Moncrieff

We’re looking back on the weekend and looking forward to the week ahead through the lens of these four questions: What delighted you over the weekend? What annoyed you over the weekend? What did you learn over the weekend? What are you looking forward to this week? Joining Seán to discuss is Maia Dunphy and Donal O'Donoghue!

Scientists in Bolivia have identified a small wild cat with a leopard-like coat as a previously unknown species.  This is the first time in 100 years that a new species of cat has been discovered making it a momentous occasion.   Local communities call the feline "tilcayo," a nickname that inspired the cat's new scientific designation, Leopardus tilcayo.  Dr. Colin Lawton, Head of Z...

Launched in 2015, the World Steak Challenge is regarded as an international benchmark for quality within the global steak industry.     Ireland has once again been crowned the top-performing country at the World Steak Challenge, taking home a record-breaking 82 medals at this year's awards event in Amsterdam.    Chef Marcus O’Laoire joined Sean to discuss the competition....

The number of people aged 100 or more in Japan has exceeded 100,000 for the first time, according to the health ministry.    Experts put the long lives of the Japanese down to several factors, including a healthy diet and an active lifestyle.    Sean was joined by Rose Anne Kenny, Regius Professor of Medicine at Trinity and Prinicipal Investigator of TILDA, The Irish Longi...

No Big Deal is a sitcom produced purely by AI that has premiered on YouTube.   Set inside the chaotic world of venture capital, No Big Deal follows an eccentric team at investment firm Janus.  Sean was joined by TV and Film Critic Brian Llyod to hear his opinions on it.   Image: C21 Media

It will (apparently) change your life according to TikTok: double cleansing involves washing yourself with soap, rinsing off, and doing it all over again. What’s the point of this, and is it actually harmful for your skin? Caitriona Ryan, Consultant Dermatologist with the Institute of Dermatology joins Seán to discuss.

Most of us have had a time in a house share, or will if rent comes down and you can finally move out of your parents house. But, how do you cope living in a shared house? What are your experiences of it ,and how do you handle bad housemates? Henry McKean went to ask, and sent in this report.

As part of the EU Presidency, the Irish Museum of Modern Art is hosting an exhibition featuring work from 17 countries with the theme of states in post-conflict situations, including Northern Ireland. One of the artists featured is Amanda Dunsmore, Artist and Lecturer in Fine Art at Limerick School of Art & Design, who in the 1990s was artist in residence in the Maze prison, and worked with bo...

There’s a story in the Irish Times today about members of Oireachtas having to repay expenses. In one case, a Senator was on sick leave, but was paid expenses anyway, and another situation for a TD who was on maternity leave. So, what is the confusion here, and how does payment and expenses work for TDs and Senators? Joanna Tuffy, Labour Party Councillor for Dublin Mid-West and a former TD and Sen...

The restaurant Al Condominio in Verona, Italy is offering customers a free bottle of wine if they surrender their phones before their meal. What is the benefit of a phone-free restaurant, and should it be done here? Joining Seán to discuss is Luca Di Marzio, owner of Rosa Madre Restaurant in Dublin.

This Saturday, the National Epilepsy Conference will take place in Cork. One of its speakers is Labour TD for Cork North, Eoghan Kenny, who joins Seán to discuss his own experience of living with epilepsy.

The Ploughing Championships are on this week, and while that is usually a celebrated event, there was one year where it was embroiled in international politics and controversy… Joining Seán to discuss is Melissa Baird, Assistant Editor of ‘Documents on Irish Foreign Policy’.

Every Wednesday, Seán will be joined by someone to hear unusual stories on heinous crimes… This week, Cassie Delaney joins to discuss cases where the perpetrator was hiding in plain sight…

In this morning's Irish Independent, Brian W Higgins is arguing that there is too much paperwork involved in a Catholic wedding, and that all this red tape is putting people off and is actually contributing to the decrease in people choosing a Catholic wedding over a secular wedding… Is it true, should the Catholic Church reexamine how much paperwork is involved with the ceremony? Sara, Wedding Ex...

Nearly every day, you can learn of some new way climate change is impacting our lives. Today: it’s conkers. The World Conker Championships has been running for 60 years in the UK, raising over £400,000 for charity may not go ahead because of climate change… StJohn Burkett, World Conker Championships organiser and Anorak of the Year (as bestowed by the Dull Men's Club), joins Seán to discuss.

The actress Sydney Sweeney has come under fire for a recent advert she has taken part in, representing a sports gambling website, while only wearing sports equipment for clothes. This has particularly garnered negative attention from female athletes, who have said she has demanded and sexualised women's sports. Despite all of the lip service, sex still sells (at least to men) - which begs the ques...

If you’re on LinkedIn, and you hope your presence there might lead to a new job, be very careful: a new scam going around involves false job offers being sent by scammers. What do you need to look out for? Dr Stephen Treacy, Lecturer in Digital Transformation in UCC, joins Seán to discuss.

If you open a young bottle of wine, the general advice is to put it in a decanter. Some people are taking this to an extreme with ‘hyper-decanting’ - which includes putting wine in a blender! So, how does it all work? John Wilson, wine critic and contributor to the Irish Times joins Seán to discuss.

While it’s impossible to pinpoint the exact causes of cancer, most of us know the basics when it comes to reducing our risk: eat plenty of fruit and vegetables, exercise regularly, stop smoking, wear sunscreen... But recent research is suggesting that there are other habits that might reduce our cancer risk. So, what are these habits? Joining Seán to discuss is Consultant Oncologist, Professor of...

People are often baffled as to why countries not in Europe join Eurovision, including Canada, who will be taking part in the competition from 2027. That’s not all, with Canada and US relations not being as strong, it seems like Canada is looking towards the EU for a stronger relationship… Graham Finlay, Lecturer in the School of Politics and International Relations, University College Dublin joins...

A month can’t just be a month - this month is apparently ‘Self-Care September’, something Oprah, who is appearing in the 3Arena this evening, might be prescribing to. Jennifer Horgan, columnist with the Irish Examiner, is having none of it, and joins Seán to discuss.

Have we lost the art of conversation? Is it just a one sided rant? Have you heard of the serial mono-loguists, the trauma dumper, the boomer-asker, and the classic interrupter? Henry McKean visited a cafe in West Clare and interrupted conversations. He sent this report!

Last week, thieves broke into a French museum and escaped with four paintings by Renoir worth millions of euro, but why? It’s not exactly easy to sell stolen and famous art, so why go through the trouble? Anja Shortland, Professor in Political Economy at Kings College London, joins Seán to discuss.

We’re looking back on the weekend and looking forward to the week ahead through the lens of these four questions: What delighted you over the weekend? What annoyed you over the weekend? What did you learn over the weekend? What are you looking forward to this week? Joining Seán to discuss is Maia Dunphy and Donal O'Donoghue!

When someone says something was harder ‘back in their day’ - how often is that true? For example, was the Leaving Cert maths paper in 1986 harder than the one in 2026? Brendan Guildea, Maths Teacher, author and Maths Consultant joins Seán to discuss.