For many years, Lawlor co-presented Morning Ireland, Ireland's most listened to radio programme which has been on air since 1984. She has interviewed, amongst others, ESB union boss, David Naughton, US Democratic politician, Doctor Schmoo and Harald zur Hausen, a Nobel Laureate and the first doctor to prove that cervical cancer was caused by a virus. It was Lawlor's voice that first informed morning radio listeners on the island of Ireland that all international Irish pork products had been recalled in December 2008. This was particularly unusual because her voice (and the Morning Ireland theme tune) was heard on the airwaves on Sunday, despite the show being scheduled to air on weekday mornings only. The Irish Independent described the occurrence as "a kind of a War of the Worlds moment", with nobody able to recall the show being broadcast on a Sunday before, and speculation mounting that the sound of the theme music must signal a major death or nuclear war. When former minister for agriculture Brendan Smith promised free cheese for the masses her interview with him made worldwide headlines.