Highlights From Lunchtime Live

From newts in Cork to chicken fillet roll thefts – there’s a lot happening around the country this week. Breakfast Briefing Presenter Shane Beatty has stories from around the country you may have missed.

Reality TV may seem like a constant fixture on our screens these days whether it be Love Island, Selling Sunset or Traitors... But, back in the early 2000’s, it still seemed somewhat of a novelty.  Tanya Sweeney, Columnist with the Irish Independent was looking back at some reality TV from 2001 and she was not impressed. She joins guest host Karen Koster to discuss. Also joining are Pamela Laird, CEO and founder of Maxi Loves and former ‘Apprentice’ candidate and Eric Roberts, who took part in ‘Squid Game: The Challenge’.Image: ITV

There is a fine line between tasteful and tacky, resulting in rooms looking cheap rather than sophisticated.How can you avoid the pitfalls? Joining Andrea to discuss are Alan Grant, Hardware Expert and Roisin Lafferty, Interior Designer.

Riverdance was performed for the first time at the Eurovision song contest 30 years ago. It's turned into a huge global success, and this year they celebrate their 20th year running at the Gaiety Theatre in Dublin.Andrea GIlligan got to meet the cast and crew during their final rehearsals ahead of their opening night!

A psychologist has warned that it’s a major red flag if you can relax by watching true crime - possibly a sign that you’re a psychopath.With the true crime genre being extremely popular, is this an exaggeration? Or is there some truth to it?What do you think?Andrea is joined by Professor Brendan Kelly from the Psychiatry Department at Trinity COllege Dublin, Crime Journalist Nicola Tallant, Newstalk’s Jess Kelly and Tour Guide Conor O’Rourke to discuss.

The annual Hospice Sunflower Days fundraiser is starting tomorrow. On street collections will be taking place all over the country from Friday until Saturday with volunteers taking to the streets in hopes of raising vital funds for their local hospice.  Joining Andrea to speak about this is Nicky McCormack, retired Nurse Manager of South Westmeath Hospice and fundraiser for South Westmeath Hospice and Rennee McGloughlin, whose sister was in hospice care.

It's Throwback Thursday, where we look back on things that happened this week in history. 98fm’s Ciaran O’Connor joined Andrea Gilligan to rewind the clock.Image: HBO

There have been calls for Ireland to ban Bully XL dogs after the tragic death of a young woman in Limerick this week. Would you agree?Andrea Gilligan is joined by Orla Murray, Chair of the Health and Welfare Committee at the Irish Kennel Club, Maureen Byrne, a Certified Clinical Animal Behaviourist and listeners to get their opinions.

The 6th of June will mark 80 years since the beaches of Normandy were invaded on D-Day. Henry McKean’s grandfather was one of those soldiers on the beach. He survived, but many, including Irish men - did not.Henry tells the story of his grandfather, while also telling other stories of that day, including how the locals in France will commemorate D-Day, the story of the oldest living survivor - and Kerry woman Maureen Sweeney’s impact as a meteorologist. 

From doing the seating plan to picking the perfect band, Lindsay Moynagh, Founder of Wendor and House of Hannah Weddings and Events joins Andrea Gilligan to answer your wedding related questions.

For years we have been told that being exposed to blue light on our phones can ruin a good night's sleep completely. But, recent research is challenging that notion, suggesting that the impact of screens might not be as detrimental as we once thought.  Joining Andrea to help understand this is Sleep Expert, Tom Coleman.

Should children’s sports days be non-competitive? Or is that giving our kids a bad idea about competition in the future?TV personality Stacy Solomon seems to believe that the sense of competition on these days is important.Andrea is joined by Jen Hogan, Columnist with the Irish Times, Stella O’Malley, Psychotherapist and listeners to discuss.

Are towns and villages beginning to lose their sense of identity and community?Muiris O’Cearbhaill, journalist with TheJournal.ie has been asking this question after reporting from his hometown of Clonsilla in Dublin.What do you think?Muiris, along with other listeners, join Andrea to discuss.Image: Fingal County Council

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 Andrea in the studio to put a smile on your faces…

The amount paid to garda reserves will be as much as triple under plans announced by Justice Minister Helen McEntee.Up to €3,000 will be paid to reserve members for 200 hours of volunteering, a significant increase from the current €1,000 offered for at least 100 hours.  What do you think? Would this encourage you to join?  Andrea is joined by former Gardaí and listeners to hear their thoughts.

Welcome to The Pod Squad! We’ll review podcasts every Tuesday so you’ll have something new to listen to. This week Andrea is joined by host of The Hard Shoulder Kieran Cuddihy and Elaine Burke, host of the ‘For Tech’s Sake’ podcast to review ‘The Allusionist’.Image: Helen Zalztman

Dublin City Council does not have any events planned in the lead up to Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour, which will be on for three nights in Dublin on the 28th, 29th and 30th of June.This has led to criticism and comparisons to other cities who have done events.Andrea is joined by SPIN presenter Jess Spencer, Brenda Power, Columnist with the Sunday Times, Harry Doyle, Liverpool’s Cabinet Member for Culture and more to discuss.

The local and European elections are just around the corner, so what is it like being out and about canvassing? Having already stepped out on the campaign trail with Mick Nugent, a Sinn Fein councillor in Cork, Andrea Gilligan continued by joining another candidate, Emma Blain representing Fine Gael, going door to door – this time in Dublin Bay South.

This year Andrea Gilligan is determined to make some changes and become that bit healthier!Over the next few weeks Andrea will be joined by a number of different people to find out how they live well.Andrea was joined by Sarah Hughes from Howth Castle Cookery School to learn about the joys of cooking!

The RSA are calling for emergency laws to double penalty points for speeding and mobile phone use. The group wants the emergency legislation to do this enacted “as a matter of priority” with any such change “supported by targeted enforcement and awareness campaigns”. What do you think? Would this make a difference to people's behaviour?Andrea Gilligan is joined by listeners to get their opinions, including Donna Price, Founder of the Irish Road Victims Association.