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 Andrea in the studio to put a smile on your faces…

Sport Ireland have set up a ‘Respect the Ref’ campaign, which will cost up to €70,000, is aiming to tackle abuse faced by referees and match officials.Do referees deserve more respect both on and off the sidelines?Joining Andrea to discuss is Secretary of the Dublin branch of the Irish Soccer Referees’ Society and President of the national body, Sean Slattery, Off the Ball’s Adrain Barry, Kilkenny Camogie Player, Laura Murphy and more.

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 Andrea to discuss going into labour at home.

Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce are officially engaged, and the internet can’t get enough.As the worlds of pop and pro sports collide, we’re diving into the magic of power couples: what makes them iconic, why we’re so obsessed, and how two people can become even more influential together than apart?Joining Andrea to discuss is Mikie O'Loughlin, Showbiz Editor of RSVP and Holli Breslin, Entertainment TikTok Reporter.Image: @taylorswift on Instagram

Why does there seem to be such a struggle for parents to get their children into a Special Education Needs (SEN) school?Listener Rachel Lowry got in touch with the show with her struggles, and joins Andrea to discuss, along with other listeners with similar problems.

For this week’s Ask the Expert, Andrea is joined by Wedding Planner Lyndsey Moynagh to answer all of your wedding-related questions! 

Newstalk reporter Laura Donnelly joins Andrea to discuss Electric Picnic’s lineup and weather forecast ahead of events kicking off this weekend. 

Wexford mother Laura Molloy joins Andrea to discuss how a local school bus crisis is impacting her family. 

A cleaning company recently targeted by extortionists was bombarded with one-star reviews on Google three weeks ago. Livia Andoreanu from Happy Clean, a domestic cleaning service in Blanchardstown, Dublin, joins Andrea to discuss her situation. Lily Store in Limerick’s Elaine Clogan and food writer Dee Laffan also join the show to discuss the impact of bad reviews on a business. 

Following on from an earlier discussion about animal welfare, listener Sophie Murray joins Andrea to discuss the theft of her mother's dog from her Dublin home.

Waterford pet shop owner Tara O’Connor recently came across a litter of pups found at a puppy farm in Wexford.  Animal welfare rescued the dogs, but their condition was so bad they all died from illness or had to be euthanized. Tara joins Andrea to discuss the need for stronger enforcement of animal welfare laws, alongside Co-founder of My Lovely Horse Rescue, Martina Kenny.

It’s How I Live Well time! Where someone joins to discuss what they do to improve their life… This week, Andrea is joined by Lisette Krol, Owner of Tribe Fitness Dance Studio to discuss the benefits of aerial hooping. 

While many enjoy rolling out of bed and ‘clocking in’, Gen Z is calling for remote working to be scrapped.   It comes as they feel they are losing out on forming work relationships with colleagues as well as gaining valuable skills.   Has the novelty of remote working worn off?   Listeners join Andrea to discuss. 

Dr. Nina Byrnes, GP at Generation Health Medical Clinic joined Andrea to answer listener questions. 

Former Irish dancers and parents of Irish dancers have criticised the industry's focus on appearance and the expense involved for those participating. This has led many to question whether Irish dancing is more of a beauty pageant with some dance sprinkled in. Joining Andrea to discuss is Riverdance Director Padraic Moyles, Irish dancing teacher and adjudicator Kevin Lyster, Former Sports Director of the Irish Dance Board Federation and Member of the International Olympic Committee Tommy Shaughnessy and listener Antoinette. 

A Dublin family are facing homelessness because the house they’ve been living in for seven years is being sold.  The Kavanaghs and their three young daughters are facing eviction from their three-bedroom house on September 6. Evan Kavanagh joined Andrea to explain his family’s situation. 

From puppuccino to doggy daycare, many people cherish their furry friends so much that they are considered family – and what is a wedding without family.But is taking your dog to a wedding party a step too far? Broadcaster and Sustainability Influencer Fionnuala Moran, Owner of PetSitters Ireland Kate McQuillan, One Fab Day’s Rebecca Dore and listener James Fagan, who had his dog at his wedding, joined Andrea to discuss. 

Welcome to The Pod Squad! We review podcasts every week so you always have something new to listen to. Off the Ball’s Cameron Hill and Newstalk Newsroom’s Laura Donnelly join Andrea to review ‘How to Fail’.   

The HSE’s BreastCheck national screening service has missed its screening targets yet again.  Figures revealed that the service target last year aimed for 195,000 screenings, but only 137,134 were performed. Aontú Leader and Meath West TD Peadar Tóibín, Fine Gael Senator and founder of Breast Friends Senator Teresa Costello, and listeners joined Andrea to discuss. 

It’s time for some summer memories!We chat to some well known names and faces and reminisce over those long summer days.Presenter Katja Mia joins Andrea to reminisce!