Highlights From Lunchtime Live

From James Bond hitting our screens to the Thrilla in Manila fight, Ciaran O’Connor from 98fm joins Andrea Gilligan to rewind the clock!

The annual state grant to the horseracing and greyhound industries has increased by €4.1 million to €99.1 million for 2025: the highest the fund has reached in its 23 years of existence.The funding will be split between the two sports in an 80:20 ratio, €79.28m will go to Horse Racing Ireland, with €19.82m for Greyhound Racing Ireland, the governing bodies for the two industries.What do you think about the Government giving funds to the tune of almost 100 million to horse and greyhound racing?Andrea is joined by Johnny Ward from Off the Ball’s Racing Pod, Nuala Donlon from Greyhound Action Ireland, Damien Matthews, Chairman of the Irish Greyhound Owners & Breeders Federation and more to discuss.

For this week’s Ask the Expert, Andrea Gilligan is joined by Frank McGrath, Hearing Aid Audiologist with Ear Care Clinics, to answer all of your hearing-related questions!

It’s International Coffee Day this week!Technically it was yesterday, but with Budget day overshadowing things, it seemed right to still celebrate!But, do we know enough about the stuff we’re consuming every day?Andrea is joined by James McCormack, CEO of the Dublin Barista School and Heather Leeson, Registered Nutritional Therapist with Glenville Nutrition.

The amount that a person can receive as a gift or inheritance from a relation before having to pay Capital Acquisitions Tax will be increased as part of Budget 2025.Inheritance tax, which is technically known as the Capital Acquisitions Tax (CAT), is a tax of 33% on gifts and inheritances which kicks in at a particular limit. It does not have to be paid if the inheritance does not reach this limit.The threshold when inheritance tax must be paid has been increased from €335,000 to €400,000 for children. Is this fair?Andrea is joined by Jean Cashman, Registered Tax Consultant, Rowena Quinn, Managing Partner at Hunters Estate Agent and listeners to discuss.

‘Anyone else find friendship in their 40s hard?’ – so asked Journalist Niamh O’Reilly as she scribbled on the wall of a bathroom cubicle!Niamh joins Andrea as well as other listeners to discuss why she wrote that.

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.Ciara Treacy, Newstalk’s Digital Content Creator, joined Andrea this week to share all the things to make you smile!

Earlier on Newstalk, Home Show Presenter Sinead Ryan spoke about being a Godparent despite not being religious, and whether or not that matters. What do you think?  Should you have to be religious to be a Godparent?Andrea is joined by listeners including Anne Marie McAuley, Wedding and Family Celebrant to discuss.

Are we losing the ability to write legibly?Poor handwriting in Scottish schools is holding pupils back with assessors increasingly deducting marks from “indecipherable” exam papers.Do you think handwriting has gotten worse?Andrea is joined by listeners to discuss.

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, Andrea is joined by Collette O’Hagan to learn all about marathons - she’s about to do her 1,000th!

Irish people are living in their childhood home until they are 28 on average, according to an analysis from the European Union’s statistic agency Eurostat.The Irish figures are above the EU average of 26.3 years, while people in Finland are living independently at the age of just 21.4 years.What do you think about the younger generation staying at the parental level until so much later in life?Andrea is joined by listeners to discuss and share their experiences.

Dr Niall Breen from the Portmarnock GP Clinic joined Andrea Gilligan to tackle your medical queries.

Did you go to many weddings this summer? If so, how many of them took place in a Church? Odds are, it’s been less than usual.Fewer and fewer Irish couples are opting for traditional Irish weddings, but it still remains the most popular option for those getting wed.So, why are so many of us forgoing faith based ceremonies?Andrea is joined by Broadcaster Ruth Scott, who is a qualified Humanist Celebrant and Lindsey Moynagh, Wedding Planner to discuss.

Sadie entered the foster system before her first birthday and left at the age of 18. She's now working as a special needs assistant. She has found love, and has a family of her own. And works in Wexford.She joins Andrea to talk about her experience of the foster system.If there was anything in this podcast that affected you, The Samaritans can be reached at any time on 116 123.

Manifesting: are you all for it? Or do you think it’s a load of codswallop? “The Queen of Manifestation” Roxie Nafousi attracted big crowds to her live show in Dublin’s Helix Theatre, so there must be something to it - right?Irish Independent Journalist Tessa Ndjonkou was there, and joined Andrea, along with Ruth Allen, Hypnotherapist and Hypno Psychotherapist and Dr Sabina Brennan, Psychologist and Neuroscientist to discuss.

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 and Director of Conbini Condiments, Holly Dalton, to look at how versatile the short rib can be! With multiple recipes sure to make your batch cooking exciting!Follow the hashtag #LLBigBatch for all our recipes.

Councils could stop cars and raid houses under plans for a fresh crackdown on smoky fuel sales.The new measures are contained in a draft Air Pollution Bill currently being finalised, which would grant councils search-and-seize powers to clamp down on the sale and distribution of smoky fuels.What do you think about these proposals? Should councils have the power to raid houses? To stop and detain vehicles?To discuss, Andrea is joined by Roni Hawe, Programme Manager in the EPA / Programme Manager - Office of Radiation Protection and Environmental Monitoring, Cllr Feljin Jose, Green Party Councillor in Dublin, Cllr Padraig Fallon, Sinn Fein Councillor in Leitrim and more.

Every Friday, as part of our ‘Ask Me Anything’ series, we put your questions to people from interesting backgrounds or working in different careers. This week, Andrea Gilligan was joined by former Taoiseach Leo Varadkar to answer your questions!

The most iconic fashion gear of all time has been named, and it’s been worn by legends, but is it as favoured by the rest of us? Do you own a pair of Levi 501s?The jeans topped the poll of people asked what fashion item they deem to be the most important ever. The Ralph Lauren Polo shirt was second place, and the Chanel little black dress came in third.Joining Andrea to discuss this iconic clothing is Journalist and Stylist Laura Mullet.Image: Levi’s

Katie Taylor, Kellie Harrington, Michael Carruth: three names in a list of many Irish boxing heroes, but does boxing still get overlooked in Ireland?As the sports grant allocation of €230 million was released, boxing received just €830,914...Does one of our most successful sports deserve more?To discuss, Andrea is joined by former Irish International Boxer and current Boxing Commentator Mick Dowling, Eoghan Corry,Editor of Air & Travel Magazine, Liam Morley Brereton from St Bridget’s Boxing Club in Offaly and more.