Moncrieff

A newly-published book has taken a dive into Ireland’s vibrant farming past. From evictions and land wars, to golden harvests and dancing at the crossroads, Michael B. Barry and John O’Byrne’s new instalment features hundreds of colourised photos that date back as early as the mid-1800s. ‘The Irish Farm in Colour’ was published last week and is the fourth book in a series which recaptures the Irel...

When we talk about the climate crisis, we often tend to couch the conversation in terms of negligence or poor corporate governance, as if environmental crime is not really a crime in the way that theft or assault are. But, there are organised gangs and corporate entities out there committing crimes against all of us everyday, just as there are those trying to stop them.  Julia Shaw is a Psych...

Trinity College is home to the book of Kells and its iconic Library, which makes it one of Dublin's most popular tourist attractions. But, the university is also home to a Zoological Museum, containing a 70-million-year-old fish and a plethora of extinct animals. Dr Martyn Linnie is Curator of Trinity College Dublin’s zoological museum, and he joins Seán to discuss. Image: Trinity College Zoologic...

Is there a supermarket price war coming? The German supermarkets have reduced the price of its home brand 2 litre of milk by 10 cent, the first price cut since 2023. But, grocery prices have increased by 40% since 2022. How have you dealt with rising costs? Henry McKean met grocery shoppers in Cork, and sent in this report.

All eyes are focused today on Israel as the peace deal begins, with Hamas releasing the remaining hostages alive... There have been scenes of celebration and jubilation. So, what now? John Costello has been living in Israel for 17 years and he joins Seán from Tel Aviv to discuss…

Scientists and gourmands in Copenhagen have taken to producing yoghurt using the fermenting properties of ants. But, how does it all work? Seán’s guest, a keen “fermentista” herself, decided to make her own ant yoghurt. Linda Geddes, former Science Correspondent for the Guardian, joins to discuss the results!

Free Christening parties are being offered to couples who conceive during their stay at a hotel chain in Poland. There’s more – each employee will be paid a bonus of over €2,000 for every child they have. That’s an initiative launched by Polish hotel chain Arche and its 73-year-old owner in an effort to boost the country’s low birth rates. Poland’s fertility rate of 1.2 children per woman in 2023...

A lot of us will remember collecting stamps or football stickers or stationary or something of that ilk as a child. But, is that a modern phenomenon, or is it something inherent that we have seen throughout history? James Delbourgo is Professor of History at Rutgers University and author of ‘A Noble Madness: The Dark Side of Collecting from Antiquity to Now’. He joins Seán to discuss.

Experts are debunking the myth of multitasking, but in such a fast-paced world, how else can we possibly keep up? Psychology Professor at Stanford University, Anthony Wagner, says multitasking does not exist, but what we are doing instead is forcing the brain to switch between tasks. Research shows performing multiple tasks at the same time reduces productivity by up to 40% by increasing cognitive...

Have you ever travelled on your tod?  Well, travel agents say solo travel is on the rise - and not just among singletons. Newstalk's Sarah Madden reports.

Seán’s guest has photographed everyone from dictator August Pinochet to Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain, but his new book is a collection of portraits of Irish writers. Photographer Steve Pyke joins Seán to discuss.

Sober-dating is all the rage now, but what does this mean for the future of socialising? New Google search trends revealed that December 2024 marked an all-time high for searches on alcohol-free drinks. The drinking culture has shifted radically, with many young people opting for zero-alcohol to meet their date at their ‘most authentic’ self. But, Freelance Journalist Édaein O’Connell has tried th...

Although she is now happily married, Seán’s guest has always felt a calling to the priesthood, and has spent decades trying to change the Church’s position on the matter. Now, she has written her memoir, ‘A Divine Calling: One Woman’s Life-Long Battle for Equality in the Catholic Church’. Soline Humbert joins Seán to discuss.

A Palestinian filmmaker and former martial artist now living in Ireland has been sharing her story as her new movie hits streaming platforms this week. Lexi Alexander was born and raised in 1970s Germany to a Palestinian father and German mother. Her passion for martial arts brought her to all corners of the world, including the US, where renowned actor Chuck Norris encouraged her to become a stun...

Condensation season has arrived… hurray? As the weather turns colder, you will find water vapor building on the insides of your windows, especially in the bathroom. So, what can be done to offset all this? Joining Seán to discuss is Denise O’Donoghue, Life Hack Columnist with the Irish Examiner, who has been investigating...

A visiting lecturer at UCD has been speaking about the pivotal role Ireland played in helping him process his survivor’s guilt after fleeing war-torn Kosovo when he was just eight years old. Professor Islam Borinca’s life changed forever when his father and brother were murdered during the war between Kosovo and Serbia in 1998… In a recent feature for The Journal, he speaks movingly about witnessi...

Be honest, how many hours are you spending scrolling, tapping and watching social media? Are you permanently attached to your phone, or have you decided to buck the trend and give up altogether? Technology Editor with the Irish Independent Adrian Weckler joins Seán to discuss whether we have actually reached peak social media…

From Stephen King to George Saunders ,there is no shortage of authors willing to put their insights on how the greats write and how you can do it better But, how does advising children on the topic of creative writing differ from dealing with more mature aspiring writers? Patricia Forde is Laureate na nÓg and author of ‘Making It Up As You Go Along: A Children’s Guide to Writing Stories’. She join...

Last year, Revenue seized 112 million illicit cigarettes in Ireland. The black market trade in tobacco products is big business. So, how do tobacco companies go about clamping down on all this. Conor Pope, Consumer Affairs Correspondent for the Irish Times, joined a sting operation to find out, and joins Seán to discuss.

Last year, over 14,000 Irish people visited Lapland. Over the past 30 years, tourism to the northern Finnish territory has exploded. Now, a new investigation has examined the ecological consequences of this… Joining Seán to discuss is Lotta Narhi, an Investigative Environmental Journalist based in Finland.

It’s a disease which many of us thought had been fairly much eradicated, but cases of TB are at their highest level since 2018, and could hit 300 by the end of this year… Professor Anne Marie McLaughlin is from the St. James’ National TB Centre, and joins Seán to discuss. Image: CDC

Seán’s guest decided, on a whim, to visit Ireland last month for the Lisdoonvarna Matchmaking Festival after hearing a reference to it on the hit TV show ‘Schitt’s Creek’. What happened next is the stuff of an American Rom-Com! Colorado native Mary Timby joins Seán to discuss… Image: Galway Tourism

Author of ‘Riders’ and ‘Rivals’, Jilly Cooper, has passed away. Perhaps best known for her bingeable bonkbusters, she brought joy to millions of readers, particularly in the UK and Ireland. Joining Seán to reflect on her work and life is Sheila O’Flanagan, author of the bestselling recent novel ‘The Honeymoon Affair’...

Can ‘swag gap’ relationships truly last? This new ‘gap’ that’s been circling on social media refers to when one partner is much cooler than the other – in fashion, in lingo, in friends, and in hobbies. Users have taken to TikTok to share how their style clashed with that of their partner, and how relationships with such differences are inevitably destined to end. But, is that really the case? Join...

Would you let your 2 year old cook? Well, Jamie Oliver thinks you should! So much so, he is bringing out a new series of cookbooks aimed at toddlers and their parents. Someone with a wealth of knowledge in this area is Chef and Author, Gina Daly. She joins Seán to discuss.