Highlights From Lunchtime Live

It's time for Throwback Thursday, where we look back on things that happened this week in history. Ciaran O’Connor from 98fm joined Andrea Gilligan on Lunchtime Live... 

GAA president Jarlath Burns has said a return to September All-Ireland finals is possible, but only if counties were willing to adopt uniformity in their own club championships.  Speaking to GAAGO's new 'Ratified' discussion forum he said the different formats in counties made it too great a challenge to develop a master fixtures plan that finished in September.  What do you think? Would you like to see the All-Ireland final return to September?  Joining Andrea to discuss is Off the Ball’s Eoin Sheehan. 

From intermittent fasting to how much coffee is too much, dietitian Orla Walsh is with Andrea to answer your questions.

We’ve all done it - flicked endlessly through the whole of Netflix, Apple TV and Disney for what feels like hours only to end up with absolutely nothing.Apparently we are wasting roughly half an hour every day deciding what to watch! That’s three and a half hours a week! Andrea is joined by Pop Culture and Entertainment expert Deirdre Molumby and journalist with The Irish Sun, Nicola Bardon to talk about why we’re spoilt for choice.

Do we place enough importance on our green spaces?  Are there enough facilities for children to play where you are living? Residents of Tullybrook, a housing development on the outskirts of Drogheda are concerned that there is nowhere for their children to play safely. For over 130 houses and units there is just one tiny playground which is only suitable for very young children.  Andrea speaks with listeners about the issue.

We’ve been talking a lot recently about the issues with hospitals, GPs and the HSE in general. A lot of people seem to be concerned about healthcare in this country. Donna Marie has gotten in touch to share her story with the system.

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...

What's your experience with public transport? Almost 75 percent of bus and train drivers in Ireland have witnessed drug use or abuse behaviour several times a month. Siptu officials, along with members of the union working with Dublin Bus, Irish Rail and Luas services will be speaking to the joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications later today. Andrea is joined by multiple people working in the transport industry to share their stories.

Welcome to The Pod Squad!We’ll review podcasts every Tuesday so you’ll have something new to listen to. Andrea was joined by broadcaster Ciara King and Newstalk’s Laura Donnelly to discuss Charlotte Church’s ‘Kicking Back with the Cardiffians’. Image: BBC

Medical Experts say that bras are a basic necessity that should be exempt from VAT. But will they get the support? Andrea is joined by Sinead Sanderson, underwear expert and owner of Peaches & Cream to discuss.

John Gibbons, environmental journalist and commentator proposed an idea that flights should steadily get more expensive the more a person flies. He joins Andrea to discuss what impacts that may have. Listeners also give their thoughts.

Nike revealed their Olympic Uniform for Team USA and there has been lots of commentary on the women’s uniform, and in particular how small it is. Lots of people commenting that the female gear is one step forward and two steps backwards when it comes to equality. Irish Olympian Catherina McKiernan joins Andrea to discuss.Image: CITIUS MAG

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 Aidan Carroll, owner of the Hard Target Self Defence Academy and instructor Oriana Leong to discuss how important it is to know how to defend yourself.

Taoiseach Simon Harris has said that people of his generation know Europe better than the North of Ireland. Needless to say, quite a few people weren’t happy about it. Andrea is joined by Newstalk Chief Reporter Barry Whyte as well as callers to give their takes.

Andrea Gilligan was joined on Lunchtime Live by Dr Niall Breen from Portmarnock GP Clinic to answer listeners' health queries and questions...

Today FM Rocks presenter Ed Smith joins Andrea today to look at some of the best music festivals to go to this summer.

From Boil water notices to brown water - why do we have so many problems with our mains water? Corkman John Ó Ríordáin talks about his water quality problems with Andrea. Cllr. Brian McCarthy and more also join the show to speak on the issue.

Andrew Scott has praised his fellow actor Paul Mescal for being a ‘wonderful friend’.  The two bonded when making the film ‘All Of Us Strangers’ and it made us think…Do we celebrate male friendships enough? We often talk about female friendships and how we’d all be lost without our women. But what about the men? Newstalk’s Colm Boohig and more join the show to give Andrea their takes.

This is Lunchtime Live’s Big Batch. Every Monday we’ll be learning new easy to cook batch recipes to keep you eating well. No more staring into an open fridge looking for inspiration! This week Andrea is joined by Chef Aoife Comerford from Glovers Alley to look at batch cooking breakfast foods like muffins to make the start of your day that bit easier.Follow the hashtag #LLBigBatch for all our recipes.

We have seen large increases in healthcare funding and staffing in recent years – but this has not led to an improvement in our healthcare system. A report drawn up by personnel in the Irish Government Economic Evaluation Service and the Department of Health says the health budget has risen from €13.7 billion in 2014 to €22.8 billion in 2024 and that more than 50,000 additional healthcare staff have been employed Why are we not getting the return for our investment?  We hear different experiences with the system from people calling in.