Highlights From Lunchtime Live

Andrea was recently on a trip to Zurich, where she saw many free outdoor events and facilities for residents. It left her thinking: why don’t we have a similar amount of facilities in our cities in Ireland?She is joined by Diarmuid from Alternative Dublin, Simon Heaslip from the Galway Westend Traders Association, Dr Miriam Haughton and WIllie White, Artistic Director of the Dublin THeatre Festival to discuss.

The amount of students doing J1 visas has more than halved in the last 10 years.The J1 has previously been thought of as a rite of passage for most young people, so what has changed?To discuss, Andrea is joined by Liam Schokman, who is on his J1 in Chicago, Kelda McManus, Vice-President for the southern region at the Union of Students in Ireland and more listeners to discuss.

This year Andrea Gilligan is determined to make some changes and become that bit healthier!Andrea will be joined by a number of different people to find out how they live well.This week, Helen Lawless, Mountaineering Ireland’s Access and Conservation Officer and Acting CEO, joined the show to talk all things mountaineering! (And how it’s different to hiking).

The number of learner drivers involved in fatal accidents has trebled in the space of just four years. Would stricter restrictions help reduce this number, and what’s the root of this issue?Andrea is joined by Brenda Bolger from the Bolger School of Motoring in Kilkenny, as well as listeners, to discuss.

Guest host Adrian Kennedy was joined on Lunchtime Live by Dr Siobhan Chidley from Watermills Family Practice to answer your health questions.

Rob O’Donnell, who had an unsuccessful bid with the Green Party in Limerick in the local elections has had more bad news as around 40 out of his 100 election posters have gone missing.He joins Adrian Kennedy to discuss why this might have happened, and what the cost is behind the ones stolen.

Half of Irish workers would refuse job offers with no option to work from home, new research has found.Around 47% of Irish jobseekers have revealed they would refuse a job offer if the company did not have hybrid or fully remote working policies in place, according to the study.So, should working from home be expected these days?Joining Adrian to discuss are Tracy Keevans, Director with Morgan McKinley Recruitment Agency, John Evoy, Grow Remote General Manager and listeners who like and dislike working from home.Plus, Newstalk Reporter Lauren Grey asked locals what they think about working from home.

Despite what you might think from the weather, the summer is here, and that means many people will be packing their bags for a trip abroad.But, there’s nothing worse than other, annoying tourists bringing the tone down and making us all look bad.So, how can we be better tourists?Joining Adrian to discuss are Amy Lynch, Destination Editor for the Lonely Planet and Anne de Jong, Co-Founder of the Good Tourism Institute.

The Irish Independent’s JJ Clarke was recently tricked out of €800 following an online scam.He joins Adrian Kennedy to discuss what exactly happened.

Many parents in Dublin 15 have seemingly found themselves unable to secure school places for their children for this September. Guest host Adrian Kennedy is joined by parents in the area whose children have been unable to find a place. They discuss why this might be the case.

Sarah Love, who runs the Girl Drinks Gunness page (@girl_drinks_guinness on Instagram) has been to 400 different pubs across Ireland, the UK and Europe, and has put the Railway Bar, Bundoran on the top of her list!She joins Andrea to discuss what makes the perfect pint of Guinness.

Our summer memories series is back!We chat to some well known faces and reminisce over those long summer days!Irish TV and radio personality Baz Ashmawy joins Andrea Gilligan to discuss. 

As the school year is drawing to a close, the age old debate on whether or not you get the teacher a present rolls around. Joining Andrea to discuss is journalist Chrissie Russell.

An interesting piece in the Irish Times today where columnist Justine McCarthy is critical of people using the term ‘girls’ to refer to women. She says - calling grown women ‘girls’ is inherently belittling. What do you think?  To discuss, Andrea is joined by writer and broadcaster, Barbara Scully, Joe O’Shea, editor of CorkBeo and listeners.

The big Irish wedding seems to be back!Andrea Gilligian is joined by Eimear, who sat 340 guests at her wedding! They discuss what it was like, and the positives and negatives with it. Also joining are journalist Édaein O’Connell and wedding planner Lyndsey Moynagh.

From Leitrim mansions for sale to Marilin Monroe look-alikes in Wicklow, Breakfast Briefing presenter Shane Beaty joins Andrea Gilligan to go through some of the stories around the country you might have missed.

A new survey conducted ahead of the Euro 2024 kickoff has shown that almost three in 10 Irish people would like to see England win the tournament.At the same time - half of those surveyed would prefer to see the Three Lions get eliminated early doors.Will you be supporting England in the Euros?Andrea is joined by listeners to discuss.

From the type of bulb to the perfect amount of lamps – what are the best ways to light up your home?Andrea Gilligan is joined by Sarah Louise from Sarah Louise Interiors and Colin Baker from Decwells Expert Hardware to discuss. 

Willie Wyse is a taxi driver in Cork, and refuses to take card payments.He is fighting NTA rules, in place since September 2022, that taxi drivers must accept card payments.Willie joins Andrea to discuss why he is doing this, and what the consequences are if he continues to break the rules.

Center Parcs has defended the major price differences between its offerings in the UK and Ireland by insisting the two areas are ‘very different markets’.So, why is it so much more expensive to holiday in Ireland?One person who’s been to Center Parcs Ireland is Kieran Cuddihy, host of The Hard Shoulder. He joins Andrea to discuss the price gap, and his experience. Also joining to discuss are Siobhan O’Neill White from mams.ie and Katie Makk from the Opinions Matter podcast.Image: Center Parcs Ireland