Moncrieff

Is there really such a thing as ‘happily ever after’? Not for Disney’s famous princesses apparently. A new study suggests that many of these well-known characters would have suffered from a range of unpleasant health conditions had they lived in the real world.  Sanne Van Dijk is a PhD Candidate in Epidemiology at the University of Twente and one of the researchers on this project and joins S...

Did you get any Christmas cards this year? It seems like something that has been dying out... Henry McKean has been investigating how popular the card is (or isn't) and joins Seán to discuss.

Due to a shortage of the supply of Guinness in London currently, and the fact that it is now the best selling draught beer in the UK, some pubs have resorted to using ration cards… Kate Davidson, owner of the Old Ivy House Pub in London, joins Seán to discuss.

The Garda Síochána intends to spend 12 million euro on shoes for the force over the next few years, with every member of the 14,000 currently serving Gardai to have three pairs of official shoes each. Joining Seán to discuss is Conor Gallagher, Crime and Security Correspondent for The Irish Times…

A rare ‘hiccupping’ star has finally been documented for the first time ever. But, what is it, and why is it so big? Joining Seán to discuss is Dr. Charlotte Angus, Post Doctoral Researcher in the Astrophysics Research Centre at Queen’s University Belfast…

At this time of year, we are rushing around saying yes to everyone, but is it time to actually take a step back and just say “No, I can’t do it”? The public have been saying yes to answering Henry McKean’s questions, and he joins Seán to share what he’s heard.

A new Guinness World Record has been verified for the oldest newlyweds: Marjorie Fiterman and Bernie Littman are both over 100 years of age! Joining Seán to discuss is Sarah Sicherman, Bernie’s granddaughter…

Kemi Badenoch, the Tory leader, has sparked outrage after claiming that sandwiches are not ‘real food’ and that ‘lunch is for wimps’... Joining Seán to discuss this is Russel Alford, one half of the ‘GastroGays’ and Restaurant Critic for the Sunday Times.

A shop in England has knitted the effigies of local townspeople for their Christmas window display, but there’s a twist… they’re all naked! Joining Seán is Sara Steele, Owner of the Carpet Gallery and Haberdashery store in Hampshire…

Christmas is a time for festive cheer and, for most, a time when they drink too much beer! But, what about those who are sober at Christmas? How do they manage? And more importantly, how do they incorporate fun? Joining Seán to discuss is Katie Byrne, Columnist with the Irish Independent.

What makes a perfect cheeseboard? Is it the creamy textures, the bold flavours, or the perfect pairing with chutneys and crackers? Joining Seán to discuss is Kevin Sheridan, Managing Director of Sheridans Cheesemongers Ltd. Image: Sheridans Cheese

In light of controversies at this year’s Eurovision in Malmo, a new code of conduct is being introduced by the European Broadcasting Union...but what does it entail? Joining Seán to discuss is Richard Taylor, contributor to Eurovision Ireland - the official Irish Eurovision Blog.

What makes the human brain forget things? Why do we often lose our keys? Are you a forgetful person? Henry McKean has remembered to ask the public for their thoughts, and joins Seán to discuss!

How much would you pay for your morning coffee? Prices are going up as coffee bean costs hit record highs. Bad weather in Brazil and Vietnam has led to smaller harvests, and demand keeps growing. Joining Seán to discuss this is James McCormack, CEO of Dublin Barista School.

A new short animated film, The Runners – A Trafficking Timeline, sheds light on a grim reality unfolding in Dublin’s north inner city: children as young as 10 being trafficked and forced into criminality by organized gangs. This film, created with input from community workers, parents, and young people, aims to raise awareness and push for action against this form of modern-day slavery. To tell mo...

As both Oxford and Cambridge dictionaries announce their Words of the Year, from ‘brat’ to ‘brainrot’, are these phrases simply a product of teenspeak and are young people therefore pushing the future of our language? Joining Seán to discuss is Gail Flanagan, Linguistics Researcher at the University of Limerick...

Researchers have found that talking to yourself in the third person is a stress reliever. When you step outside your own bubble and start treating yourself like other people, you're less likely going to be hard on yourself, and deal with the problem at hand. Newstalk’s Henry McKean has been investigating, and joins Seán to discuss.

A discovery has been made during a roadworks project in Limerick: ‘pillboxes’ - World War 2 defences built in case of invasion. But, what are they exactly, and how many exist in Ireland? Joining Seán to discuss this is Bryn Coldrick, Cultural Heritage Specialist at Archaeological Management Solutions.

Could Ireland become a green energy superpower? The German government is keen for Ireland to help supply hydrogen to fuel their manufacturing industries. How would it all work? Existing gas pipelines between Ireland and Scotland could be repurposed to fulfil this requirement of ‘green energy’. To tell more, Seán is joined by CEO of Energy Co-Operatives Ireland, Cormac Walsh.

The Late Late Toy Show returns once more tomorrow night, but Tanya Sweeney, Columnist with the Irish Independent, is slightly concerned about letting her 4-year-old watch. Why? One dreaded thing: consumerism. She joins Seán to discuss.

Thousands of people have started to arrive back home for Christmas. Over the next few weeks, there will be tears of reunions at the airports. Newstalk reporter, Josh Crosbie has been speaking with those who will be enjoying the festivities in the sun, and those missing family abroad.

With Christmas creeping up on us all, one of the most told tales around this time of year is Charles Dickens’s ‘A Christmas carol’. Since its publication in 1843, the story of Scrooge and the three ghosts of Christmas has been made into numerous films throughout the years, with all having a different approach to telling the iconic story. Joining Seán to talk through the different renditions of ‘A...

From supermarket rows to cinematic queue showdowns, how should we respond to everyday rudeness? A witty comeback, or a dose of unexpected kindness? Esther McCarthy, Lifestyle Editor and Weekend Magazine Columnist at the Irish Examiner has found that her attitude to a lack of manners has evolved over time. She joins Seán to discuss.

The race for green energy solutions has forced many countries to consider the potential of geothermal heat. This approach will require the digging of some of the deepest holes on Earth in order to harness that heat. Currently, the deepest mermaid hole on the planet is the Kola Superdeep Borehole at a whopping 12.2km deep, but it has its origin in the cold war era, long before people were seriously...

The Sony PlayStation turns 30 years old today. This video game console sold over 100 million units in its lifetime, being described as a ‘Concorde’ moment in the games industry. With the console loading games via a CD and not cartridges, the perception of games being just for children left, as new generations became hooked. But, aside from its groundbreaking technology, the PlayStation had a signi...