As 2022 draws to a close, it’s time to take a breath and look back on another year of highs, lows and memorable moments.

Lunchtime Live with Andrea Gilligan has been with you through it all – and here are some of the best bits from the show this year:

Fiona Griffin. Picture by: retiree_on_a_j1_visa

Going on a J1 at 66

Back in June, 66-year-old retiree Fiona Griffin's friends thought she was a “bit of a lunatic” when she decided she was heading off to the US on a J-1 summer visa.

The Kerry grandmother was forced to retire from her job in April, finding herself at a bit of a loose end for the first time in many years.

She told Lunchtime Live she had no interest in ‘sitting around at home, twiddling my thumbs’.

A split-screen of the Irish team and Wolfe Tones singer Brian Warfield.

Irish football team sing Up the RA

After the Irish football team qualified for the Women’s World Cup in October, there was huge celebration across the country.

The following morning however, the team found themselves apologising after a video of them singing ‘Ooh ah, up the RA’ was shared widely on social media.

On Lunchtime Live, the man who wrote the song - Wolfe Tones singer Brian Warfield - said he was very proud of the team’s marvellous achievement and very proud “they chose to celebrate it with a good song”.

He said the team has been forced to apologise by “cranks who complain about everything Irish.”

Briella, Camilla and Renesmee are seen in hospital in Nairobi, Kenya. Picture: Supplied

Surrogate triplets trapped in Kenya

In October, a father whose triplets were born via surrogacy in Kenya told the show he kissed them goodbye not knowing when he would be back to get them.

Edward O'Reilly and his partner decided to look into surrogacy back in March 2021 and settled on one agency based in Nairobi.

Their three daughters were due to be born in October but were born prematurely on September 1st.

He told Lunchtime Live they arrived in Nairobi a few days later.

Making friends as an adult

While Irish people are often praised for their friendly nature, it might not be as easy as we might think to make new friends here.

Back in May, as part of a discussion on 'reasons not to live in Ireland,' many listeners told the show they found it very difficult to start new adult friendships in Ireland.

Andrea spoke to Dave, who told her that when it comes to friendships, the Irish can be a little too cliquish.

The Eating Irish week-long campaign in September

Back in September Andrea set herself what seemed like a very achievable challenge – cut soon found it was far trickier than she thought.

The Lunchtime Live presenter agreed to only eat food produced in Ireland for a week and found it a real struggle finding some of the most basic ingredient ins supermarkets.

Throughout the week, the show spoke to Irish food and drink producers, mixologists, an Irish winery and those who have been taking on the challenge for years.

So, is it possible to eat only Irish for a month? Andrea spoke to journalist Ellie O’Byrne to find out.