Highlights From Lunchtime Live

Andrea was joined on Lunchtime Live by comedian and writer Orla Doherty. Orla is speaking at Shine Festival today – which is an empowering event for the young women and girls of Ireland. Orla has wrote a really powerful piece on discovering your gay as a young adult and what it was like to Come Out in 1990s Ireland...

Andrea reflects on the tragedy in Creeslough, in her home county of Donegal. She talks to locals in the area including Garda Brendan O’Connor who was on the scene.

A court in the Netherlands has ruled an employer violated the human rights of a staff member by demanding he had his webcam on for 9 hours a day. Do you feel obliged to have your webcam on? Has your employer ever asked you to put it on?

What do you think about the idea of a school where kids get to pick what they learn? Where there’s no rules, no homework and no one in charge. There's a few of these types of schools in Ireland - some in Kildare, Sligo, Cork, Kilkenny and all around the country. Andrea was joined by Ciara Brehony, Staff Member at Wicklow Democratic School, Gayle Nagle, Staff member at Sligo Sudbury School and parents Dorothée and Mia to chat about alternative schools...

Today is Grandparents Day and we’re celebrating the special relationship between grandchildren and grandparents. What traits, traditions or hobbies did they pass on to you? Broadcaster Mary Kennedy, Tadgh and Ettie of Gogglebox Ireland fame and journalist, Mairead Lavery all joined Andrea to chat about the importance of Grandparents...

An Coimisiún Le Rincí Gaelacha has appointed a former Court of Appeal judge to get to the bottom of allegations of mass competition fixing between Irish dancing teachers and judges. Andrea was joined on Lunchtime Live by Sarah, an Irish dancing teacher and Susan, who has two daughters that compete in Irish dancing to discuss

IBEC says employers should be able to ask for 'proof' to stop the 'potential abuse' of paid leave, for victims of domestic violence. The business lobby group has objected to plans to introduce a specific 5 days of paid leave for those suffering or at risk of abuse in the home. Andrea was joined by Norah Casey, businesswoman, Sarah Benson, CEO of Women's Aid and Mary Connaughton, Director CIPD Ireland, to discuss...

Would you get up at 5am to cram more in to your day? TikTok’s 5am-9am club is a new trend where people get up extra early to cram more activities into the day before starting work. Andrea was joined by journalist, Kirsty Blake Knox, Colin Baker from Back from the Future, fitness expert Gillian Hynes and other listeners to discuss..

Ireland has been ranked the friendliest country in Europe according to readers of Condé Nast Traveller. The travel magazine said: “Countless global reports have continually dubbed the people of Ireland as some of the friendliest and most welcoming to visitors in the world." Andrea was joined by listeners on Lunchtime Live to hear about what they think about Ireland being voted the friendliest country in Europe...

Have you ever imagined living your life in a different way? So many of us are used to living in a house, maybe with a partner or a family, commuting to work, the daily grind. But, is there another way? Max Zaska, is a musician who recently moved to the Offaly countryside with his family...

The new Sale of Alcohol Bill which could see pubs open until 6am has been delayed, Government officials have confirmed. The bill, aimed at transforming Irish nightlife and developing a new 'night-time economy’, was to be introduced in the next few months but now it will be delayed until after Christmas. Andrea was joined by Robbie Kitt, DJ and Spokesperson for Give us the Night Campaign, Kim, a trader in Dublin City Centre and other listeners to discuss...

Brendan Tierney, a driving instructor in Sligo got in touch with Lunchtime Live to voice his concerns about the attitudes towards learner drivers on the road. Brendan, Libby a learner driver and listeners Dave and Patrick all joined Andrea on Lunchtime Live to discuss...

Have we got enough green areas in our towns and cities? A new café is currently being built in a Dublin Park, but locals feel they’re being ignored in their objections to it. Laura, a listener in Dublin joined Andrea to voice her concerns. Averil, in Ashbourne and Rebecca in Waterford also joined Lunchtime Live to discuss the lack of green spaces in our towns and cities...

Liadán Hynes, Author of ‘Courting: Tractor dates, Macra babies and Swiping Right in Rural Ireland’ joined Andrea on Lunchtime Live to discuss the challenges facing those in rural Ireland when trying to date...

Catholic Bishops over the weekend expressed concern that old people were being treated like a burden in conversations around assisted dying. They’ve said it leaves them feeling vulnerable and even like bed blockers. Is this really how we treat our elderly? Journalist, Valerie Cox and People Before Profit TD, Gino Kenny joined Andrea on Lunchtime Live to discuss...

A café in London has banned dairy products completely because they say that the mass production of animal milk is cruel and unethical. Some cafés in Dublin have also been spotted trialling only offering milk alternatives in place of dairy milk. Andrea was joined by Louise Crowley, Full Time Dairy Farmer, Gerry Boland, Animal Rights Campaigner, Founder and Spokesperson of Animals Behind Closed Doors, Darina McCafferty, owner of vegetarian restaurant Cornucopia and others to discuss...

A GAA coach in Carlow has been criticized after telling his under 17 team that if he saw there name down for the soccer squad, they wouldn’t be playing in a county final this evening. Do you agree with him? Or should young people be encouraged to participate in more than one sport? Andrea was joined by Cllr Frank Quinlan, Fine Gael Councillor in Waterford, Tim Barry, Club chairman with Rathdowney-Errill GAA, Aodhán Ó Ríordáin, Labour TD and Hughie in Wicklow to discuss...

The pandemic impacted us all in different ways but for some it reignited a love for the outdoors and brought them closer to nature during a time of instability. With 40 per cent of people taking up a new outdoor activity since the beginning of Covid-19, has the pandemic changed our relationship with the outdoors forever? Andrea was joined by Deirdre, Jane, Mary, Sandie and Matthew to discuss their new found love for the outdoors...

September has been polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) awareness month. It’s also known as PCOS, and I must admit, I really don’t know much about it. I know it’s a hormone issue that can cause complications when trying to get pregnant. But not much else. I’ve no idea how many people it affects or how it can be treated. I’m joined now by Nicola who has PCOS. Nicola when were you diagnosed?

There have been complaints in Killarney that the busking there has gotten out of control. Some businesses are even turning up their speakers outside to drown them out. Should there be more rules around buskers? Andrea was joined on Lunchtime Live by Marie Moloney, Former Mayor and local Councillor in Killarney, Niall O’Callaghan, Owner of the Failte Hotel in Killarney and David Owens, Busker & Musician to discuss...