From overpaying your mortgage to how to switch;  we’re putting your mortgage questions to Trevor Grant, Chairperson, Association of Irish Mortgage Advisors.  From missing luggage to parking, for this week’s Ask the Expert, we’re putting your Dublin airport questions to Graeme McQueen, Media Relations with the DAA. 

Sea swimming spots around Dublin Bay are being lost due to poor water conditions. But what can be done to save our seas and swimming spots?  Andrea is joined Green Party Councillor & Member of the Dollymount Dames Donna Cooney to ask are we neglecting our seas?  Image credit: rollingnews.ie 

Welcome to The Pod Squad!  We’ll review podcasts every Tuesday so you’ll have something new to listen to.   Andrea was joined by Off the Ball’s Cameron Hill  and Broadcaster Ciara King to review Ed Gamble and James Acaster's podcast. Image credit: Spotify

Over 80 tents are pitched along the inner-city canal in Dublin as asylum seekers having been moved from outside of the International Protection Office to Crooksling in southwest Dublin where capacity is limited.   Andrea went to speak to the people currently living in the tents along the canal and learn more about the situation.   Photo credit: rollingnews.ie 

Take outs over dine ins, watching Netflix rather than going to the cinema and even working from home – have we withdrawn ourselves from society?  Journalist Suzanne Kane and Psychiatrist Brendan Kelly joined Andrea to discuss whether people have lost key social skills or if being home makes us happier. 

Politicians risked a €150 fine to secure optimal lamppost positions for their posters in the lead up to the European and Local Elections.  Posters are only permitted in public places 30 days before polling and must be removed by June 14th.  But do we still need election posters?  Andrea was joined by Author and Journalist with the Wexford People, Simon Bourke, and Labour Councillor in Cork, John Maher, to discuss.   Image credit: rollingnews.ie 

Ballroom and Latin dancing schools in Ireland are seeing class numbers soar with more people eager to learn a step or two.  Andrea is joined by the President of DanceSport Federation of Ireland, Tommy Shaughnessy and professional dancer Karen Byrne to ask why is there a sudden interest to break out the dancing shoes. 

Asylum seekers living in tents outside of the International Protection Office were moved to Crooksling in southwest Dublin however over 80 tents are now pitched along the capitals canal. To discuss what should be done about the tents in Dublin, Andrea is joined by Labour Party Councillor Dermot Lacey, Green Party Councillor Hazel Chu, local businesspeople and residents.

Ahead of the opening night of Eurovision 2024, excitement is high for the fans eager to see the production of this year's song contest in Malmö. Andrea is joined by Newstalk Reporter Henry McKean live from Malmo in Sweden and superfans of the competition to discuss what’s in store. Image credit: Corinne Cumming/EBU

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 Beekeeper Aoife Mac Giolla Coda, from Galtee Honey Farm to learn what the buzz is about.

Former Ireland and Ulster rugby player Paddy Jackson has expressed concern over the planned television dramatisation of the controversial ­Belfast rape trial. Jackson was found not guilty of rape in 2018 by a Belfast Court which was intensely covered by the media. But should television entertainment inspired by serious cases be made? Andrea is joined by Barrister and Journalist Aileen Hickie.

Every Friday, as part of our ‘Ask Me Anything’ series, we put your questions to people from interesting backgrounds or working in different careers.     Andrea Gilligan was joined by Charles Coyle, Managing Director of Emerald Park, to answer all of your questions.

We previously spoke to Trinity college students who were protesting at the Book of Kells over a proposal to increase some programme costs.  In an update, Trinity College Dublin Students’ Union have been issued a €214k fine by the College for financial losses incurred by disruptive protests by the union throughout the year.  Andrea is joined by Ellen Kenny, Deputy Editor with Trinity News  and László Molnárfi, President of Trinity College Dublin Students’ Union to hear their reactions.

Funeral notice website RIP.ie has been acquired by the Irish Times Group.  RIP.ie generates 60 million page views a month as people visit the site for information on funeral arrangements, or just to keep up with who has died.      That makes it, pretty consistently, one of the most popular websites in the country.  Are Irish people obsessed with death? Why is the site so popular? Andrea is joined by Brid McGowan of McGowan’s Funeral Directors, Paul Claffey, Managing Director and Broadcaster...

With, hopefully, good weather on the way it might finally be the time to crack out the BBQ! Andrea is joined by John Relihan, Head Pitmaster at PittBros BBQ with tips and tricks to get the best out of your barbeque.

From a Buddhist centre in Tipperary, to a no fly zone over Laois: Newstalk’s Eamonn Torsney has the stories from around the country that you might have missed this week.

Secondary schools are apparently completely reliant on parental contributions to stop going into deficit. The average cost of the ‘voluntary’ contributions are around €101 per year at primary level, and €140 at secondary level.  Nationally, the Department of Education estimates that these contributions are worth about €30 million a year.  So, should they be needed at all?  Andrea is joined by INTO General Secretary John Boyle, Simon Lewis, principal and host of the ‘If I was Minister for...

How should you get your patio area ready for the summer? Hardware Expert Alan Grant and Róisín Lafferty, founder and creative director of Kingston Lafferty Design join Andrea with their tips and tricks.

If you’re currently planning your summer holidays – how long are you thinking of going away for? Is it a long weekend? Or maybe a really rare full two week break?  Well, both could be a waste of time!  Apparently, the ideal holiday length is 8 days… To discuss, Andrea is joined by Sinéad Brady, Career Psychologist and author of ‘Total Reset’.

How often do you sit down as a family to eat a meal?  This May, Childline by ISPCC is calling on families, schools, clubs and workplaces throughout the country to take time for breakfast – to sit, listen and enjoy each other’s company.  But, has life become too busy to sit down as a family and have meal times together? What’s your experience? Andrea is joined by listeners to discuss.

The debate about drinking in Croke Park is here again -   Should rugby fans be allowed to drink in Croke Park? Would it help the atmosphere or make it worse?  Andrea is joined by Gerry Thornley, Rugby Correspondent with the Irish Times as well as listeners to hear their opinions.

It's time for Throwback Thursday, where we look back on things that happened this week in history. Ciaran O’Connor from 98fm joined Andrea Gilligan on Lunchtime Live… Image: @F1 on Twitter / X

The ‘Irish Campaign to Boycott Eurovision 2024 are protesting outside RTÉ later on this evening.   They say that they don’t want “to be represented at an artwashing exercise for the genocidal apartheid state of Israel”.  What do you think? Should Ireland boycott the Eurovision? Andrea is joined by singer and songwriter Mary Coughlan as well as listeners to discuss.  Image: Alma Bengtsson / EBU

From overpaying your mortgage to how to switch; for this week’s Ask the Expert, we’re putting your mortgage questions to Trevor Grant, Chairperson, Association of Irish Mortgage Advisors.