Lunchtime Live

It's Throwback Thursday, where we look back on things that happened this week in history. Rebecca Shekleton, Co-Presenter of 98FM’s Big Breakfast joined Adrian Kennedy to rewind the clock.

Shane Beatty, Presenter of Breakfast Briefing, posted something which has caused quite the reaction online.

He said that you don’t think that schools should give out certs for 100% perfect attendance. What do you think?

Shane joins guest host Adrian Kennedy to discuss. Listeners also give their thoughts.

From how to keep them alive to the best places to put them – we’re talking house plants on today’s Ask the Expert. Erin Thomas, Founder of Hopeless Botanics is with Andrea to answer all your plant-related questions.

It's Pride month, and many festivals are taking place all over the country this weekend with people flying flags from their homes, businesses and windows in every town!

As part of the month-long festivities, Andrea wanted to learn more about the gay history of Ireland. So, she decided to go on the ‘Secret History of Gay Dublin’ walking tour. 

Conor O'Rourke from Alternative Dublin was there to guide her!

The number of people in prison in Ireland has reached 5,000 for the first time ever.

The Irish Penal Reform Trust say that these numbers show that “the Government’s approach to relieving the pressures on the bulging prison system is clearly failing”.

So, what is the solution? 

To discuss, Andrea is joined by former Mountjoy Governor, John Lonergan, former Assistant Governor, Niall Spelman and Kathleen Chada from the SAVE Action Group, as well as listeners.

If you’re like Andrea Gilligan, you might be going to Glastonbury for the first time this year! It might seem overwhelming, since it’s on a much larger scale than Electric Picnic, but there’s no need to worry…

To give her (and you!) some advice, Andrea is joined by Lunchtime Live Producer Dee King and Today FM Producer, and professional festival-goer, Eimear Shannon.

Photo: Anna Barclay

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…

Dublin is going to be very busy this weekend. There’s Taylor Swift playing three sold out nights in the Aviva Stadium, Longitude in Marlay Park, Shania Twain is at Malahide Castle on Friday and the Saw Doctors are at Fairview Park on Saturday.

You also have the GAA Senior football Championship and the Dublin Pride Parade.

All of which will bring around 600,000 people into the capital over the weekend.

Adrian Cummins is the CEO of the Restaurants Association of Ireland and a founding member of the Taxis for Ireland Coalition, and they are warning that they’re won’t be nearly enough taxis to meet demand. Will public transport be able to hold up?

He joins Andrea, along with Barry Kenny, Corporate Comms Manager with Irish Rail, Sunil Sharpe, spokesperson for Give Us The Night and listeners to discuss.

Welcome to The Pod Squad! 

We’ll review podcasts every Tuesday so you’ll have something new to listen to. 

This week Andrea is joined by Broadcaster Meghann Scully and Limerick personality and Mental Health Advocate Jen Ronan to review ‘To Catch a Scorpion’!

Image: BBC

Lunchtime Live, as part of Newstalk’s Summer Tour, is live from Limerick! 

Andrea is joined by two of the county’s community pillars: Richard Lynch, founder of I Love Limerick and Celia Holan Lee, founder of the Holman Lee Agency to discuss what makes Limerick great.

Andrea was also out on the Limerick Greenway and met Ann Madigan, General Manager of the Rathkeale House hotel to discuss.