Highlights From 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 guest host Anna Daly in the studio to put a smile on your faces…Image: Universal Pictures

Defibrillators when used are often lifesaving. With many registered defibrillators provided in towns and villages, they are a great resource.While registered, however, it can often be hard to locate. By adding these to Google Maps, residents and visitors will be able to find the nearest defibrillators in the event of an emergency…Do you think Google should make defibrillators available on Google Maps? And if so, how do we use them when needed?Joining guest host Anna Daly to discuss is Patrick Higgins, who called on the HSE and Google to work together, David Hall, CEO of Lifeline Ambulance and listeners.

Every Wednesday afternoon, we’ll be talking Making Babies.Andrea will be joined by Professor Shane Higgins, Master of the National Maternity Hospital, to cover every area of trying to have a baby. From the very start of knowing how to prepare, right up to pregnancy – and all the bumps in the road in between.This week, Shane joins guest host Anna Daly to discuss your birthing options when the time comes…

According to a recent survey, 62% of men believe that “women have too many expectations of how men should be in relationships these days”.44% say they would have to change too much about themselves in order to make a serious relationship work long-term…Not very romantic, is it? It begs the question: is dating dead? And if it is, who, or what is killing it?Joining guest host Anna Daly to discuss is SPIN1038’s Katie Gallagher, Newstalk’s Ciara Treacy and more.

Health insurance costs are set to rise again as the HIA plans a 10% increase in the levy that funds subsidies for older and higher-risk customers.With premiums already climbing, we ask: what will this mean for the 2.5 million people with cover, and is the system fair?Joining guest host Anna Daly to discuss is Dermot Goode, Health Insurance Expert with Health Insurance Ireland, as well as listeners.

For this week’s Ask the Expert, guest host Anna Daly is joined by Audiologist Frank McGrath, to answer any of your hearing and tinnitus-related questions!

Christmas parties are starting, group dinners are being planned, the shopping has already started…It can be easier to feel overwhelmed in the run up to Christmas, so how do you avoid feeling burned out?Joining guest host Anna Daly to discuss is Siobhan Murray, Psychotherapist and Expert on Burnout Management.

If you or someone you know has had or is having a baby, chances are you’ve talked about the idea of ‘bouncing back’.It’s the idea that women should ‘recover’ as quickly and seamlessly as possible, even though pregnancy and birth are major, sometimes traumatic, medical events.Niamh O’Sullivan is an influencer and a new mother, and she recently posted about this, writing that she looks the same at 14 and a half weeks post-partum as she did at 20 weeks pregnant.She said even though this is “fine”, she’s jealous of women who can “bounce back” more easily.She joins guest host Anna Daly to discuss, as well as Maria O’Sullivan, Certified lactation consultant and member of Association for Improvements in Maternity Services in Ireland and listeners.

It's How I live well time! Where someone joins to discuss what they do to improve their life...This week, guest host Anna Daly is joined by Aileen Cox Blundell, Nutritionist, to talk all things Vitamin D!

We’ve all heard the stories - you ace the first interview, then the next, then another, and you’re still not sure if you’ll get the job! It seems more and more Irish jobseekers are being asked to jump through hoop after hoop to secure roles, but is all this really helping companies, or just putting great candidates off?Joining guest host Anna Daly to discuss is Tracey Keevans, Global FDI Director at Morgan McKinley, Pat McDonagh, owner of Supermacs, Moira Grassick, COO of Peninsula Ireland HR and listeners.

After a very tragic accident occurred in Dundalk at the weekend, many people are saddened and worried by the danger of Irish roads.One listener got in touch to discuss his frustration and upset at the lack of Garda checkpoints on Irish roads, despite plenty being in place during the lockdown…How do you feel? Are there enough checkpoints, or do we need to see more to prevent further accidents from occurring?Joining guest host Anna Daly to discuss is Spokesperson for the LOVE30 Campaign, Mairead Forsythe, Editor with Completecar.ie, Shane O’Donoghue and listeners.

Dr. Nina Byrnes, GP at Generation Health Medical Clinic joined Anna Daly to answer your questions.

There’s a lot of research to say that what you are called impacts the kind of life you will lead, especially if you have an unusual name.Over the last few years, there has been a rise in ‘uncommon’ names with people calling their kids Apple, North, and Peach, even!But does having a strange name have any impact on your life ?Joining Anna Daly in for Andrea was Baby Name Expert & Celebrity Name Consultant, SJ Strum, Broadcaster and podcast host, Venetia Quick, Day Magee And Matthew Matthews from Spin 1038

Miriam is a 69-year-old wheelchair user. She got in touch with  Lunchtime Live to tell the current issues she is facing with her accommodation. As a wheelchair user, her Dublin City Council apartment fails to meet her disability needs, making her housebound. She joined Anna Daly in for Andrea to discuss the impact the issue is having on her life.

It’s a moment we’ll be ‘parroting’ about for many years to come – Ireland’s World Cup dream kept alive, with Troy Parrot sealing victory in the sixth-minute of injury-time, scoring a hat-trick and securing the comeback win against Hungary, 3-2 the final score.Where were you when the goal was scored, and is this up there with Ireland’s greatest ever sporting moments?Joining Lunchtime Live were Irish football fans on where they were when that last-minute goal went in.

 On Friday, families across Ireland received school place offers.  In many areas in the country where acute population growth has been recorded, many families struggle to secure school places for their children. Despite a pilot scheme being rolled out to remove the need to apply for schools individually in towns facing shortages. Louise in Greystones joined Lunchtime live to discuss her challenges in securing a place for her child.  Louise was also joined by other listeners with similar stories and Aontú Education Spokesperson and Assistant Principal in a Secondary School in Limerick.

It’s time for the Pod Squad.Today Anna Daly in for Andrea was joined by Host of the ‘For Techs Sake’ podcast Elaine Burke and Newstalk’s Neil Kavanagh… To review the  ‘What Went Wrong’. A podcast that explores the Troubled production histories of both good and bad films.

For this week’s Ask Me Anything, David Tighe, CEO of CRITICAL Emergency Medical Response joins guest host Anna Daly to answer any of your emergency response questions.

Last night, the Christmas lights on Grafton Street flickered to life, officially ushering in the festive season. And with so many of us already getting into the Christmas spirit, it’s the perfect time to talk about one of the highlights of this time of year: the magical Christmas markets across Europe!From historic town squares to sparkling winter wonderlands, we’re taking a look at some of the very best destinations for a festive getaway.Joining guest host Anna Daly to discuss is Joan Scales, Travel Writer and Broadcaster.

Social media has played a huge part in putting Irish food and restaurants on the map, thanks to Instagrammable dishes, viral TikToks, and positive word of mouth.Many Irish restaurants depend on this free publicity to reach new diners, but growing numbers now report influencer behaviour that can disrupt service or other guests.As Irish restaurants, cafés, and markets ride the social media wave for publicity, some worry about disruption, loss of control, and whether it’s time for new rules on filming and sharing food experiences…In the age of everyone being a ‘reviewer’ - should anyone be able to record and post their experience or do venues need more control? And what is the fallout from a negative review shared online?Joining guest host Anna Daly to discuss is Eadaoin Fitzmaurice, Food Content Creator, Ciaran Kavanagh, Head Chef at Gravediggers Pub, Keelan Higgs, owner & Chef at Variety Jones and JP McMahon, Chef, Restaurateur and author.