Lunchtime Live

C.J. McCann was just 21 months old when he lost his battle with a rare and aggressive brain cancer in October last year. He had ATRT (Atypical Teratoid Rhabdoid Tumour).

Now, his father, Joe, and 20 other enthusiastic volunteers are taking on a gruelling Malin Head to Mizen Head cycle to raise money for two of the charities who supported the McCann family during their childhood cancer journey.

CJ’s mum Niamh joins Andrea to discuss.

If you would like to donate, you can visit https://www.idonate.ie/event/cjsrainbow

Do TVs make the experience of the pub worse? Newstalk’s The Home Show Presenter, Sinead Ryan, seems to think so!

She joins Andrea Gilligan, along with listeners, to discuss.

TV Presenter Kirstie Allsopp has defended letting her son go travelling around Europe with a teenage friend when he is only 15.

Do you think she’s right? Do we let young people have enough independence?

To discuss, Andrea is joined by Lisa O’Sullivan Shaw (@modernirishmom), Steve Cummins, Comedian and Co-Founder of Zoomparty.ie and Keith Walsh, Writer and Broadcaster.

From Bambi to the world wide web – Ciaran O’Connor from 98FM joins Andrea Gilligan to look back on some big pop culture moments from this week in history.

Image: Sony Music

Animal activists have demanded that Farrow & Ball should change its paint colour names to make them “vegan-friendly”.

Peta asked the high-end decorating brand to “update” the names of colours that it said “normalise exploiting animals”. 

The paint maker is well known for its original and eccentric names, such as Dead Salmon and Smoked Trout.

What do you think?

Andrea is joined by Margarita Sachkova, PETA’s Senior Digital Marketing Manager and more to discuss.

Image: Farrow & Ball

Laya Healthcare announced this week that they’re set to hike their premiums by an average of 6.5% from the start of October, and it’s expected other insurers might follow suit.

In light of this, Andrea is joined by Dermot Goode from TotalHealthCover.ie to answer all of your health insurance questions.

This weekend, over 600 girls will descend on Enniskerry village in County Wicklow for their annual Belles in The Meadow football tournament. 

To discuss, Andrea is joined by Mags O’Grady from Enniskerry FC and Shamrock Rovers Captain and former Ireland player Aine O’Gorman.

(Part 3 of our Cadbury/FAI series, with thanks to Cadbury)

Image: Enniskerry FC

Parents all over the country are struggling to get creche places for their kids.

The stress and financial toll this can take is huge.

There’s a story out saying there are 900 Wicklow children waiting for just 109 local creche places. How are parents supposed to cope?

Andrea is joined by listeners to discuss.

Our friendships get us through the toughest of times – through every bump in the road. And are often at their strongest in the best of times, to share the great moments.

But, there is something extra special about female friendships – they know and outlast everything.

But, what is it about them that makes them so great? Andrea is joined by journalist Jenny McEntegart to discuss.

Another successful Electric Picnic festival has come and gone, but there were unfortunately some unsavoury events that occurred. 

Andrea is joined by listener Cian, who details how he had to deal with homophobia over the weekend.