Moncrieff

Yesterday, the Spanish Prime Minister unveiled a series of measures to attempt to alleviate the housing problem facing the country. Perhaps the most remarkable of these measures was a 100% tax on real estate bought by non-residents from countries outside the EU. So, is this something that we should be looking at here in Ireland? Rory Hearne, Social Democrat TD Dublin North West and author of ‘Gaff...

There are currently 65 people whose remains are lying in unmarked shallow graves around the country, since the War of Independence. A new campaign is calling for the government to locate and bury, in a respectful manner, these remains. Joining Seán to discuss is John Mooney, Crime and Security Correspondent for the Sunday Times…

Despite the many predictions of doom in the music industry, the UK trade body for music retailers has just reported a “20 year high for recorded music revenues”, which apparently exceeds the pinnacle of the CD era… So, is it boom time for musicians? Or is the picture a little more complicated? Eamon Forde is a Freelance Music Business and Technology Journalist, and joins Seán to discuss.

We can all see that there are pros and cons to the digital age. Where at one point we may gain a convenience, we might also lose a skill. But, has our reliance on technology fundamentally changed us as human beings? And are we losing touch with fundamental aspects of the human experience? Christine Rosen is the author of ‘The Extinction of Experience: Being Human in a Disembodied World’ and joins...

You might hear anecdotally that border collies are the smartest dogs, and in Britain at least, this appears to be the case. A 6-year-old Border Collie named Harvey has been named one of the world’s brightest dogs by Eotvos Lorand University in Budapest. Irene Hewlett is the owner of Harvey, and joins Seán to discuss.

While calls have been made for a statue to be erected to Sinead O’Connor in Dublin, current rules don’t allow a figure to be commemorated until 20 years after their death. But, should the regulations be changed? Joining Seán to discuss is Cllr Donna Cooney, Chairperson of the Naming and Commemorations Committee of Dublin City Council and Deputy Lord Mayor of Dublin…

It seems that recently, people have become less aware about their personal conversations, leaving everyone in their vicinity in earshot of their business - especially on public transport. So, what have you heard? Henry McKean has been asking the public, and joins Seán to share what he’s heard.

Last month, figures revealed that a third of Irish couples aren't getting enough sleep. To help fix this, couples have been sleeping in separate beds, and it's now being called 'sleep divorce'... To discuss, Seán is joined by Fiona Brennan, Clinical Hypnotherapist and author of 'Sleep Well: Eight Habits to help you Fall asleep, stay asleep, wake up refreshed'.

Babygirl hits screens in Ireland today and depicts a saucy love affair between a female CEO and her 28-year-old intern. The CEO is in a seemingly happy and sex filled marriage, but has been faking it with her husband and uses the younger man to satisfy her needs. But, it begs the question: why do women fake it ? And how can men know when women are faking it? To discuss, Seán is joined by Dr Caroli...

One of the most remarkable images emerging from the cold snap this week is that of the hill farming community digging out their sheep buried in several feet of snow on the Galtee Mountains. Joining Seán to discuss is Anne Drake, who runs Ballyhoura Farm Escape on the Limerick Cork border, whose family has been deeply affected…

After the world’s number one chess player was forbidden from playing a match because he was wearing jeans, questions are now being asked about the dress code of certain sports… Joining Seán to discuss is Sportswriter Emma John, who has been investigating this for the Guardian. Image: @MagnusCarlsen on X / Twitter

With lots of devices requiring new passwords for the new year, and the inbox full after the holidays, what can we do to clean up our personal tech? Joining Seán to discuss Ciara O’Brien, Tech Correspondent for the Irish Times…

Trump has announced that he intends to change the name of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America. What does this mean for geopolitics in the region, and how can the names of major geographical features be changed unilaterally? Joining Seán to discuss is Gerry Kearns, Professor in the Department of Geography at Maynooth University… Image: Reuters, Britannica

With a popular boycott of both Coca Cola and Pepsi across many of the nations in the Middle East, a new product has stepped in, which will use its profits to rebuild a hospital in the region. Osama Qashoo, Founder of Gaza Cola, joins Seán to discuss.

The full bush bikini movement is the latest trend to hit TikTok and apparently, more and more young women are getting behind body hair positivity. So, are the days of the pink razor over? Suzanne Harrington, Journalist and Author, joins Seán to discuss.

Is small talk something that’s necessary in our lives? In Sweden, there's apparently none! Could we ever go without it? And, should we? Henry McKean has been out having small talk with the public, and joins Sean to share what he’s heard.

It’s often said that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. However, in recent years, with the rise in popularity of intermittent fasting, it is hard to know what to believe. Joining Seán to discuss is Sarah Keogh, Dietician and founder of EatWell…

A newly-married couple living in Inchicore have been forced to vacate their home due to the danger of it falling into the River Camac, which the property backs onto. Joining Seán to discuss is Ellen Blehein, Inchicore resident…

Over time, your accents can tend to change. According to research, Queen Elizabeth II sounded more cockney throughout her 70-year reign. So, why does this happen? To discuss, Seán is joined by Rob Drummond, Professor of Sociolinguistics at Manchester Metropolitan University and author of ‘You’re All Talk: Why we Are What we Speak’.

Mark Zuckerberg has announced that Facebook and Instagram in the United States will remove their content moderation. Is this a bad thing? Seán is joined by Eoin O’Dell, Associate Professor in the School of Law at Trinity College Dublin, to discuss.

Perhaps the most famous example of observed evolution in a species is that of the Peppered Moth, which largely turned black in some English cities during the Industrial Revolution so as to use soot-covered trees as camouflage, and then turned back to their natural grey colour upon the advent of cleaner fuels. This demonstrates natural selection, but it also shows the impact of human activity on th...

Irish people are famous for the so-called ‘pulmonic ingressive’ or ‘inhaled yeah’... but, what is it exactly, and where does it come from? Joining Seán to discuss is Davy Holden, who runs a popular Irish history social media account, who has been investigating…

It’s exactly 10 years to the day that a terrorist attack killed most of the editorial staff at France’s satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo. The shooting is being marked in a typically-controversial style with a special 10th anniversary edition of the publication. But, how do the French public view Charlie Hebdo now? And in what way did this incident change France? Simon Kuper is a Journalist and Aut...

While Ireland has traditionally had a poor reputation for its hospital food, things are changing, especially at one particular maternity hospital. Joining Seán to discuss is Deborah Cullen, Catering Manager for the Rotunda Hospital...

Fairy erotica is big business these days, but it seems the people of Wales are not too happy about it. They claim that fairy porn is a misrepresentation of the country!  Newstalk’s Ciara Treacy joins Seán to tell more. Image: Bloomsbury