Moncrieff

It’s being hailed as a massive win for the song-writing community, that Ed Sheeran has been found not guilty of copyright. It comes after the pop-star was accused of copying 'Let’s Get It On' by Marvin Gaye. During the trial Sheeran said he would quit music if he was found guilty, and after the trial said using chords is the same as using the colour blue - nobody owns it. Sean was joined by Grammy...

Ian Fleming fans will remember both the book and indeed the classic 1969 movie ‘On Her Majesty’s Secret Service’. Now, just in time for the Coronation, a new Bond thriller is published, this time entitled ‘On His Majesty’s Secret Service’. Charlie Higson, author of ‘On His Majesty’s Secret Service’ joined Sean on the show...

A bible said to have been on Michael Collins person when he was assasinated will go up for auction on May 13th. Sean was joined by Ian Whyte, Chairman of Whyte's Auctioneers...

It’s the time of year that gardeners love – trees are starting to come into full leaf, spring flowers are being replaced with summer blooms, and the grass is growing. But would you consider letting the grass grow for the month of May? No Mow May is a campaign run by the National Biodiversity Centre to encourage people to lock away the lawnmower and give wildflowers the chance to grow – all in the...

Most people will have had the experience of when you’re waiting for your train and someone who really can’t play the piano, starts playing the piano. Should public pianos be banned altogether? Sean was joined by Conor Capplis, journalist with the Irish Times, who has been writing about this...

A Dublin city councillor has called for an outright ban on the series Kin filming in Dublin claiming it’s reflecting badly on the city. But if somewhere appears in a TV or movies, does it always mean bad business for that city? Eoghan Corry, the Editor of Air & Travel Magazine joined Sean to discuss...

More and more people are reporting discarded nitrous oxide cannisters around housing estates in Dublin and other parts of the country. This so-called ‘laughing gas’ is now causing serious medical problems for some users, so what needs to be done? Sean was joined by Mark Ward, Sinn Fein TD for Dublin Central to discuss...

This summer sees the launch of a new exhibition at the Little Museum of Dublin. It celebrates the iconic John Hinde postcards which presented an idealised view of Ireland. Author, Paul Howard worked in the John Hinde factory in Cabinteeley and he joined Sean in studio... Image: John Hinde Collection

During the cost of living crisis there has been a surge in demand for own branded grocery items. But what is it that convinces shoppers to choose one over the other? Sean was joined by Denis O’Hora, Senior Lecturer in Consumer Psychology at the University of Galway...

For this weeks 'How To' slot we’re looking at how to take up an instrument. Sean was joined by Michael Dawson, Conductor and CEO of the Irish Institute of Music and Song to discuss...

You might remember that BBC journalist Laura Trevelyan quit her job to become a slavery reparations campaigner. She’s the great, great, great, granddaughter of Lord Charles Trevelyan. Her family have already given more than £100,000 to the Caribbean island of Grenada to compensate for her ancestors’ role in the slave trade, and yesterday she was asked if they should also be giving money to Ireland...

Obviously, parents want their children to be safe. But have we gone too far in trying to insualte them from any form of risk? We might worry about what injuries might ensue from rough and tumble, but isn't rough and tumble an integral part of childhood? Sean was joined by Katie Glynn from Willow Outdoor Preschool in Roscommon to discuss...

Carbon dioxide removal technologies, or CDR for short, are controversial because some people believe they are delaying the inevitable. But are they a positive way to reduce global warming while fossil fuel companies can continue their current output? John Gibbons, Environmental journalist joined Sean to discuss...

The beauty business has been targeting men for years with manscaping taking off down below. In the States, this year, sack spray or scrotal potions have hit the shelves and will be coming to this side of the Atlantic soon. So will we be trying to slap on sack spray here in Ireland? Henry McKean has been investigating…

In 1962 an elaborate hoax was devised to make it seem that a Sputnik landing had taken place at a farm in Wexford. Years later Neil White heard this story from his father and couldn’t quite believe it. Neil set about disproving the story, but in the process found it was actually true, he joined Sean to discuss...

As reported recently, Netflix has decided to ditch its mail order DVD service after 25 years. Many people were surprised to discver that thie option still existed, while others, like my next guest, are mourning its departure. So, does the all-consuming transfer to streaming lose something which we used to have in the pre-digital age? Sean was joined by Zach Schonfeld, freelance journalist and crit...

A new survey in the UK has found that people would rather interact with their neighbours via community Whatsapp groups rather than in person. So, have we lost our sense of neighbourliness? Sean was joined by writer and broadcaster Barbara Scully to discuss...

Next Saturday all eyes will be on King Charles coronation, including some chocolate ones. Jen Lindsey-Clark is a Chocolatician and the famed creator behind works such as a chocolate Thomas the Tank engine and Chocobatch, a chocolate statue of Benedict Cumberbatch, her latest work sees King Charles reimagined through chocolate. Jen joined Sean to discuss the process... Image: PA Media

The extraordinary true story of a zookeeper and her baby elephant during wartime Belfast has now been turned into an illustrated children’s book. Ellan Rankin, Author of The Secret Elephant joined Sean on the show...

Last month, Stanford University in the US announced that students would be required to atted a half day course on free speech. However, the definition of free speech has yet to be clarified. Dr Tim Crowley, Academic Freedom Officer at UCD joined Sean to discuss...

What happens when you mix alcohol with sectarianism? Well the results are messy, and that’s why a Buckfast knockoff has been asked to rebrand its packaging. King William Fortified Wine, which has an alcohol proof of 16.90% ABV in a nod to the Battle of the Boyne – was launched in Glasgow last September. Dave Scott, Director of the Anti-Sectarianism Charity joined Sean to discuss...

Church communities tend to stress the importance of families, but in turn this can make people feel excluded. In the UK, the Church of England has said they are going to make an effort to recognise the importance of singletons, after all Jesus was unattached. Henry McKean has been looking into this...

Lately, we’ve seen a rise in the trend of “friendship pruning” - that is, breaking up with your friends. But should you go around constantly evaluating your friendships? And is talking shite with people a necessity and even comforting? Dr Brendan Kelly, Professor of Psychiatry at Trinity College Dublin, and author of "In Search of Madness, joined Sean to discuss..

The coronation of King Charles is just ten days away, and as is tradition in the UK, there are commemorative pieces and merchandise popping up. Everything from mugs, plates, coins, tankard, t-shirts, food - but also, gardens. Two months ago, Diarmuid Gavin moved to Antrim and has been working on a garden to commemorate the King’s big day, and he joined Sean to tell him all about it... Image: Insta...

This year Leaving Cert students have no idea when they will get their results. A spokesperson told Newstalk this was due to “well-documented” issues, one of which is the recruitment of examiners. Last year the results were delayed from mid-August to early-September due to a huge shortage of teachers correcting. Brian Mooney, former State Examiner, Guidance Counsellor and Editor of Education Matter...