Moncrieff

If you think politics divides households, you’ve never witnessed a dishwasher debate. Knives up or down? Rinse or don’t rinse? And is rinse aid a miracle worker or a marketing scam? Well, Catriona Redmond joins Seán to end the cold war at the kitchen sink, with the definitive guide to loading your dishwasher properly. Prepare to question everything you thought you knew about that bottom rack…

Turns out, slow and steady really does win the race! New research suggests older adults may be better at everyday tasks that require focus, not because they’re faster, but because they take their time. So, should younger people be doing things more slowly? Dr Simon Hanzal from School of Psychology and Neuroscience at the University of Glasgow joins Seán to discuss.

An Amazon delivery driver has driven his van onto a tidal path in the UK and got stuck in the water after following his GPS instructions. This isn’t the first time someone has gotten into trouble after trusting their GPS too slavishly. Joining Seán to discuss is Elaine Burke, Host of the ‘For Tech’s Sake’ podcast…

Tomorrow is the start of Lent - where those who lean towards religion may give up things in their lives for a period of time. However, people without a religious bone in their body will also be taking part. So, what is the psychology behind Lent, why do we do it? Psychologist Stella O’Malley joins Seán to discuss.

Late last week, the intelligence service of South Korea stated that it believed Kim Jong Un has “entered the stage of nominating [his daughter, who is 13 years old] as successor.” But, how exactly does succession work in the secretive state? Joining Seán to discuss is Hazel Smith, Professor of Korean Studies at SOAS, the School of Oriental and African Studies, in London… Image: Reuters

A science conference has been told that taking better care of your teeth and gums can cut the risk of developing more than 50 conditions and diseases, including dementia and arthritis. But why is this the case? Joining Seán to discuss is Caroline Robbins, Dentist with Kiwi Dental and Vice chair of Irish Dental Association GP Committee.

Four elm trees in a quiet square in Rathmines could help bring back Ireland’s native elm. Experts believe the trees in Kenilworth Square may be resistant to Dutch elm disease, the fungus that has destroyed most elms across Ireland over the past 50 years. If confirmed, these rare survivors could provide the genetic key to restoring the native wych elm nationwide. Joining Seán to discuss is Arboricu...

With Ramadan kicking off tomorrow for Ireland’s Muslim community, the next 30 days are a major challenge, both physically and mentally. There is a lot of commitment required to forego water and food between sunrise and sunset. But, what exactly are the practicalities of Ramadan on a day-to-day basis? Joining Seán to discuss is Ibrahim Noonan, the Imam of Galway Mosque…

Just 3 bus stops were built last year in Dublin, the year before it was 37. With 6 months of rain falling in 6 days, commuters are getting wet like never before. Henry McKean jumped on the bus to find out more, chatting to experts and passengers. He met Green Party Leader Roderic O'Gorman, who has raised the issue in the Dáil, and sent in this report.

While Community Employment schemes are available to sports clubs and organisations, some argue those resources should be more focused on essential community work, especially as volunteer numbers continue to fall. With more people commuting, less involvement in parish life, and fewer stepping forward to help, questions are now being raised about the future of community spirit, and whether CE scheme...

Today is Friday the 13th a date that, for many, carries an uneasy sense of bad luck and looming misfortune. From religious folklore linking the number 13 to Judas at the Last Supper, to modern horror films that cement its ominous reputation, the superstition has endured for generations. But where does this fear really come from, and why does it still hold power in a country like Ireland, rich in f...

Church launches marriage-themed computer game for Valentine’s Day aimed at enticing more couples to the altar – What other video games try to encourage human behaviour (social engineering) and the marriages of gamers? Ronan Price, Journalist and games critic at Irish Independent joined Sean to explain all.

Chef Catherine Fulvio has launched a new Online  cookery course for transition year students. The course aims to equip gen z with basic cooking skills so that they can cook easy and doable meals for themselves later in life. But is teaching Gen Z cooking online the best method? Catherine Fulvio  Owner of Ballyknocken of House & Cookery School in Wicklow, joined Sean to explain why yo...

There was a time when pubs would close for “holy hour” on Sundays. However, that was abolished in 2000, but what are the other strange things pubs in Ireland did back in the “good old days” Joining Sean to explain all the strange rules and traditions that used to exist in pubs was Mick Clifford from the Irish Examiner  

New research  has discovered that the tricolour is older than previously thought. Joining was joined by John Crotty, Historian and author of ‘The Irish Tricolour: the Truth Behind the Symbols and Struggles that Defined a Nation’ who has been researching the matter

Copper Face Jacks opened its doors 30 years ago this week. The landmark nightclub has had its moments. From 2011 All Ireland Football Champions - Dublin Captain Bryan Cullen's 'See you all in Copper's' speech to George Best having a pint, to guards and nurses finding love. But is the stereotype true, finding your life partner on the dance floor with a vodka and redbull? Last night we sent Copper F...

Despite having had many in the past, Galway city now has no gays bars left. While some are saddened by this situation,  Galway native Francis Conneely believes that there isn’t really a need for gay bars anymore. He Joined Sean to explain

Sean was joiend by an Jane Howard an arts writer based in Adelaide  who happens to have a particularly loud guffaw, which can sometimes even land her in trouble when she goes to live shows.

A US couple is set to buy an abandoned Spanish village, complete with a church, school and bar for €310,000. It’s part of a growing trend across Spain, Portugal and Italy, where depopulated rural villages are being snapped up by foreign investors and transformed into tourism hubs and corporate retreat destinations. As rural “desertification” becomes a political issue in southern Europe, are these...

Joanna Fortune joins Sean to discuss listeners' parenting queries...

Luca Di Marzio, owner of Rosa Madre restaurant in Dublin. Earlier this week, a BBC reporter went viral after going around Milan, the host city of the winter Olympics, looking for a pizza with pineapple on it. One chef told him it is illegal. But why are Italians up in arms about it? Luca Di Marzio, owner of Rosa Madre restaurant in Dublin, joined Sean to explain

My next guest wanted to go public with her story so that other women who have undergone plastic surgery might feel empowered to undergo a cosmetic reversal. Joining Sean was Sarah Lavender Smith, a writer and mountain ultra runner from Colorado.

The Palace of Westminster, which houses Big Ben and the House of Commons, is falling apart. With parts of the rodent-infested building complex over a 1000 years old, the troubled iconic UNESCO world heritage site came to light last week when a mouse ran past the Leader of the Opposition during a televised interview. A new report has been published on the path forward. Joining Sean was a man who sp...

Donald Ewing, Head of Education and Policy with Dyslexia Ireland. Donal is an educational psychologist and does assessments with people with dyslexia, and he joined Sean to explain what Dysgraphia which is often associated with poor handwriting

Where do people start when they need/want to preserve their digital legacy? Who can access your saved songs, your digtial notes, your blog/website, email addresses, can anyone? Subscriptions to netflix, gaming accounts, your Instagram, Dropbox – you might have crypto currency accounts, shopping apps, gambling/lotto apps, your utility bills the list is endless Someone is going to need access to the...