Moncrieff

This Friday will see the annual Oyster Swallowing Competition take place, as part of the Ballylongford Oyster Festival in Kerry. The festival is struggling however to attract women competitors and is currently calling all female oyster enthusiasts to participate… Joining Seán to discuss is Marie Hanrahan O’Neill, PRO of the Ballylongford Oyster Festival…

Are you a first time buyer desperately house hunting in a housing crisis? According to a report from Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, prospective home owners don’t have much confidence or trust in estate agents or sellers, and instead turn to family and friends to get information when going through the process. Joining Seán to discuss this is Ciaran Mulqueen from the Crazy House Pri...

Thousands gathered at Knock Shrine in Mayo last month for a ceremony where the Archbishop consecrated Ireland to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. While the image of the Sacred Heart is nowhere near as popular as it once was, it is clearly still very important to Irish people today. Professor of Ecclesiastical History at St Patrick’s College in Maynooth, Salvador Ryan, joins Seán to explain the history o...

To discuss this, Seán is joined by Cass Sunstein, Robert Walmsley University Professor at Harvard and Author of ‘Manipulation: What It Is, Why It’s Bad, What to Do About It’. Image: Cambridge University Press

Sea swimming has become all the rage in recent years and there are more than a few lovely places to engage in it this summer. Ireland has 98 Blue Flag beaches in all. How many have you swam at? Well after being faced with that question, Biddy Hughes and Orla Leahy decided to swim all 98 to raise money for the RNLI. They’re currently on the northwest leg of the challenge, and Biddy Hughes joins Seá...

Many of us will have seen photos and images of starving children across our social media feeds and tv screens in the last number of days, as warnings that Gaza is slipping into a famine are echoed across the world. This comes as figures estimate that more than 60,000 people have died in the war… Joining Seán to discuss this is John Whyte, Deputy Director of UNRWA Affairs in Gaza.

Irish artist Jenny Brady’s new film, ‘The Glass Booth / An Both Gloine’, explores the worlds of interpretation and communication. Chris Guichot de Fortis is an Interpreter working for a Brussels-based defense organization, and one of those people interviewed. He joins Sean to discuss. Image: Project Arts Centre

Can you really turn back time? Well, what about by just not ever acknowledging how old you are? 56-year-old Mariah Carey has come out to say that she “doesn’t allow ageing” and that is what keeps her young... Really? Consultant Physician in Geriatric and Stroke Medicine, Ronan Collins, joins Seán to discuss.

You might be looking forward to a holiday at this stage in the summer, but if you are taking a trip abroad, just how gross is the airport? And, should you be wiping down the plane before you get comfortable? Anna Burns, Microbiologist and Nutrition Scientist, joins Seán to discuss.

While the many Irish pubs in China do a decent trade in Guinness, a major overhaul of where Chinese Guinness is brewed is getting people worried, and even threatening businesses. Joining Seán to discuss is Denis Staunton, China Correspondent of The Irish Times.

Often in the Irish countryside, motorists and pedestrians will offer a finger or hand salutation on passing each other. This is something that doesn’t happen nearly as often in the city. Tina Pisco, Columnist with the Cork Echo, has been writing about it, and joins Seán to discuss.

Seán’s guest suffered a mental health episode during lockdown while living in Italy. Diagnosed as psychosis, a condition she wasn’t familiar with, her journey out of it has been a challenging task. Joining to discuss is Lisa Callaghan, an Ambassador for Shine, the mental health charity… Samaritans 24/7 Freephone Helpline - 116 123

Due to historical discrimination, the culture of the Irish Traveller community is not well known or understood. But, the minority's heritage is steeped with rich folklore stories, including one which explains how the bogs of Ireland were formed! Oein DeBhairduin is a Traveller activist and writer of ‘Why the Moon Travels’. He joins Seán to discuss.

On the evening of November 24th 1971, a man held a plane to ransom for $200,000, then parachuted out in his suit and dress shoes, never to be seen again. DB Cooper had apparently pulled off one of the great heists in American history. But, who was he and what happened to him? Marty Andrade is the Author of ‘Finding DB Cooper’, and joins Seán to discuss.

A quarter of us stick to core office hours and go home at 5 on the dot. What does your job say about you? And does it define you? Henry McKean has been finding out, and joins Seán to discuss.

The Scouts, a vast youth organisation with thousands of members across the country, is attempting to offer a roadmap to our young people using more traditional methods. Joining Seán to discuss is Sean Sheahan, CEO of Scouting Ireland… Image: Scouting Ireland

Last night, Russia sent another barrage of 300 kamikaze drones into Ukraine, a campaign they have ramped up by a factor of ten over the past 12 months. But, how do these drones work, and why are they favoured by both sides in the conflict? Joining Séan to discuss is David Hambling, Journalist and Author of 'Swarm Troopers: How small drones will conquer the world'...

We live in a country famed for its writers - this is the land of Joyce, Wilde, Beckett, Shaw and many more. We know these names. But, one name you might not be familiar with, which is very famous elsewhere, is that of Lafcadio Hearn. An exhibition running in Farmleigh House based on Hearn’s 1904 book Kwaidan is aiming to teach Irish people more about his world renowned and most famous book. Paul M...

A couples retreat is a staple of a relationship - the chance to get away from the responsibilities of life with a loved one. Now, imagine that, just with your phone… Joining Seán to discuss these AI couple retreats is Science Journalist and Senior Lecturer at Johns Hopkins University, Sam Apple.

The cancellation of Stephen Colbert’s show has rocked the television industry, but what does it tell us more broadly about the decline of TV? Joining Sean to discuss is Adrian Weckler, Tech Correspondent for the Irish Independent…

With two All-Ireland weekends in a row, for those who are not into sports, it can be a rather alienating time. So, what is it that makes some people sports mad and others so indifferent? Jennifer Horgan, Columnist with the Irish Examiner, has been writing about this, and joins Seán to discuss.

Were you unable or unwilling to fork out a gajillion Euro for one of Oasis’s dynamic tickets? Well fear not, the now even wealthier Manchunian rockers have decided to throw you a bone in the shape of a live version of Cigarettes and Alcohol, recorded on their current tour. So, is it any good? And where does it rank in the pantheon of great live recordings of the past? Broadcaster Dave Fanning join...

The 40th anniversary of Live Aid happened recently. This great moment of global solidarity precipitated a decades-long increase in aid spending from across the developed world, but in recent years, that pattern has reversed. Why has this happened, and how can we redress the balance? Dominic MacSorley is Humanitarian Ambassador for Concern Worldwide and joins Seán to discuss.

Gardaí issued just over 900 fixed penalty notices in Dublin in the first six months of the year, with Finglas and Ballymun being the worst offenders. Why is this such a problem? Newstalk’s Henry McKean has been investigating, and joins Seán to discuss.

With her house full of plastic toys that her child had gotten too old for, Seán’s guest decided that something needed to be done that would allow parents to share unwanted toys and help reduce plastic waste. Joining to discuss is Georgia Anile, Founder of the Toy Library...