Moncrieff

By now, we’ve all heard of or seen the pictures of the Sphere in Las Vegas where U2 were the first act to perform in the $ 2.3 billion venue. Outfitted with surround LED screens and lights to ensure a concert experience like no other. But, what do you think of it being built on your door step? Or better yet, wedged between residential flats?  That’s the plan for the world’s next Sphere venue...

A letter written by Christopher Columbus after his return to Europe after his time in the Carribean is up for auction later this month. But why is this document so significant and how does it help us to understand the true motivations of this controversial figure? Jarlath Regan was joined by Caroline Dodds Pennock, Lecturer in International History at the University of Sheffield and author of On S...

Over the past few decades, The way we consume coffee has changed dramatically in Ireland, with the lazy method of milk and sugar being replaced in popular culture by cappuccino’s and mocha’s.    But how does coffee consumption differ internationally, and has the importation of different coffee cultures changed the way we here in Ireland consume coffee? Jarlath Regan was joined by St...

“Don’t let the bed bugs bite” is becoming more of a manifestation rather than a nice sentiment in Paris as the city is facing a bed bug epidemic. The infestation of bed bugs has been brought to attention worldwide as people share the reality of what the epidemic of bed bugs looks like – from bites to fecal matter left on sheets.  Jaralth Regan was joined by bed bug expert from Bed Bug LTD Dav...

They say that your skin and teeth are a good indicator of your overall health but as it turns out so is your fridge.  If your fridge is chaotic and all over the place, your diet will most likely be a reflection of that.  That is the philosophy subscribed to they those who participate in fridge architecture which is the strict organisation and stocking of your smeg or whirlpool.  Jar...

Over the last few years there has been an increase in the number of US prisons using social media in order to recruit people to write to their inmates.  Some have even gone as far as posting videos with the prisoners asking for people to reach out to them – similar to a dating profile.  But did you know, the Irish Council For Prisoners Overseas offers a similar service.  Leslie Alco...

Former students of St. Conleth’s College in Dublin are seeking an apology from the school as their French teacher was a former member of the SS during the Nazi occupation of France and they alledge that he assaulted them. Irish Times journalist Ronan McGreevy, whose new book 'The Kidnapping: A hostage, a desperate manhunt and a bloody rescue that shocked Ireland’' is out in late October, has been...

Aertel, Ireland’s teletext service is coming to an end next week after nearly 40 years. What impact did it have on us and will we miss it? Henry McKean joined Sean to discuss...

Do you know much about your local council? Would you want to see them take more responsibility in your area?   In last week’s Irish Times, Michael McDowell wrote about the challenges facing Dublin City, and he blamed the council for a lack of activity.  But is the real issue a lack of power and authority held within the council’s remit?   Ciarán Cuffe, Green Party MEP, for...

Irish hospitals produce an extraordinary number of plastic medical grade aprons for incineration every week. But a start up in Cork is attempting to disrupt the norm. Sean was joined by Dr. Mary O’Riordan, Co-Founder of HaPPE Earth... Image: HaPPE Earth

People often say that they “feel the love” but where exactly do we feel love? Well, researchers from Aalto University in Finland set out to do exactly that. The study at Aalto categorised 27 different types of love from true love to self love and the love for religion.   Sean was joined by Pärttyli Rinne, Researcher at Aalto University to discuss...

What is the worst or best social media campaign that you’ve ever seen? The market to compete with social media advertising is huge and businesses leave us either captivated or cringing. Some of these campaigns are very memorable and inventive whereas others, just entirely miss the mark. But what makes a social media campaign successful? And what makes it flop?  Sean was joined by Columnist fo...

Tonight a new documentary on Virgin Media One will look at the serious consequences of Irish people travelling to Turkey for medical procedures. Increasingly, those who travelling are suffering from post-surgery side effects, which have to be rectified by the HSE.  Leanne O’Driscoll features as part of it joined Sean to discuss...

Many farmers around the Irish countryside still use scarecrows to deter unwanted pests but a crowd in the US are developing a robotic version, that is capable of differentiating between various threats. Sean was joined by Bret Kulakovich, who runs the robotics lab in Plymouth State University in New Hampshire.. Image: Plymouth State University

Tonight, Bono and U2 kick off a 25 date residency in Las Vegas. But is it not the antithesis of rock n roll to follow in the footsteps of Celine Dion and Frank Sinatra or are residencies taking the place of touring? Sean was joined by Danny McElhinney, Music journalist with the Irish Mail on Sunday... 

Comedian and entertainer Sonali Chandra decided to stay a virgin until she got married. Sonali is now 36 and hasn’t had sex yet but says that she falls in love with just one kiss. Her parents probed the idea of an arranged marriage, common in her Indian culture, 13 years ago.   But now Sonali is finding it difficult to begin a relationship with someone who embraces her prudeness and used...

How expensive are your boxers? Well Emma Corrin, familiar actor from The Crown series, was modelling for Miu Miu in Paris wearing a $5,600 pair of briefs. The heavily sequined briefs made from silk and wool are nearly sold out in one colour way of the garment and designed to be worn on their own and to be seen. No trousers, skirts or dresses. But they are not the only heavily priced underpants on...

While once upon a time this island was full of blacksmiths, nowadays they are sadly few and far between. But one man in Co. Tipperary continues to use the methods of the Celts and the Vikings to make and repair a wide variety of tools and equipment. Sean was joined by Jamie Smith, blacksmith at Triscele Forge…

If you’re wracked with guilt leaving your dog in the kennels while you go on your holidays, then Stena Line may have a solution to your woes.  Pet-friendly cabins were announced by Stena Line last year for their Rosslare to Cherbourg route, but just how pet-friendly is it?  Tabitha Monahan from the Irish Independent took the challenge of bringing her dogs Scout and Harper on the voyage a...

Mick Jagger has announced he is to give his €500m Rolling Stones back catalogue to charity and not his 8 kids. Is he right to do so? Henry McKean went to find out and joined Sean to talk inheritance...

Artist, producer and composer, Matthew Herbert, bought the skeleton of a horse and then turned its bones into musical instruments. His new album, The Horse, was recently released, and he joined Sean to discuss... Image: X via @matthewherbert

The ‘2024 Air Travel Hacks Report’, which contains some handy money-and-stress-saving hacks for Britons for future holidays, from the best day to book flights to how far in advance you should purchase tickets for the biggest savings has been released.  It’s compiled by the travel website Expedia, who have looked at some of the data on their own website  Joan Scales Travel Writer joined S...

There’s a pear tree in Dublin that’s seen 170 years of culture, industrial revolution and urban development. And it is nestled in the Liberties, DNA results have shown. Students at NCAD in the Field Project taught by Gareth Kennedy have had their studies incorporated into the biodiversity of the inner city college, and it centred around this tree in particular. Gareth Kennedy joined Sean to discus...

24 years ago, Jill Dando was murdered on her London doorstep. It was a crime that shocked the UK, and a massive man hunt for her killer was launched. Two years later, Barry George would be convicted and give a life sentence for her murder, but he was acquitted at a retrial in 2008.  So who is responsible for her death? That’s the focus of a new documentary that’s landed on Netflix this week....

We all love a bit of cake. It comes out at all major events; weddings, birthdays, leaving a job – but have you ever wondered where it came from? Well one man has set out to write a history of the cakes in Britain and exploring where they came from and how they came about.  Author of ‘Cake: A Slice of British Life’ and publishing editor for the Telegraph, Andrew Baker joined Sean to discuss...