Highlights From Lunchtime Live

Are you trying to learn a different language? Have you ever wondered just how effective language learning apps like Duolingo are?Andrea’s guest, Rodhan Harris, spent two years(!) using Duolingo everyday.To discuss, Rodhan, as well as Hard Shoulder Presenter Kieran Cuddihy, Padraig Ryan from the ELC Euro Language College and John Reilly, Founder & Editor of theEffect.net and regular gaming contributor to Newstalk's Tech Talk join the show.

From the most visited tourist destinations in the country to a hair-brained scheme at the Ploughing Championships, Breakfast Briefing Presenter Shane Beatty joins Andrea with stories from around the country this week.

The 2023 annual report for the Medical Bureau of Road Safety makes for some pretty grim reading. It shows that drink driving numbers are still high, and worryingly, the number of repeat offenders is high.243 drivers were arrested twice in 2023. One was even arrested seven times by Gardai in 2023 on suspicion of driving while intoxicated...Is there enough of a deterrent for drink driving?Andrea is joined by listeners including Seamus Boland, CEO of Irish Rural Link, to discuss.

From using the ceiling as a 5th wall to painting floors, this week’s Home Squad is all about paint trends!Oisin Butler from Oisin Butler Ltd – Painting and Decorating Specialist and Interior Designer Sarah Twigg Doyle of Retwiggd join Andrea to discuss.

Have you ever had that post-holiday, Sunday night fear before going back to work? Ciara Treacy from Newstalk’s Digital team has the solution! It’s called microdosing reality, and she joins Andrea to discuss.

If you have listened to this show before you might know that there are few things in this world that drive people crazy like phantom buses.Phantom or ‘disappearing buses’ - is the name given when buses continue to appear on apps and signs despite not being in service.Could we have a solution on the way?The National Transport Authority has revealed that they plan to launch a new automatic vehicle location system late next year, to be completed by early 2026.Is this the solution to our unreliable bus service?To discuss, Andrea is joined by listeners including Lynn Barker from the Lusk Action Group.

Right now, if you have a brain injury in Ireland you will be rushed to hospital to have your life saved.After that, it’s luck of the draw... Depending on where you live, you could be discharged home without appropriate information or education about the challenges you’ll face and the rehabilitation you’ll need to rebuild your life. Or even worse, you may be placed in a nursing home, because there’s no other support in your community.This is what happened to Priscilla, who joins Andrea to share her story. Catherine Lacey, Head of Service Operations for Acquired Brain Injury Ireland, also joins.

From Nirvana to Greta Thunberg, this was a big week in pop culture history. Ciaran O’Connor from 98fm joins Andrea Gilligan to rewind the clock!

Should we be paying for TDs to keep fit?Leinster House have put up a posting for a personal trainer, needed for the next 4 years, to keep TDs and Senators in shape. And, the wage is around €190,000.Joining Andrea to discuss if this is necessary is Senator Mary Seery Kearney, Clinical Psychotherapist, Stephanie Regan, Green Party TD Steven Matthews and more.

For this week’s Ask the Expert, Andrea Gilligan is joined by Andrew Dunne, a Physiotherapist and Founder of Personal Health - Medical Exercise Clinic, to answer any of your physiotherapy questions!

It’s Love Donegal Day! Andrea’s second favourite day of the year after Christmas!What’s not to love? The beautiful beaches, the beautiful scenery, the beautiful people?!Perhaps the most loveable thing is their way of speaking. So, where does some of this Donegal slang come from?Andrea is joined by Grace Shields, owner of Social Scene PR & Marketing and Hotelier Noel Cunningham to discuss.Image: Discover Ireland

Sabrina Carpenter’s new album has raised some eyebrows for its “sexy” nature, with many parents disapproving of the former Disney Channel star’s explicit adult content.But, is it time we stopped expecting young stars to be role models?To discuss, Andrea is joined by Saoirse Hanley from the Irish Independent, Lisa O’Sullivan Shaw from @modernirishmom and Psychiatrist Brendan Kelly.Image: Island Records

Ireland AM Presenter Alan Hughes and his husband Karl were at the receiving end of homophobic slurs as they walked down Grafton Street last week.Alan joins Andrea to discuss what occurred.

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.Rebecca Shekleton, Presenter of 98fm’s Big Breakfast joined Andrea this week to share all the things to make you smile!Image: Heinz

Officials from the Board of the new National Children's Hospital are being questioned by an Oireachtas Health Committee today.It comes as the contractor BAM has moved the completion date for the hospital, originally due to open in 2020, 14 times.The completion cost is now estimated to be over €2.2 billion.How has this been allowed to happen?To discuss, Andrea is joined by Kirsty Blake Knox, Journalist with the Irish Independent, Bernard Mulvany from Access For All Ireland and Anna Gunning, CEO of Children in Hospital Ireland.

Welcome to The Pod Squad!We review podcasts every Tuesday so you always have something new to listen to.This week, Andrea was joined by Ciara O’Brien, Irish Times Business and Technology Correspondent and Broadcaster Padraig Wilson to review Julia Louis-Dreyfus’ ‘Wiser than Me’!Image: Lemonada

The ultimate in comfort TV returns tonight as 12 bakers take to the tent in the Great British Bake Off, but what has made it such a favourite amongst TV viewers?Andrea is joined by former contestant Rebecca Lightbody and Graham Herterich, aka ‘The Cupcake Bloke’, to discuss.Image: Channel 4

The Israeli military has said it hit dozens of Hezbollah targets in several areas of southern Lebanon overnight.Yesterday, Israeli air strikes killed at least 492 people, including 35 children, the health ministry said, marking the deadliest day of cross-border violence since the Gaza war began.A spokesperson for the Defence Forces has confirmed that all Irish soldiers currently deployed in Lebanon are “safe and accounted for”. But, should we be worried for their safety in future?Andrea is joined by Senator Tom Clonan, Security analyst, Retired Army Officer, Independent Senator and Dorcha Lee Retired Army Colonel and Peacekeeper and Raymond Murphy, Professor at the Irish Centre For Human Rights to discuss.

Cork’s water issues are unfortunately continuing - and a listener calls into the show to give their experience.John Howard from the Ballyhooly Community Council as well as Cllr Nelius Cotter join Andrea to discuss the water issues they are having in Ballyhooly in Cork.

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 Liam Irwin from https://thehotboxsauna.ie/ to learn about the benefits of the sauna!