Highlights From Lunchtime Live

An Irish Hospice Foundation survey of people bereaved during the pandemic has found that 56% said that they were not able to spend the time they wanted with their loved ones before they died. Jean Callanan is the chair of the Irish Hospice Foundation, she joined Andrea and listeners to discuss the trauma felt by those who had to watch relatives die alone.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is set to step down after 3 years in the job. Andrea was joined by Jarlath Regan, host of the Irish Man abroad podcast, and listeners to discuss his legacy and what might be next for the conservative party.

From GAA to Gigs Corona’s Frontman Danny O’Reilly’s career could have been very different if he’d stuck to playing football. Ahead of the Electric Ireland GAA Minor Football Championship Final between Galway and Mayo tomorrow evening, Danny joined Andrea to chat about what could have been.

One in three people aged 35-44 won’t own a home by the time they retire, according to new figures from the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI). The figures are even starker for those in the 25-34 age cohort only half will be homeowners by the time they retire. Andrea was joined by listeners and Sean Moynihan, CEO of Alone, to discuss what an older generation of renters will mean for the country.

The U15 girls gaelic football team have decided to do a sponsored 48 hour phone free weekend. Phones will be handed over to team mentor on Friday July 8th at 7pm and returned 48 hours later on Sunday July 10th at 7pm. Andrea was joined by members of the team and Chris Flack co-founder of Unplug, to discuss the benefits of digital detoxing.

While housing remains an ongoing concern, the issue of facilities and amenities to service young people in this country is also an issue. Michael McLoughlin from Youth Work Ireland, joined Andrea and Mark Fay from the Northwall Community Association, to discuss if there are enough facilities for young people in cities.

It’s 'Write a Letter Appreciation Week' and Andrea was joined by Liz Maguire, a Dublin based antiquarian, who has been collecting old love letters since her teens.

There have been renewed calls for Spinal Muscular Atrophy to be added to the heel prick test for newborn babies, with a view to aiding early diagnosis and treatment. Liz McMahon has two sons with the rare condition, each with very different qualities of life, she joined Andrea to discuss the importance of early diagnosis.

A new hangover prevention pill has gone on sale in the UK. Physicist, engineer and science communicator Phil Smyth joined Andrea to discuss the science of hangovers.

Andrea spoke to listeners about the high cost of hotel prices and if they are due to an issue of supply and demand or price gouging.

Over 300 Deis schools with around 60,000 students in disadvantaged areas will not have access to school meals when they reopen in September. Andrea spoke to Julie Ahern, Head of legal policy and services with the Children’s Rights Alliance and principles about what this will mean for schools and students.

Following news that Ireland’s defence forces may be drawn upon to help with airport security amidst chronic delays and cancellations, many have voiced their concerns at the potential knock-on effects. Retired Regiment Sargeant Major Noel O’Callaghan, joined Aideen and Former Army Ranger, now Independent TD, Cathal Berry, to discuss their concerns.

The shortage of priests in Ireland has led to suggestions that lay people may be called on to do funerals. Father Iggy O’Donovan joined funeral celebrant Liza Clancy to discuss if shared funerals could be a way of addressing the issue.

After a difficult few years for the hospitality industry things are slowly returning back to normal. As part of TV show ‘At your service’ Hotelier Frances Brennan has been helping businesses to try navigate this tricky time, he joined Aideen to discuss the show.

Paul Morland, Demographer at St Antony’s College, Oxford, and the author of Tomorrow’s People: The Future of Humanity in Ten Numbers, has said taxing those who do not have children should be taxed at a higher rate to encourage them to start families. Aideen was joined by listeners to debate if this was a fair way to encourage people to have children.

The 1st of July- the kids are all finished school – summer holidays start in earnest! Today, we’re kicking off our Summer Memories series, where we chat to some well-known faces and reminisce over those long summer days! Comedian Neil Delamere kicked off the series by joining Andrea on the show.

Gerry Murphy from Met Eireann joined Andrea Gilligan on the show to discuss what lies in store for the weekend.

Flight cancellations are continuing to affect customers across the country with more Aer Lingus flights out of Dublin Airport to European destinations canceled today. The airline says it’s due to illness and strike action.

With the first in a number of Joint Oireachtas Committees on Autism underway, this week calls around representation for neurodivergent people in Ireland are to the fore. A strong advocate in this area is filmmaker Caoilinn Handley. Caoilinn first sought a diagnosis for dyspraxia after she related to a character on TV, and this has led her to explore her autism in recent years. To showcase the importance of better pathways for autistic people in Irish society, Caoilinn most recently auditioned for the Rose of Tralee. To tell us about that, and her wider story, Caoilinn joined Andrea Gilligan on the show.

Does our understanding around grammar, syntax, or phrasing in general leave a lot to be desired? Sarah in Thurles got in touch with the show to bemoan the decline of society in this area, and she spoke to Andrea this afternoon