Lunchtime Live

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.

98FM’s Cathal O’Sullivan joined Andrea in the studio to put a smile on your faces…

According to new research, European children are in worse physical shape than at almost any point in the last 60 years. The study has shown that children and adolescents in Europe are not reaching adequate levels of physical fitness in terms of strength, flexibility and body composition and, as a result of this, it will impact them in later life…

John Belton, head coach and owner of No.17 PT and listeners join Andrea to discuss this.

A recent HSE breakdown has revealed that people in Ireland spent a record €17.76 million on car parking at public and voluntary hospitals in 2025. That’s up from €7.39 million in 2021, an increase of 140% in just four years.

But, for people who are already dealing with illness, treatment or supporting a loved one, is the cost of hospital parking adding unnecessary financial pressure and stress at an already difficult time?

Have you spent a fortune on hospital parking? Has the cost added to the stress of going to hospital? And should hospital car parking charges be scrapped altogether?

Joining Andrea to discuss is Deirdre Bonass, skin cancer survivor of basal cell carcinoma Siobhan O’Neill Whyte from mams.ie and more.

While most babies in Ireland are born in hospital settings, some women choose to give birth at home with the support of specially trained community midwives.

So, what does a home birth involve?

For this week’s Making Babies, Andrea is joined by Community Midwife Jean Kavanagh to discuss this and answer your questions!

(This conversation contains references to sexual assault and rape.)

Sophia Murphy was just an infant when her father started abusing her.

65 year old John Murphy, a former member of the Defence Forces, and formerly of Nephin View Manor, Foxford, Co. Mayo, was sentenced to 18 years for indecent assault, sexual assault and rape in 2018.

It's now nearly 5 months since Sophia’s mother, Jacqueline Curran, was sent to prison for failing to act to protect her from that abuse. She was jailed for 18 months after pleading guilty to two counts of child cruelty for wilfully failing to protect her daughter.

Sophia Murphy joins Andrea from Thailand, where she’s now living, to discuss how she is feeling today…

If you or someone you know has been affected by sexual abuse, please remember the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre 24-hour Helpline is open: 1800 77 8888

www.drcc.ie

For this week’s Ask the Expert, Andrea is joined by Barry Kenny from Irish Rail to answer any of your train-related questions!

Tomorrow night, many of us will be transfixed by the solar eclipse which is due to be visible here, but people are being warned to be careful...

Joining Andrea to discuss is Professor Peter Gallagher, Director of DIAS Dunsink Observatory and Caoimhe Lyons, Science Facilitator at the Blackrock Castle Observatory.

Wexford parents have said they are at the mercy of Bus Éireann as children have been denied tickets for the school bus ahead of the upcoming term.

Parents are now scrambling for ways to ensure their children can make it to school each day…

Listeners with this problem join Andrea to discuss.

Last week, a text from a listener was sent in, saying she has been struggling with endometriosis from a young age, and the pain is so bad it inhibits her ability to work, yet she doesn't qualify for disability benefit…

She joins Andrea to share her story.

Entertainment News Content Creator Holli Breslin joins Andrea with the things you don’t want to miss this week!

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