Highlights From Lunchtime Live

Listener Christian got in touch with the show over something a lot of people might be doing this year: ice skating. One rink in Belfast would cost 8 pounds for an adult to skate - while prices in Dublin could be double that!Why is this the case, and do we need a permanent ice rink in the city?Christian joins Andrea to discuss, as well as Aaron Gili, President of the Irish Ice Hockey Association, John Hetherington, Treasurer of Flying Ducks Inline and Ice Hockey Club and more.

Dr. Nina Byrnes, GP at Generation Health Medical Clinic to tackle your medical queries.

In January, we get bombarded with New Years resolutions, fitness trends and "new year, new me" chat. But Elaine Power, host of What’s Trending in F1?’ podcast says January doesn’t have to be endured!She joined Andrea to discuss...

With many people dusting off the Christmas cobwebs and returning to work this week, for some the commute won’t stretch much further than the kitchen table or a spare bedroom.Working from home has become the new norm for many, easing the daily strain of long commutes and heavy traffic.But despite this shift, our roads still tell a familiar story. Traffic congestion appears to peak mid-week, as more people choose to head into the office on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.So what does this mean for those who would rather stay at home and avoid the commute altogether? Could flexible working eventually lead to quieter roads during the middle of the week — or is congestion here to stay?Joining Andrea to discuss was CEO of Kinore, Larissa Feeney, Founder and Chair of Grow Remote, Tracy Keogh, and Co-Founder, Rent a Recruiter, Jamie Groom along with callers.

Over in the UK, pets are increasingly being treated as a priority within the family. More people are choosing not to have children, instead deciding to adopt or buy pets as companions.For many couples, getting a pet has even become a way of testing their relationship before committing to parenthood. Some embraced the challenge and went on to have children of their own, while others discovered that their pets provided all the family they needed.So are pets becoming the new children?Joining Andrea was Freelance Journalist, Andrea Smith. Jen Hogan, Irish Times Journalist and Vet Pete Wedderburn  And Owner of Outpaws and Wedding Woof Laoise Downes

Welcome to The Pod Squad!We review podcasts every week so you always have something new to listen to. This Weeks its Icons by Goal. Newstalk’s Tom Douglas & Editor of DMG Media Sarah Jayne Tobin

According to Irish Businesses Against Litter Coffee cups are the most commonly found litter. Their survey found that coffee cups were found in one fifth of the sites they looked at.So is it time an extra charge is applied to them a even a outright ban on them ?Joining Andrea was Dave O'Reilly, Greystones Tidy Towns Chairman. Baker & Owner for Bread 41 in Dublin Eoin Cluskey, Finbar Filan, Chair of Sligo Tidy Towns, Donna Cooney, Green Party Councillor for Clontarf and John Lynch, Sustainability consultant down with Down2earth materials

For this week’s Ask Me Anything, Sports Broadcaster and Journalist Cathal Mullaney joined Andrea to answer any of your questions

Getting married this year and hoping to be a bit more sustainable?   Bronwyn from Ballintubbert House in Laois joined Andrea to offer advice as well as Jessica O’Sullivan – Freelance Writer.

Following Christmas and the New Year celebrations, your personal finances might have taken a bit of a hit.So  If you’re hoping to be better with money this year John Lowe- The Money Doctor joined Andrea to offer us  a few tips to help budget right in 2026.

After a fire broke out in a home in Finglas on Wednesday. One man jumped into action to save the young children trapped in the burning home.  Joining Andrea was Emmanuel Bello, who, along with neighbours, helped 5 people escape the burning house.

Footpaths across Ireland are posing a serious risk to public safety and placing a growing strain on the national economy. Many people can attest to just how dangerous poorly maintained footpaths can be, with trips and falls now a common occurrence in towns and cities nationwide.In Dublin alone, unsafe footpaths have resulted in €18 million in injury compensation payouts over the past three years.What measures need to be taken to improve our paths and reduce preventable injuries?Joining Andrea were the Independent Councilor for Dublin, Mannix Flynn, as well as listeners who have firsthand experience of poor footpaths.

Breakfast Briefing Presenter Shane Beatty joins Andrea Gilligan with plenty of stories from around the country this week!

As we frantically get our last bits of Christmas shopping done, how much of that will be done in a family-owned business? Unfortunately, not many of them have survived the past couple of decades…One that has is the iconic Kennys Bookshop in Galway which celebrated its 85th birthday last month.So amid all the changes, especially in how we read, how have they survived?Tomas Kenny joins Seán to discuss.Image: @kennysbookshop on Instagram

For this week’s Ask the Expert, Andrea is joined by Travel Journalist Eoghan Corry to talk about last minute travel around this time of year, and the deals you can avail of!

Christmas is a busy enough time for many, so why add extra stress?Denise O’Donoghue from the Irish Examiner joins Andrea with hacks to make your life easier around this period!

Trains across the country operate later than usual during the Christmas period, with the service being in big demand. Transport Minister Darragh O’Brien has said that he is in talks with Iarnród Éireann about expanding late night rail services beyond the Christmas and New Year festive period…So, would you like to see trains run later into the night?Andrea is joined by listeners to discuss.

Why do we eat turkey and ham at Christmas, and what is behind some of the other common goodies we have?Food Writer Dee Laffan and TV Chef & Lecturer from South East Technological University Edward Hayden join Andrea to discuss the history of Christmas dinner!

How do you dodge the family feuds at Christmas? Sometimes, when you’re all bunched up for that amount of time, it can feel inevitable…There’s no need to worry! Andrea is joined by Professor of Psychiatry at Trinity College Dublin and author of ‘The Science of Happiness’ Brendan Kelly to discuss how you can survive around this time of year!

Nearly 2 million people are travelling through Dublin Airport over Christmas.Henry McKean is live from Dublin Airport in Terminal 2, and joins Andrea to share what he’s seeing!