
Lunchtime Live Highlights
Andrea Gilligan invites callers to have their say on the topics of the day - get in touch by emailing lunchtimelive@newstalk.com
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Latest episodes

Jun 18, 2025 • 12min
Tourism in Sligo
Andrea speaks to the people behind Sligo’s adventure and heritage tourism: Seamus McGoldrick of Sligo Surf Experience and Adventure Sligo, Barry Mottershead of Sligo Kayak Tours, and Pamela Cassidy of Lissadell House.Hear all about Sligo's history and great activities here.

Jun 18, 2025 • 18min
Success Stories of Sligo
Andrea speaks with some of Sligo’s greatest success stories: Finbarr Filan, newly appointed national chair of ISME and head of Sligo BID; Andrew Darmody, Managing Director of Voya Skincare; Viola McSharry, mother of Olympic bronze medallist Mona McSharry; and David McGowan of McGowan’s Funeral Directors in Ballina all join the show to tell their story.Listen here

Jun 18, 2025 • 8min
Sailing with MS and Building a School in Tanzania
Shirley Foley, who lives with MS and is part of the international sailing initiative Oceans of Hope; and Pam Scanlon, a retiring school accounts worker from Calry who helped fundraise and build a school in rural Tanzania both speak to Andrea on their inspiring stories.Listen here

Jun 18, 2025 • 20min
Sligo on a Plate
Andrea meets the people behind Sligo’s thriving food and drink scene: Aisling Kelly Hunter of Sligo Oyster Experience, Paul Mullin, co-founder of The White Hag Brewing Company, Aine Mullan of Fish and Bean, and Shane Meehan of Stoked restaurant in Strandhill.Listen here

Jun 18, 2025 • 15min
Living in Sligo
A conversation about the joys and virtues of life in the northwest with former TD Marc MacSharry, travel content creator Kevin Dooher of Wild Atlantic Traveller, and Jane Chambers, owner of Shells Café in Strandhill -- all live from The Fish and Bean Restaurant in Sligo.Listen here

Jun 17, 2025 • 12min
Ask the Expert: Dealing with a child’s emotions
For this week’s Ask the Expert, Andrea is joined by Senior Clinical Psychologist, Dr. Cliona Cosgrove to answer any of your questions when it comes to dealing with a child’s emotions.

Jun 17, 2025 • 9min
Is thatching a dying tradition?
Thatching is a time honoured Irish Tradition that is at risk of dying out., according to the Donegal Thatching School.They have called for more funding to protect this dying art…Andrea is joined by Conail Shovlin, Co-Founder of the Donegal Thatching School and Richard O'Lidain to discuss.

Jun 17, 2025 • 23min
Puppies abandoned at Galway roadside
“There really is no excuse” these are the words of an animal rights organisation following a litter of five-week old collie puppies that were found abandoned by a Galway roadside. MADRA (Mutts Anonymous Dogs Rescue) say that thankfully the pups were in “surprisingly good shape” despite being found in a rain soaked box.What can be done to stop this type of behaviour in future? Should there be tougher laws on owners, and should there be more done to protect our dogs?Joining Andrea to discuss is Dawn Divilly, Director of Operations Mutts Anonymous Dogs Rescue and Adoption, Suzi Walsh, Dog Behaviourist with DogBehviour.ie, Orla Murray, one of the Directors of the Irish Kennel Club and more.Image: @madradogrescue on Instagram

Jun 17, 2025 • 13min
Would you ask AI to rate your looks?
Would you be brave enough to ask Chat GPT… am I hot?That’s what one 47 year old woman did, and the advice was not that pleasing…Newstalk’s Sarah Madden tested it out, and joins Andrea and Jennifer Rock, The Skin Nerd to discuss.

Jun 17, 2025 • 10min
How I Live Well: Tryka
It’s How I Live Well time! Where someone joins to discuss what they do to improve their life…This week, Andrea is joined by Brian Lee, Owner and Founder of Tryka to discuss what exactly this hybrid fitness race league is all about.Image: tryka.fit