Moncrieff

There was a time when there were many youth clubs dotted around the country, but as smartphones take over, is it time to save these institutions as the last bastion of real world connectivity for our young people? Joining me now is Colman Noctor, Child Psychotherapist, who has been writing about this in the Examiner today…

According to research, the death of the semicolon is near; with its usage in English books plummeting by almost half in two decades. But, what is the appropriate use of the semicolon? What grammatical function does it intend to fill? And, is its increasing rarity a cause for concern? Lisa McLendon is Author of The Perfect English Grammar Workbook and has done research on the semicolon. She joins S...

If you’ve been spending time in nature recently or been going on hikes or walks thanks to the nice weather, you might’ve come across large silk webs covering trees and bushes. Collie Ennis, Biodiversity Officer in Trinity College Dublin, joins Seán to explain exactly what that fascinating silk sheet is, and why you should just admire it rather than be afraid of it. Image: Butterfly Conservation

Have you ever wondered who is behind the knitting needles for Kneecap’s famous tricolour balaclavas? Lewis Kenny joins Seán to discuss how he started off at a knitting class, and now makes balaclavas for Kneecap. Image: @tricolourbalaclava on Instagram

Most of us probably remember getting a pound off your mother or the old man to go down and buy some comics or one hundred penny jellies. It’s probably a treasured memory for some, but was it a beneficial experience? Did it affect how you viewed money as an adult, and should those of us who are parents now give out pocket money at all? Rachel O’Dwyer is Lecturer in Digital Cultures in the National...

Do middle lane hoggers drive you mad? Motorway driving can be stressful at the best of times, but the phenomenon of people sitting in the middle lane instead of moving in and out of the slow lane is something that you see right across the country. So, are Irish drivers worse than others, and why is this a bad and dangerous habit? Geraldine Herbert, Motoring Editor at the Sunday Independent, joins...

What started off as a once-off community project in 2018 has now turned into a vibrant community performance group for over 65s. To discuss, Seán is joined by Director, Performer and Facilitator of The Elders, Andrea Scott. Image: Mill Theatre

Deciding how to split up your wealth among loved ones and family can be quite daunting and confusing, but creating a will helps to iron out any confusion over how your wealth is divided when you pass away. But, what happens to your estate if you are single when you die? Joining Seán to discuss is John Costello, Solicitor with Noble Law and Specialist in Wills and Administration of Estates.

As the long absence of rain begins to have a serious impact on the country, Seán’s guest has been exploring what the history of droughts can teach us about how to manage current and future ones. Joining to discuss is Michelle McKeown, Lecturer in Environmental Geography at UCC…

Have you ever thought about what it would be like to go back to education in your 50s? Dr Suzanne Crowe recently went back to college to study law after two decades, while still juggling her full-time job and all the other responsibilities that life brings. She joins Seán to discuss.

The BBC has confirmed Gary Lineker will leave his presenting roles sooner than planned. His departure comes after he shared an Instagram post about Zionism that included a drawing of a rat, historically used as an antisemitic insult. Henry McKean has been out and about talking to people about quitting, and joins Seán to discuss.

One of the highlights of the Balmoral Show this year, one of Ireland’s largest agricultural shows which is currently taking place in Co. Antrim, is the JCB Dancing Diggers. These enormous, powerful machines are manipulated by their highly trained drivers to dance to music. Joining Seán to discuss is Matt Lucas, Captain of the JCB Dancing Diggers Team… Image: Balmoral Show

This time of the year, young people are turning to TikTok to study for their exams! But, how well does this method of learning work? Katie Linehan, French and Spanish Teacher with the Dublin Academy of Education, joins Seán to discuss.

An odd reality of urban life is that although those who reside in big cities are surrounded by other people, they rarely get to know a lot of their neighbours. This was also the experience of Paweł Łoziński, until he decided to start greeting passers by from his balcony. Paweł Łoziński is the Director of The Balcony Movie. He joins Seán to discuss. Image: MUBI

A record number of Irish beaches have been awarded with a Blue Flag, announced this morning. But, what exactly does a blue flag mean, and where are the best beaches in Ireland? Joining Seán to discuss is Caroline Delaney, Outdoors Editor for the Irish Examiner… Image: Beach Awards

A new event at the GPO Museum seeks to highlight the contribution of the LGBTQ community to the struggle for Irish independence. Joining Seán to discuss is Caitriona Travers, Tour Guide at the GPO Museum...

An apparent copy of the Magna Carta, bought by Harvard university in 1946 for next to nothing, has, after extensive analysis, turned out to be an original. Joining Seán to discuss is David Carpenter, Professor of Medieval History at King's College London...

Have you ever wondered what it might feel like to go more than a few minutes without checking your phone and to go completely offline? Rosanna Irwin, Founder of Samsú, will be hosting Dublin’s first phone-free event this Sunday and joins Seán to discuss the digital detox.

Tonight, Ireland will compete in the Eurovision semi-final, with Emmy Kristiansen performing ‘Laika Party’. But, have you ever wondered what it takes to win Eurovision? Joe Bennet, Musicologist, Writer, and Researcher analysed hundreds of Eurovision finalists, and joins Seán to talk to us about what songs work best for Eurovision…

While you might think the pot of neon green slime you got for your godchild is the greatest gift ever, spare a thought for the parents who will inevitably have to clean it up after it’s been tossed aside. So, what are the worst presents you can get a child? Journalist Niamh O’Reilly has been writing about this in the Irish Independent, and joins Seán to discuss.

As a Jewish and Irish woman, Seán’s guest feels that the non-Zionist perspective from her community has not been properly represented in the public discourse. Ria Czerniak-LeBov, an artist based in Dublin, joins to discuss.

While Ireland’s soldiers who died on the fields of Flanders were long unacknowledged, this has shifted over the past while. For 11 years, Seán’s guest has been on a mission to change our national approach to the sacrifice of these men. She recently undertook a project to visit the final resting places of 678 souls from Co. Sligo who died during the conflict in France and Belgium, travelling 2,000...

We know by now that It’s important for all of us to do what we can to curb the negative effects of climate change. Of course, some people can do more than others. Your emissions can vary wildly depending on where you live in the world, your socio-economic status and apparently, your gender… John Gibbons is the Founder of the climatechange.ie website. He joins Seán to discuss.

The TV phenomenon that is the Traitors has now announced its celebrity version line up, coming in the autumn. Joining Seán to examine it all is Orlaith Condon, Co-Host of Pod Save Us, the reality TV recap podcast… Image: BBC

Are you up like a lark and jumping out of bed first thing to start the day? Well, you may just have been influenced or targeted on social media by some of the ludicrously extreme morning routines that people seem to be sharing – navigating super productive 5-9’s before their 9-5... Health Psychologist Aideen Stack joins Seán to weigh in…