Highlights From Lunchtime Live

September has been polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) awareness month. It’s also known as PCOS, and I must admit, I really don’t know much about it. I know it’s a hormone issue that can cause complications when trying to get pregnant. But not much else. I’ve no idea how many people it affects or how it can be treated. I’m joined now by Nicola who has PCOS. Nicola when were you diagnosed?

There have been complaints in Killarney that the busking there has gotten out of control. Some businesses are even turning up their speakers outside to drown them out. Should there be more rules around buskers? Andrea was joined on Lunchtime Live by Marie Moloney, Former Mayor and local Councillor in Killarney, Niall O’Callaghan, Owner of the Failte Hotel in Killarney and David Owens, Busker & Musician to discuss...

The rapper Coolio has died. He was a regular resident of Dublin in recent years too. He was working on a song with Christy Dignam from Aslan and worked with Dublin rappers Versatile too. He said he loved the city, and was even spotted in a Dublin jersey once. Jonathan Smith, owner of Ernestos Cafe and Joe Ballance, from the Hard Rock Hotel in Templebar Dublin joined Andrea to tell their memories of the rapper...

Every week, we give you the chance to put your questions to the experts. This week, Andrea puts your rail travel queries to Barry Kenny from Irish Rail...

Despite all the doom and gloom about the cost of living in Ireland, the number of Irish people returning to the Emerald Isle is at its highest level since 2007. On the other hand, there is an almost equal number of Irish people emigrating in search of a better life, with 28,300 leaving during the same period. Andrea was joined by Rebecca Roche who recently moved to New York, Patricia who moved home to Ireland after living in France and Denise, who is making the move Australia soon..

Minister for Health, Stephen Donnelly is planning to extend free contraception scheme to 16-year-old girls, even though the current age of consent is 17. The change is set to come into effect from 1 September 2023. With the legal age for accessing free contraception being lowered, should we also be looking at lowering the age of consent? Andrea was joined by Emer Neville from the Irish Second Level Students Union, Dr. Catherine O’Sullivan, from the School of Law at UCC and listener Neil, to discuss...

We’ve been hearing many stories recently of students unable to find college accommodation. Some are sleeping in their cars, some doing huge daily commutes and some even deferred places because they couldn’t make it work. But, it’s not just the students, it’s the teachers too. Andrea was joined by Niall Kennedy, a teaching fellow at Trinity College Dublin, who is staying in a hostel while he is teaching in Dublin...

Do you have a difficult relationship with your in-laws? If that is the case there may be some light at the end of the tunnel. Aisling Burke and mother-in-law Ann McDonnell, started their relationship off on rocky ground, but they have now found something they have in common and their relationship is better than ever. Aisling Burke, Life coach, Mark Fennell and other listeners joined Andrea on Lunchtime Live to share their experiences...

The provision of housing for native Irish speakers in the Gaeltacht is “one of the greatest threats” to Irish language survival in Gaeltacht areas. That’s according to the regional authority responsible for the development of the countries Gaeltacht regions. Údaras na Gaeltachta say young people are being forced out of the area because of poor planning regulation. Irish Musician, Breanndán Begly, Donegal Councillor, Micheál Cholm Mac Giolla Easbuig, Dr Aoife Granville, Gaeltacht native and Marie in Cork, all joined Andrea on Lunchtime Live to discuss...

Last night the Wexford GAA chair Micheál Martin invited the county’s referees to a meeting to discuss the recent violence. He joined Andrea on Lunchtime Live alongside Brian, a listener in Carlow to discuss the future of how those who abuse referees are disciplined...

Andrea was joined by Gayle, a listener in Dublin and Rachel Morrogh, Irish Cancer Society Director of Advocacy, to discuss the announcements from yesterday's Budget...

Maynooth University have announced that construction on their new student centre, which was due to be completed next year, has been terminated. The project was being funded through an annual student levy of €150, which the University have been taking since 2015. Many students and former students are using the hashtag #WheresMyLevy online to voice their anger that their student levy payments have, seemingly, come to nothing. Andrea was joined by Maynooth Students’ Union President Niall Daly, Aoife, a final year student and former students Aedraen and Fintan to discuss...

Do digital assistants having female voices – like Siri and Alexa – teach a new generation to view women as subservient? Dr Kate Devlin, Writer and Reader in AI and Society and Rachel Moran, Author and Feminist campaigner joined Andrea to discuss why smart devices have female voices...

There have been more incidents of violence towards referees in GAA games over the weekend. There were issues during games in Mayo, Kerry and Wexford that are all being looked into. Andrea was joined on Lunchtime Live by Martin Quilty, Kilkenny based GAA and Camogie Referee, Nickey Brennan, Former GAA president and Antonio Mantero, Castleknock Celtic Coach and Founder of ‘Silent Sideline’ to discuss what is happening and what can we do to change it...

As we near the end of September, most students that are moving out for college will have done so by now. And a lot of homes around the country will be looking different. For many parents this will be the first time they’ve had no children living at home with them. And, for the first time, a lot of them will be dealing with empty nest syndrome. Andrea was joined by listeners, Claire, Sandra and Orla to discuss...

The budget is due to be announced tomorrow. One measure being introduced includes the State providing free school books for all primary school students from next September onwards. Andrea was joined on Lunchtime Live to discuss the new free school books scheme and other measures being brought in under Budget 2023…

All this week, Andrea is taking on the challenge of only eating Irish produce for all her meals. Today, on Lunchtime Live, Andrea spoke to those producing Irish food and drink around the country. David Walsh-Kemmis from Ballykilcavan Brewery in Laois, Michael Delaney from Jolly Bogs in Longford, Pat Rigney, Founder of The Shed Distillery in Co Leitrim, Ruth, Farmer Time Co-Ordinator and Jordan Bailey, Chef at Aimsir all joined Andrea on the show...

Beauty writer Laura Kennedy wrote a piece in The Irish Times today about getting botox. She says it has undeniable effects and makes her look so much better. Is the stigma on botox lessening? Has it become totally normal now? Andrea was joined on Lunchtime Live by Marie, who has been getting botox for the past 15 years, Mark, who has been getting it for three years and Dr Patrick Treacy, Medical Director of the Ailesbury Clinic to discuss...

Freelance journalist, Ellie O'Byrne, has been taking on the Eating Irish challenge for the past two years. She joined Andrea on Lunchtime Live to chat about how her third attempt at the month-long challenge is going so far...

Andrea was joined on Lunchtime Live by Joe, who sent an email into the show raising an issue he had around charging etiquette for electric vehicles. Kiri and Derek Reilly from Nevo also joined Andrea on the show...