Moncrieff

In the town of Gavle in Sweden, every year the city builds a giant straw goat. But dark forces have led the goat to be burned down on a total of 38 times out of the past 54 years. Will it survive this year? Sean was joined by Anna-Karin Niemann, Spokesperson for the Gavle Christmas Goat...

For this weeks 'How To' slot we’re looking at how to donate an organ. Sean was joined in studio by Dr. Catherine Motherway, Clinical Lead on Organ Donation with University Hospital Limerick and Organ Donation Transplant Ireland to discuss...

Brendan Cummins, who is one of Ireland’s most violent prisoners is suing the State after being placed in solitary confinement for the last 3 and a half years. His lawyers are arguing that being locked up for 23 hours a day is making him more aggressive due to the solitary placement in what is known as the National Violence Reduction Unit. To explain this case, Sean was joined by Conor Gallagher, T...

There have been reports that the morality police in Iran is to be disbanded. The Attorney General said it at a press conference, but it turns out he doesn’t have the power to do so. Since then, Iranian officials have only affirmed the regime’s commitment to modesty rules, even announcing new enforcement methods and punishments. The morality police was established in 2005 with the task of arresting...

This Christmas sees the return of the Nativity play to schools all around the country. Newstalk reporter Henry McKean visited Holy Child National School, Larkhill, Whitehall to see their Nativity play...

Welsh-Australian Artist, Lee Hadwin had no training, and no inclination in his waking life to be an artist, however, he draws and sketches portraits, figures and landscapes in his sleep. Lee is the only person known to be alive that can only produce art whilst asleep and not whilst in a conscious state awake, and he joined Sean on the show to discuss... Image: leehadwin.com

What is it about Christmas music that we enjoy so much? It’s the same songs we hear year on year, so what is their enduring power? Peter Vuust, Professor in Neuroscience at the Department of Clinical Medicine at Aarhus University and Director of the Center for Music in the Brain joined Sean to discuss…

Swinging paintcans, electrified sinks, a drop from a zipwire are all hazards that the baddies ‘’The Wet Bandits’’ are subjected to in the movie Home Alone. When comedians James Acaster and Guz Khan decided to make a TV show recreating the scenes from the Christmas classic they knew they needed to call one person, Engineer, Dr Zoe Laughlin. Zoe joined Sean on the show to discuss the science behind...

The myths and preconceptions that surround stammering can often affect how people who stammer view themselves. Society’s obsession with fluency has reinforced a stigma that is difficult to shake off. Happily, the shame that is often associated with stammering is now being replaced by what’s called stammering pride. Sean was joined by Nora Trench Bowles, Vice Chair of The Irish Stammering Associati...

The remains of Private Seán Rooney, who was killed in an ambush while serving on a United Nations (UN) mission in Lebanon on Wednesday night, have returned home to Ireland this morning. Three separate investigations are being conducted into the incident by the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon, Lebanese authorities led by a military prosecutor, and the Irish Defence Forces. Sean was joined b...

James Dempsey joined Sean for the weekly TV review slot, TV on the Radio...

With only 9 more sleeps until Christmas, Santa and his reindeers are readying themselves for their annual world wide trip. Scientists have now worked out how Santa and his team have been able to make their epic journey whilst also protecting the environment. Matt Grey, founder of event:decision, who was involved in carrying out this research joined Sean on the show to discuss...

At last there is a pub in Dublin that caters quite heavily to your pooch. PYE Dundrum has newly opened and encourages your doggy companion to join you for a doggy beer. Ronan Flood, co-owner of PYE Dundrum joined Sean on the show... Image: PYE Dundrum

Jen Hogan journalist with The Irish Times joined Sean on the show today to recap the stories making the headlines this past week...

Kim McCafferty has travelled all over the world as a street theatre artist, perhaps most notably with her work for Clowns Without Borders, an extraordinary group of people who bring laughter to the most marginalised communities in the most challenging circumstances. Closer to home, she is also the founder of Cavan Arts Festival. Kim joined Tom Dunne on the show today…

Have you ever turned to artists like Cold Play or Adele to find some comfort in times of despair? If the answer is yes, you’re not alone as various studies including research carried out in Durham University have found that melancholy music actually helps to lift our spirits. Tom Dunne was joined by Tuomas Eerola, Professor in Music Cognition in Durham University to discuss...

Underwear. A vital component in how we dress. One leg goes in, then the other, and we hoist them up to our hips. But for one person, they have taken this process one step further. Trinity Graduate, Rachael Schmitt has broken the Guinness World Record for most underpants pulled up in thirty seconds. Rachel joined Tom Dunne in studio, alongside Henry McKean who is attempting to break her record...

It’s no secret the past couple of years have been tough for everyone. It seems like it’s been one thing after the next for most. But is there anyone out there who is having a good time? Celebrity psychic Inbaal joined Tom Dunne to tell us which star signs are coming out on top in 2023…

Artificial intelligence has been developing at a staggering rate for the past couple of decades bringing both excitement and fear. ChatGPT is a new AI bot that has the ability to write a movie script in the style of Scorsese or craft a poem with the flair of W.B Yeats. Tom Dunne was joined by professor of AI at UCC, Barry O’Sullivan…

One silver lining to Brexit this Christmas on the ferry to Wales and back is the duty free. For €16 or £12 foot passenger return you can save about 40% on drink, cigarettes and perfume. Henry McKean jumped onboard the Stena Line Estrid to bring this report…

The world of politics can be a murky business at the best of times. When entering public life, you can expect that a lot of criticism will come your way over the course of your career but personal jabs from anonymous accounts on social media is a relatively new aspect to political life. Neil Richmond, Fine Gael TD for Dublin Rathdown has found his own way dealing with the negativity and he joined...

In 1996 two teenagers in the state of Georgia were convicted of murder. After new evidence emerged thanks to a true crime podcast the two men have been released from prison after over 25 years. Stefanie Preissner was joined by Lee, one of the men who has been exonerated and Jacinda Davis, co-hosts of 'Proof' podcast... Image: Georgia Innocence Project

A farmer has appealed to a dog owner to put their animals down after 50 sheep were killed on his Offaly farm by two dogs. Suzi Walsh, dog behavioural therapist joined Stefanie Preissner on the show to discuss...

It has been a long time since comedian Harry Hill performed live on stage, night after night. However, he is back and is currently on his first tour in almost a decade with 'Pedigree Fun!', ‘an all-singing, all-dancing one-man spectacular,' Harry Hill joined Stefanie Preissner to discuss...

For this weeks 'How To' slot we’re looking at how to get a mortgage. Stefanie Preissner was joined in studio by Karl Deeter, Director of Yes.ie...