Moncrieff

You may think of cats as unemotive, vacant creatures but new research from Lyon College in Arkansas has found that feline’s can have up to 300 facial expressions.  Senior author of the study Brittany Florkiewicz joined Seán to tell us more.

Tourism in Albania has skyrocketed, with people in search of beautiful Mediterranean coastlines and beaches but without the price tags of traditional resorts in Italy or France. Writer and comedian Peter Flanagan told Seán all about his trip to Albania a few weeks ago.

Ireland's remaining historical houses are a highly valuable cultural resource. What kind of stories do these homes tell, and what are they used for now? Justin Greene, owner of Ballyvolane House and a Board Member of Historic Houses of Ireland and joined Seán to discuss the historical value of the houses dotted across Ireland.

Trinity College Dublin Students’ Union (TCDSU) has called for a “formal and insightful investigation” into the college’s participation in university rankings systems as part of the Union of Students Ireland's call to leave the rankings system if a university wishes to do so. In an email sent to Provost Linda Doyle, TCDSU President László Molnárfi said university rankings prompt unnecessary academi...

The way we view Viagra has transformed over the past few years. What was once seen as a taboo drug taken only by older men, Viagra has become increasingly normalised, and sexual health experts encourage open conversation around its use. Dr Caroline West joined Seán to discuss Viagra and its evolving place in Irish society.

It is the first Friday of the month and many of you might have a dinner reservation. Menus are constantly changing and some people are not happy with the changing descriptions of simple food. Newstalk reporter, Josh Crosbie, has been speaking to those creating dishes and those who enjoy eating out.

Apple has faced a major legal setback in the UK. The tech giant was unsuccessful in having a lawsuit blocked that claims Apple used software to reduce iPhones Battery capacity. Joining Tom Dunne to give us the background on this case and the controversy Apple has faced over its batteries, Was Newstalks, Technology Correspondent Jess Kelly.

When you imagine the Swiss Alps, an image that likely comes to mind is the bucolic picture of dairy herds carrying the iconic sounds of a cowbell. But now the tinkling of these bells is causing an uproar as residents of a particular town have called for them to be restricted due to noise pollution. Imogen Foulkes, a BBC journalist based in Geneva, joined Tom Dunne to tell us all about it

A new display at Kilmainham Gaol, Museum marks 100 years since the last prisoners were held in the Goal. The final leaders held between October of 1923 and January 1924 were some of the most influential leaders of the anti-treaty republican movement including including Ernie O’Malley, Austin Stack and Peadar O’Donnell. Future Taoiseach and President of Ireland Éamon de Valera was also held in the...

New research by Auto Trader has found that average cars from the early noughties have shot up in value. The price increase can come down to fewer of these vehicles on the roads but it also seems people are back buying these cars for nostalgia. Newstalk reporter, Josh Crosbie, has been looking into the whole area of classic, retro and vintage collectables.

You might have heard the phrase “free the nipple”, and maybe you noticed a recent fashion trend where women are choosing to go braless. But Kim Kardashian – never one to miss a business opportunity – has launched 'the nipple bra' which does exactly what it says on the tin. Laura Mullett is a fashion expert and journalist  and she explained the trend, and reviews this new product from SKI...

Earlier this week, a Labour MP in the UK was suspended after he used a particular phrase that is igniting controversy: "From the River to the Sea". It's been heard at protest marches but also during political discourse as the Israel/Hamas War continues. But its history and meaning has been exploited on a number of sides. Scott Lucas, Professor of International Politics at the UCD Clinton Institute...

A pensioner who has effectively walked around the world twice is now chasing a new goal, a Guinness World Record.   Vinod Bajaj, 73, is hoping to beat the record with his total walking distance of 80,204km, which he completed by hiking near his home in Limerick every day for seven years...

When you think of witchtrials, you may think of those in Salem, but did you know, we they took place here in Ireland, too?  And in fact, the first was held here in 1324, 300 years before they took place in America.  Niamh Boyce is an author who has been writing about this in her book 'Her Kind –The gripping story of Ireland’s first witch hunt' and she joined Sean to discuss...

Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder, more commonly known as ARFID, is a neurological based eating disorder where the person avoids certain foods or types of food, restricts their food intake, or both.   This can be influenced by several reasons such as avoidance due to the sensory characteristics of food, a lack of interest in eating or worries about the consequences of eating, for...

It's routinely the case that news organisations have an obituary written for people who haven't died yet. When the sad day comes that said person does pass away, the obituary can be published with a minimum amount of updating, but mistakes can happen. Alison Healy, writer and contributor to The Irish Times has written a number of these over the years and she joined Sena to discuss...

Richard Branson, Anna Wintour and Michelle Obama set their alarms by it. There is a new TikTok trend of workouts and early morning planning sessions, hashtag “the five-to-nine before the nine-to-five”. Welcome to the 5am Club. We asked Henry McKean to join this exclusive club for a week and he joined Sean today to see how he got on...

Ballymaloe is about as far away from the 90s acid rave scene as it gets, but those two worlds collided for Arun Kapil in the early naughties.   He’d created a hugely successful record label, helped form the Sugababes and All Saints girl groups, but after 15 years of the Ibiza party scene, it was time for a change.  And so he found himself doing the world renowned Ballymaloe coo...

Ann Marie O'Sullivan has taken a lot of selfies, but as she writes in today's Irish Independent, her phone has been doing something she hasn't been aware of. It was airbrushing her features. Freelance writer, Ann Marie O'Sullivan joined Sean on the show to discuss...

Green Day’s latest album cover has picture from a riot scene from The Troubles in Northern Ireland. It shows a smiling boy with a rock in his hand standing in front of a burned out car. Is this artistic creativity or an exploitation of a very sensitive time in our history on the island of Ireland? Niamh Campbell, Journalist from The Belfast Telgraph joined Sean to discuss... Image: Chris Stee...

Although it sometimes seems as if the housing crisis stumbles from one disappointment to the next, there is now over 100 years of housing planning since the State began. A new programme on TG4 seeks to put the current crisis in a broader historical context. Sean was joined by Paul Webster, Director of 100 Bliain de Thithíocht (100 Years of Housing: Crisis Without End)..  Image: TG4

With Halloween just around the corner and the dark evenings setting in, there’ll be some families sitting down for the annual viewing of Hocus Pocus, but for others this is their favourite time of the year when horror comes into the spotlight.   Author Sophie White is a self-confessed horror superfan, and she’s put together a festival to mark the goriest, scariest and most disturbing fic...

A new survey says Gen Z thinks there is too much sex on TV and sees most relationships on screen as forced. Henry McKean has been looking into this...

With the proliferation of social media, the narrative we consistently hear is that our attention spans are reducing. But is this true or instead, have our attention spans always been manipulated by different forms of media? Sean was joined by Emma Smith, Professor of Shakespeare studies at Hertford College, Oxford, who has been writing about these issues for the Guardian... 

Researchers from Oxford University found each tantrum on a plane lasts 15 minutes. Parents are being urged to make sure their children nap for 37 minutes, do activities for boredom for 31 minutes, are fed for 19 minutes, and have noise blocked out with music or reading for 14 minutes. Two-thirds of parents surveyed say the idea of flying with a misbehaving toddler fills them with anxiety.  Bu...