Moncrieff

A robot in Japan has set a new world record for solving a Rubik’s Cube in the fastest time. The Mitsubishi machine solved the puzzle in 0.305 seconds – the same amount of time it takes to blink.  Joining Seán to talk about this new feat is Mary Hennessy of Speedcubing Ireland Chairperson and one of the World Cube Association Delegates for Ireland.

What is a silent hair appointment and why are more and more people looking for salons that offer this? Well, it's what it says on the tin - it’s an appointment where customers are free to shut off, relax and don’t have to participate in dreaded small talk.   Sonia Magnier, Business and Wellbeing Coach and former hair salon owner wishes she had implemented this years ago. She joins Seán t...

There was a time when we all simply signed off our emails with our names but this isn’t the case anymore, with an increasing amount of info being loaded onto the bottoms of our correspondence and even the new trend of using permanent ‘out of office’ automatic replies.  Joining Seán is Pilita Clarke, Financial Times columnist, who has been writing about this.

As many of you will have noticed when you hear the doorbell ring over the last while, there are currently thousands of canvassers out across the country in advance of the local and European elections next week. But is there an art to the canvas?  Joining Seán to discuss is former Campaign Manager, Derek Mooney.

A new habitable planet has been discovered, but how was it found? And what makes it so liveable?  Joining Seán to discuss is Larissa Palethorpe, PhD student and Co-Lead of a new study at the University of Edinburgh… Image: NASA

In response to Ireland’s recognition of Palestine as a state, the Irish ambassador in Israel was made to watch footage of the events of October 7th, while Israeli media filmed her. According to the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs, this was “very inappropriate and wrong”.  Joining Seán to discuss this is Bobby McDonough, Former ambassador of Ireland to London, Rome and Brussels, who...

In just under two years, Temu has become one of the most popular shopping apps in Internet history with close to 100 million users in the EU alone. Joining Seán to give an insight into all things Temu is Consumer Affairs Correspondent with the Irish Times, Conor Pope.  Image: Temu

Ballyclerahan, a village in south Tipperary, is to consider formally changing its name to what the community has been colloquially known as for decades – Clerihan. This will be the first historic name change in more than 500 years.  Spearheading the cause is Local Fine Gael Councillor, John Fitzgerald. He joins Seán Moncrieff to discuss.

There was a story in British media about a man who packed 250 pounds worth of food to bring on his holidays to Spain. Is this insane? Or to some extent, is this something we all do? Newstalk's Henry McKean asks people in Dublin airport about their home comforts abroad.

Many people would like to purchase an EV but considerations such as range and price can be insurmountable obstacles. One man decided to just build his own in his back garden and now he has finally completed the project for a surprisingly cost-effective amount. Joining me now is Tom Cheesewright… Image: @bookofthefuture on Instagram

With the air turbulence incident on the Doha to Dublin flight over the weekend, what exactly do pilots do to manage a situation like this? Joining Seán to discuss is Kevin Byrne, retired Air Corps Lieutenant Colonel and Airport Safety & Security Auditor.

Last week new laws criminalising adults who entice or force a child to engage in any form of criminality came into force. The so-called ‘Fagin’s Law’ will make the offence punishable by up to five years in prison, on conviction in the higher courts. Also as part of the government’s plan to disrupt the use of youths in criminal activities, the department of justice has invested in an intensive inte...

Google recently released their top ‘should’ searches related to dating over the past year, and people have a lot of questions when it comes to dating etiquette.  Joining Seán to answer everything from whether you should kiss on a first date to who should pay, is Dating Coach & Owner of INTRO matchmaking, Feargal Harrington.

With Climate change and the threat of AI among the biggest issues facing society at the moment, is the concept of a country still relevant?  Dr. Graham Finlay is from the School of Politics and International Relations at University College Dublin and joins Seán to discuss.

We’ve all heard the expressions ‘boys will be boys’ and ‘girls will be girls’ when rearing children, so how does a child’s gender affect how you parent them? Actor Chris Pratt recently said that he notices a ‘big difference’ when raising his daughters compared to his son. With Seán to discuss is journalist and mother of seven, Jen Hogan.

Imagine a car with a wind turbine or a vehicle designed with a built-in meeting room – sounds like science fiction, right? Yet, these are just a few of the innovative and sometimes wild patents filed by major car companies over the years.   To delve into these fascinating inventions and explore the history and future of automotive innovation, Seán is joined by Dave Humphreys, Motoring Jo...

An investigation carried out by Noteworthy, the investigative department of The Journal, has uncovered evidence of illegal cockfighting taking place up and down the country. But what needs to be done to prevent and stop this activity?  Joining to discuss is Labour senator Annie Hoey.

It sounds like a scene straight out of a movie or an episode of Friends: the quintessential high school reunion, a post-education milestone that every American seems to face. But what's the real deal with these reunions? Are they purely an American invention?  Interestingly, it appears that schools in Ireland have caught on to the reunion trend as well. Frank Coughlan, a columnist for the Iri...

Apple Music has released its list of the 100 greatest albums of all time.   The top 10 features Beyoncé, Michael Jackson and The Beatles - with The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill taking the number 1 spot.  Today FM’s Claire Beck and Newstalk’s Tom Dunne join Seán to tell everyone how wrong Apple Music are.

The TV presenter Angela Scanlon admitted that she lied to the BBC in a job interview- saying that she had plenty of studio experience in Ireland, when that was not truly the case. But, don’t we all lie a bit when trying to get a job? Newstalk’s Henry McKean went to find some answers.

It has been a week of controversy in the world of art with King Charles III’s new official portrait, stirring some conversation with many claiming it looks ‘hellish’. Australia’s richest woman, Gina Rinehart’s portrait has also sparked debates as she has demanded her portrait be removed from the National Gallery of Australia.   Joining Seán to discuss what makes a good portrait is Kathle...

Ireland, Norway and Spain have all announced plans to recognise a state of Palestine. But, what is recognizing a state? And how does it work?  Scott Lucas is a Professor at the Clinton Institute in University College Dublin, and joins Seán to discuss the process.

Two new roller coasters have just opened in Ireland, promising to thrill and amaze—but do they deliver the excitement that coaster enthusiasts crave? We turned to the experts to find out if these rides are worth the hype. Joining Seán to discuss is Richard Bannister, who is on the Executive Committee of the European Coaster Club.  Image: Emerald Park

A furore has developed stateside after OpenAI launched a new iteration of ChatGPT which uses voice technology that seems to resemble that of Scarlett Johansson, in an odd throwback to the 2013 movie ‘Her’.  Joining Seán to unpack this legal quagmire is Ciara O’Brien, Tech correspondent for the Irish Times… Image: Open AI

As part of the airport’s expansion plans, two original aircraft hangars from the 1940s and the iconic North Terminal, which was used for many VIPs and Heads of State, will have to be levelled.   Frank McDonald, former Environment Editor of The Irish Times says this shouldn’t happen as these are important elements of our architectural heritage. He joins Seán to discuss.