Highlights From Lunchtime Live

It’s safe to say that support is mounting for the Irish Women’s Football Team, and with hopes of securing a spot in the Euro 2025, the girls in green need our continued support!Now that the games are more prominent, our TV screens and stadiums are gaining more fans in the seats, it’s clear that perceptions of women’s football are changing.Joining guest host Claire McKenna to discuss is former player Méabh De Burca and Daniel Lambert, Chief Operating Officer of Bohemians FC.(Part 5 of our FAI / Cadbury series)

Would you like to see a smartphone ban in restaurants?A French bistro in north-eastern France banned smartphones at the table last year and said that the policy is not deterring diners, and is actually encouraging them to order more food as they continue their conversations!Would you like to see something similar introduced here?Claire McKenna is joined by Darina Allen, Chef, Food Writer and Founder of Ballymaloe Cookery School, Laura Mullet, Journalist & Stylist and more to discuss.

As parents all over the country resume school routines and welcome back the structure that provides, others are facing the daily struggle of getting their children to eat a healthy breakfast, finish a lunchbox or join the dinner table.   But, how can you manage a fussy eater?To discuss, Claire McKenna is joined by Stephanie Fleming, whose daughter is a fussy eater, and Teresa Foley, Paediatric Occupational Therapist & Feeding Therapist.

From Australian wildlife conservationist Steve Irwin’s tragic death, to Sweet Valley high hitting our screens. 98fm’s Ciaran O’Connor joins Claire McKenna to look back on pop culture history from this week.Image: FX

There has been a lot of controversy in recent days over the ticket prices for the upcoming Oasis Croke Park gigs.Standing ticket prices soared to over €400, and it has brought up big questions about the use of dynamic pricing.But, as Melanie Finn argues in the Irish Independent: in a world where nobody wants to pay for their music, can we begrudge artists for soaring ticket prices?Claire McKenna is joined by Jackie Conboy from the Music & Entertainment industry in Ireland, Dublin-based singer-songwriter Tim McStay, singer Mary Coughlan and more to discuss.Image: @coldplay on X / Twitter

Have you ever watched an episode of Only Murders in the Building and thought you could do it yourself? Well you’re not alone...Apparently a third of us think we can solve crimes because we’ve seen it being done so much on TV!We have enough expertise from watching Midsummer Murders and Law and Order to do as good a job as any detective… right?Joining guest host Clare McKenna to discuss is Private Investigator Liam A Brady, from Special Investigation Bureau Eire and Sam Blake, Founder of Murder One Festival.Image: Disney

For this week’s Ask the Expert, guest host Clare McKenna is joined by Paul Kenny, Ireland’s former Pensions Ombudsman and Course Leader with the Retirement Planning Council of Ireland to talk all things pensions, and answer your questions!

A number of people who gave testimony to the inquiry into sexual abuse at religious schools in Ireland say they think a ‘pedophile ring’ was operating in certain schools. The inquiry revealed almost 2,400 allegations of sexual abuse of children in schools run by religious orders.There were 844 alleged abusers in over 300 schools run by 42 religious orders across the country.Joining guest host Clare McKenna to discuss is Philip Feddis, who attended Blackrock School and represents the group Restore Together, Naomi Gould, Advocacy Director One in Four and Dr Joseph Mooney, Assistant Professor School of Social Policy, Social Work and Social Justice at UCD.Those affected by this podcast can contact support at One In Four, nationwide, at 01 662 4070. Or, at oneinfour.ie  

It was a fantastic night for Ireland at the Paralympics in France yesterday as Róisín Ní Riain and Orla Comerford secured two bronze medals within 5 minutes of each other!Joining guest host Clare McKenna to discuss and celebrate the two achievements is Róisín’s father Seosamh O’Riain, Dave Hooper, PRO with Raheny Shamrocks and Jade Murphy, Head Coach for the Performance Development Squad with Limerick Swimming Club.

How would you feel about a free workplace health check? In the UK, the NHS are rolling out health checks across several workplaces and are describing it as the ‘MOT’ for middle aged people. In doing so, it could stamp out waiting lists and save NHS time in the long run. But, should we consider doing the same here?Clare McKenna is joined by Janis Morrissey, Director of Health Promotion, Information and Training with the Irish Heart Foundation and Moira Grassick, CEO of Peninsula Ireland to discuss.

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.Today FM’s Cathal O’Sullivan joined guest host Clare McKenna in the studio to put a smile on your faces…

Studies show that some teenage boys are being shown posts on TikTok featuring violence and promoting misogynistic views. In general, teenage girls are being recommended very different content based on their interests. Joining guest host Clare McKenna to discuss is Andrew Kaung, former Analyst on user safety at TikTok.

This year on Lunchtime Live we’ve been looking at things that we can do in order to make ourselves that bit happier and healthier.This week, guest host Clare McKenna is joined by Niall O’Floinn, Owner of Chen Tai Chi in Galway to learn more about this martial art.

It’s time for the Pod Squad! Every week, we review a podcast to see if it’s worth your precious time or not!This week guest host Clare McKenna is joined by Newstalk’s Sue Murphy and Dave Hanratty of the ‘No More Encore’ podcast to talk about the BBC Scotland Podcast - ‘Who Killed Emma?’.Image: BBC Scotland

Aslan played with Coldplay in a surprise appearance last night in Croke Park. Coldplay included the band as a tribute to Christy Dignam.Christy passed away in June last year after a long battle with cancer.Aslan band member Billy McGuinness joins guest host Clare McKenna to discuss the experience and how it came about.Image: @coldplay on Instagram

Kieran O'Donnell, the Minister with Responsibility for the Office of Public Works has demanded an immediate review around the construction of a new bike shelter at Leinster House which has cost €335,000.What do you make of this?Guest host Clare McKenna is joined by Green Party TD & Member of Public Accounts Committee Marc Ó Cathasaigh and more to discuss.

Last night the documentary ‘Rugby on Trial’ aired on BBC One.It examined whether enough has been done to protect rugby players from the devastating impacts of concussions. And whether parents can be sure their children will be safe playing rugby at school.One of the people behind the documentary was Sam Peters from Concussed Media, and he joins Clare McKenna to discuss. Also joining to discuss is Alix Popham, former Welsh Rugby International who was diagnosed with early onset dementia at age 40, and Professor John Fairclough, former President of the British Sports Trauma Association and a spokesperson for Progressive Rugby.

The Department of Education has come under pressure to drop a Junior Cycle textbook containing ‘absurdly misconceived and discriminatory’ depictions of an Irish family.The book, which is part of the SPHE curriculum, contrasts a ‘traditional Irish family’ with another from a mixed background.The Irish family, depicted outside a thatched cottage and all wearing Aran jumpers, eat ‘potatoes, bacon and cabbage every day’, ‘do not like change or difference’ and the children ‘get told off if we mix with people with a different religion from ours as they would be a bad influence on us’.In contrast, the mixed-race family ‘love change and difference’, eat ‘curry, pizza and Asian food’ and spend their time travelling internationally and visiting art galleries…Is it really this bad? Or is it an overreaction?Guest host Clare McKenna is joined by listeners to discuss.

Dr Niall Breen from the Portmarnock GP Clinic joined Clare McKenna to tackle your medical queries.

From what to have for dinner to what to watch on TV, the typical adult apparently spends the equivalent of 23 days a year making decisions. Do you struggle to make decisions?Newstalk Reporter Josh Crosby took to the streets of Killarney to hear people’s thoughts, and guest host Clare McKenna is joined by Psychiatrist Brendan Kelly to discuss.