Highlights From Lunchtime Live

Today marks 30 years since Michael Flatley, Jean Butler and the Riverdance Troop wowed audiences in the Point theatre and worldwide during Eurovision ‘94. What are your memories from the time? How did Riverdance transform Irish Dancing? Andrea is joined by multiple people to look back on Riverdance, including lead dancer Fergus Fitzpatrick, dance professional Ciara Sexton and Susan Ginnety, who was part of the 1994 performance.

A 14 year old boy was home alone yesterday when his house was attacked by a gang of armed raiders. It happened in a rural part of county Louth and local Councillor John Reilly joins Andrea to discuss…

Andrea posed the question of whether it’s okay or not to ask for a discount in a shop.Have you done it before? Or are you dead set against bartering or haggling?Andrea is joined by listeners to hear their opinions.

This year Andrea Gilligan is determined to make some changes and become that bit healthier! Over the next few weeks Andrea will be joined by a number of different people to find out how they live well.Andrea was joined by Elaine Fallon from Brookwood Pottery to learn all about the clay craft.

A majority of teenagers attending single-sex schools would prefer their school to be co-educational, a study by the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) has found. The ESRI has described the findings as "eye-opening". Should all secondary schools be co-ed?  Andrea hears takes from listeners.

Andrea Gilligan was joined on Lunchtime Live by Dr Afif EL-Khuffash, Consultant Neonatologist & Paediatrician at the Rotunda Hospital to answer listeners' health queries and questions...

Castlebar has come out on top in a survey of the best places to live for the best work life balance, while Limerick came out at the bottom. But what makes somewhere a good town to live in? Andrea is joined by Today FM’s Ed Smith calling in from Castlebar, as well as Limerick local Celia Holman Lee to discuss.Image: Visit Castlebar

It is fair to say that immigration has become a hot button issue in the last number of weeks and months. It seems that people are more divided than ever on these issues.  Social media sites, such as X (formerly Twitter), are awash with hot take after hot take on Ireland’s immigration policies, but now these conversations are leaking out into real life – among family and friends.  Is it possible to maintain friendships and relationships with someone who might have very different views than you? How are we meant to navigate different opinions on immigration in friendship groups?Andrea is joined by listeners to hear their takes. 

US TV host Conan O’Brien is set to make his Ros Na Rún debut on TG4 this week!  Andrea is joined by some of those involved in the show to talk about the experience: series producer Marion Ní Loingsigh, production manager Mairead Campbell and Paul “Fred” McCloskey, who plays the role of Vince.Image: @RosnaRun on Twitter/X

This is Lunchtime Live’s Big Batch. Every Monday we’ll be learning new easy to cook batch recipes from Cook Book Author and Recipe writer Sarah Butler to keep you eating well. No more staring into an open fridge looking for inspiration! This week Andrea and Sarah looked at recipes for sweet & smokey pulled chicken and a chopped Asian salad with dressing.Follow the hashtag #LLBigBatch for all our recipes.

Apparently, the cost of summer camps is going to be even higher this year than normal. There’s a warning out today that the cost of summer camps and childcare combined could cost parents about €1,500. And this is before including the cost of a family holiday. So, are summer camps getting too expensive? Are they even easy to get into?Andrea is joined by listeners, including those who run camps, to get their takes.

This week, Newstalk has been partnering with Make-A-Wish Ireland for Wish Week. It’s World Wish Day! So, let's come together and show the power of our community. Go to www.makeawish.ie/donate. Every euro counts, and together, we can bring so much joy.  Andrea is joined by Orla Carolan, who has personal experience of the impact this charity can make, as her son, Quinn - who was able to become a train driver for a day! Imelda Noone, Head of Wishgranting at Make-A-Wish Ireland also joins to talk about the process and how important Wish Day is. 

AI Week on Lunchtime Live. Andrea takes a dive deep into the world of artificial intelligence, exploring how AI is shaping our lives, from the apps on our phones to the way we work and interact with the world around us.  We look at what the rise in AI means for the world of music, for the law, for truth and reporting and for the arts sector.

Every Friday, as part of our ‘Ask Me Anything’ series, we put your questions to people from interesting backgrounds or working in different jobs.  Today, Andrea Gilligan was joined by Niall Tier, who is an Advanced Paramedic / Firefighter in Dublin.

Electric Picnic celebrates its 20-year anniversary with a new date in August plus acts like Calvin Harris and Kylie Minogue announced to be headlining. Are you going? And what do you make of this year's headliners?Andrea is joined by 98fm’s Ciaran O’Connor to go through the announcement. She’s also joined by Brian Warfield of the Wolfe Tones, as they are part of the new line-up on the main stage.

Do you want to see Super Mario having a lightsaber fight with Joan of Arc? Maybe you would like to see what your friends and family would look like if they were cartoon characters?  The capabilities of AI, as we have been learning all this week, is already astounding and it is only improving over time. But, what does this mean for the arts sector? And how will creative people working in this area be affected?Joining Andrea to discuss is Dublin artist, poet & cartoonist Caoimhe Lavelle and Aisling Murray, Director and Founder of Beta Festival; a festival of art and technology critically engaging with the impact of emerging technologies on society.

Every day we scour the newspapers but often, many great stories from the regional papers don’t make the headlines.Newstalk's Breakfast Briefing presenter Shane Beatty has rounded up some of the best stories that you might have missed…

Violent scenes erupted in Newtownmountkennedy, Co Wicklow last night. Six people were arrested outside an area that had been earmarked to accommodate international protection applicants. Gardaí came under attack after workers were brought onto the site. Three Garda cars were damaged, Gardaí had rocks and other missiles thrown at them while fires were lit at the scene. An axe was also recovered.  Gardaí deployed shields and incapacitant spray, with some locals apparently saying Gardaí used excessive force…Andrea is joined by Newstalk Reporter Josh Crosbie, journalist Valerie Cox and listeners to give their takes on the protest as well as the Garda response.

How can you do your own tiling at home, and how easy is it? Hardware Expert Alan Grant and Róisín Lafferty, Founder and Creative Director of Kingston Lafferty Design join Andrea to give their top tips.

Irish scientist Rosemary Coogan has graduated from space training as a new European Space Agency astronaut. That means she’s eligible for spaceflight.She joins Andrea to discuss why she became an astronaut in the first place, and what the experience has been like. Image: European Space Agency