carer for his father. After becoming his father’s carer, he had to reduce the amount of hours that he works so he can spend time at home looking after his dad. Noel works 18.5 hours per week. He has no option but to work remotely so he can be there when his father needs him. Noel has since received a letter from the state to say that he owes them €22,000, as they have told him that he works more than the 18.5 hours…Noel joins Andrea to discuss his story.

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