Lunchtime Live

Music festival Beyond the Pale has a new backer and is all set for this weekend.But, there were rumours during the week that it was going to be shut down.So, what’s going on with the event?Joining Andrea to give the latest update is Beyond the Pale Festival Organiser, Declan Forde.

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…

This week is National Carer’s week.We have spoken to carers many times on this show – about the impact they make, and the supports they need.Last year we campaigned on it, asking: who cares for the carers?So, has anything changed in the past year?Andrea is joined by listeners to discuss.

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 all things inducing labour.

How hard is it for students to get a summer job?Are there part time summer roles out there, or have they all dried up?One listener got in touch because this is an issue his daughter is having…He joins Andrea, along with the CV Doctor Seanie Clifford to discuss.

Over 4,500 people have signed a petition that says public transport options for Irish pet owners are "severely limited".As more people treat pets like family, there’s growing interest in letting them travel by bus, train, or tram.Today we’re asking: Should public transport in Ireland be more pet friendly?Joining Andrea to discuss is Laoise Downes, Owner of Outpaws and Wedding Woofs, Lynsey of FitDog.ie, 98fm’s Russell Alford and more.

For this week’s Ask the Expert, Andrea is joined by Estate Agent for Hunters MD Rowena Quinn to answer any of your property-related questions!

A school in Galway is offering €2,000 to new pupils who join the school in an attempt to prevent the loss of its second teacher.Scoil Naomh Pádraig in Connemara is set to lose three of its seven pupils next September, and therefore, its second teacher.The Parents Committee’s fundraiser has brought in €14,000 to potentially share with seven families that choose to educate their children at the Gaelscoil, which is located between loughs Corrib and Mask in north Connemara.Joining Andrea to discuss is Ruaidhrí Kineavy, Treasurer for the Parents Committee for the school.

Almost half of people getting married are willing to go into debt to fund their wedding celebrations, according to a survey from online savings platform Raisin Bank.With the average cost of an Irish wedding currently between €10,000 and €20,000 – have things gotten too expensive?Joining Andrea to discuss is Lyndsey Moynagh, Wedding Planner, Social Media Content Creator Holly Carpenter, Broadcaster and Sustainability Influencer Fionnula Moran and Senior Newstalk Producer Helena O’Toole.

Recent figures from Cars Ireland reveal manual car sales have dropped by over 50% in the last ten years, while automatic sales have skyrocketed by more than 500%.So, will automatics soon take over completely, or do drivers still hold on to the thrill of changing gears themselves?Joining Andrea to discuss is Brenda Bolger, Driving Instructor from the Bolger School of Motoring in Kilkenny, Nadia Adan, owner of Ashford Motors, as well as listeners.