Moncrieff

As Father Ted marks its 30th anniversary, guest host Tom Dunne is joined by a woman who has a unique insight into what went on behind the scenes of the iconic TV show. Lissa Evans was a Producer on the show and has now written a new book: ‘Picnic on Craggy Island: the Surreal Joys of Producing Father Ted’... Image: CONTROL

Over the weekend, a lot of you would have been out wining and dining, and hopefully having a great time with your significant other, but in the age of AI - could romantic human relationships be a bit old hat? What is agentic AI, and might it replace our spouses and partners in the long run? Dr. Lollie Mancey is an Anthropologist & AI Ethicist who has her own digital companion ‘Billy’. She join...

We are all encouraged to try and pick up a book this month, and in particular this week, as Saturday is Ireland Read's Day. Last year, Children's books were the most popular titles borrowed from libraries across the country. Newstalk reporter, Josh Crosbie has been to the library to see what young people are enjoying about reading.

Disgusting or delicious? The Dublin dish coddle has been dividing opinions for decades... But, what makes the perfect coddle, and what ingredients are people adding to mix it up? Lovin Dublin has been appealing for people to share their version of coddle in order to get a sense of what people are tucking into for dinner on these dark winter days... Lovin Dublin’s Chef Marcus O’Laoire joins Seán to...

The word ‘now’ is something that is both a statement and a weapon in Ireland. It’s the mark of satisfaction, a warning, and sometimes even a time bender. To tell more about the origins of ‘now’ and other commonly used words and phrases in Ireland, Seán is joined by Michael Fortune from folklore.ie …

When you think of endangered species, your first thought may be of the Red Panda or an exotic animal, but in fact, in Ireland - one in five species are at risk... For more on this, Seán is joined by Anja Murray, author of ‘Wild Embrace: Connecting to the Wonder of Ireland’s Natural World’. Image: Species on the Edge

In the aftermath of the Covid pandemic we’re all aware of the negative impacts conspiracy theories can have on a global level… But, they can also be hugely damaging to individuals and relationships. What governments and agencies are not clear on is how best to tackle the problem. Seán’s guest might be able to help. Cian O’Mahony is a Researcher at University College Cork. He joins to discuss.

When should you celebrate your anniversary? Should it be the first time you met? The first date? The first time you are going steady? The engagement or the wedding? And do you get cross when your partner forgets a key anniversary? Henry McKean has been asking the public, and joins Seán to discuss.

Not since ‘Tommy the Musical’ by The Who has there been such an interest in pinball in Ireland. Now that things have settled down after the Irish National Pinball Championships, what is driving this interest? Joining Seán to discuss is Donovan Delaney, Co-founder of Pinbaile… Image: @pinbaile on Instagram

There are a number of world figures with international arrest warrants - but what are the actual odds of Putin or Netenyahu going to court? Is international justice growing - or becoming weaker? Joining Seán to discuss is Steve Crawshaw, author of ‘Prosecuting the Powerful: War Crimes and the Battle for Justice’. Image: hachette UK

According to the CSO, at least 72 different languages are spoken in Ireland - the Mother Tongues Festival intends to celebrate that! Taking place on the 21st and 22nd of February in Rua Red and The Civic Theatre in Tallaght, Dr Kunle Animashaun, Adjunct Lecturer at Trinity College Dublin is leading a workshop on Yoruba traditions, and joins Seán to discuss.

Underwear outlets are reporting an explosion in demand for big knickers, and not just because Bridged Jones is back this week. So, what is driving all this? Joining Seán to discuss is Sinead Sanderson, Owner of Peaches and Cream Underwear in Dublin.

People with mental illnesses are more likely to be in prison, and for vulnerable adults, spending time in jail does not help them and costs the taxpayer a lot of money and resources… Writing in today’s Irish Examiner, Brendan Kelly, Professor of Psychiatry at Trinity College Dublin, looks at some of the potential solutions to dealing with mental health in prisons, and dispelling myths. He joins Se...

Long before ‘Ryan’s Daughter’ or even ‘The Quiet Man’, the American movie industry came to Ireland to make a film. ‘Sweet Inniscarra’ was the first talkie filmed on location here in 1931. In the interim, the original reels have gone missing and now one man is spearheading efforts to find a copy. Tom Hurley is the Radio Producer and documentary maker leading the charge. He joins Seán to discuss.

A new study in Austria shows that cockatoos are among the only known animals to flavour their food. Joining Seán to discuss is Dr. Alice Auersperg, Cognitive Biologist and Professor at the University of Veterinary Medicine in Vienna…

Do you feel the pressure to get up at 5am and be productive? The people who get up early in the morning have for many years been hailed as the successful ones, the ‘do-ers’ who work hard and get things done. But, is busyness really worth it, and are we all just sleep-deprived? Author Emily M Austen is fighting back against this... forget the 5am club, she says, it’s all about the 8am club! She joi...

Last week, Roscommon-Galway TD Michael Fitzmaurice called for a tree-free corridor of 35m from transmission lines in forests and 30m on roads. But with Ireland already lagging far behind the European average for forest cover, do we really want to start cutting down more trees. Eoghan Daltun is a Farmer, Rewilder and Author of award-winning bestseller 'An Irish Atlantic Rainforest'. He joins Seán t...

Retiring early is a dream for many - but to do so requires a lot of sacrifices. Michael Houghton decided to make those drastic changes, and is now looking at retirement in his 40's. To discuss, Seán is joined by Michael, Host of the ‘Irish FIRE’ (Financial Independence, Retire Early) podcast…

A chance encounter with a famous novel that was missing a letter has led to a sizable auction sale… Joining Seán to discuss is Daniel Pearce from NLB Auctions in Devon.

What would you do if you couldn’t remember your partner or how you fell in love? Canadian Nesh Pillay and her other half, JJ, have been dubbed the real life ‘50 First Dates’ story after Nesh lost her memory in October 2022. What followed was years of recovery, and life turned out to be much more complicated than a romantic comedy... Nesh Pillay, subject of the Amazon Prime documentary ‘50,000 Firs...

With the way technology is now, have we lost the art of diary keeping? Do you still write in one? Bridget Jones is one character whose dedication to her diary sparked inspiration for author Edel Coffey. She joins Seán to discuss! Image: Universal

Later today, Ireland might have its first ever three Michelin Star restaurant, with Chapter One by Mickael Viljanen rumoured to be in line for the accolade - 51 years after the country got its first ever star. That was awarded to the Arbutus Lodge Hotel in 1974. Declan Ryan is the former owner of the Arbutus Lodge Hotel, and he joins Seán to discuss. Image: Savills Ireland

Seán’s guest is a hotel reviewer and stayed overnight in 40 hotels across Ireland’s capital last year. She is writing about her conclusions in tomorrow’s Weekend Magazine in the Irish Independent. Nicola Brady joins to discuss.

More than 150 people are auditioning to work at Disneyland Paris in Dublin today. Singers, dancers, and all-round performers are competing in the hope of landing a gig at the famous theme park. Our reporter, Josh Crosbie has been down at the auditions today finding out what it takes to be selected.

If you are a dog owner, you may be used to your pet sneaking into your bed… But, what if you reversed things and slept in the dog bed instead? There is a 6ft human dog for sale in Lidl at the moment and Guardian contributor Tim Dowling has been testing it. Tim joins Seán to discuss. Image: Lidl