Moncrieff

Often in the Irish countryside, motorists and pedestrians will offer a finger or hand salutation on passing each other. This is something that doesn’t happen nearly as often in the city. Tina Pisco, Columnist with the Cork Echo, has been writing about it, and joins Seán to discuss.

Seán’s guest suffered a mental health episode during lockdown while living in Italy. Diagnosed as psychosis, a condition she wasn’t familiar with, her journey out of it has been a challenging task. Joining to discuss is Lisa Callaghan, an Ambassador for Shine, the mental health charity… Samaritans 24/7 Freephone Helpline - 116 123

Due to historical discrimination, the culture of the Irish Traveller community is not well known or understood. But, the minority's heritage is steeped with rich folklore stories, including one which explains how the bogs of Ireland were formed! Oein DeBhairduin is a Traveller activist and writer of ‘Why the Moon Travels’. He joins Seán to discuss.

On the evening of November 24th 1971, a man held a plane to ransom for $200,000, then parachuted out in his suit and dress shoes, never to be seen again. DB Cooper had apparently pulled off one of the great heists in American history. But, who was he and what happened to him? Marty Andrade is the Author of ‘Finding DB Cooper’, and joins Seán to discuss.

A quarter of us stick to core office hours and go home at 5 on the dot. What does your job say about you? And does it define you? Henry McKean has been finding out, and joins Seán to discuss.

The Scouts, a vast youth organisation with thousands of members across the country, is attempting to offer a roadmap to our young people using more traditional methods. Joining Seán to discuss is Sean Sheahan, CEO of Scouting Ireland… Image: Scouting Ireland

Last night, Russia sent another barrage of 300 kamikaze drones into Ukraine, a campaign they have ramped up by a factor of ten over the past 12 months. But, how do these drones work, and why are they favoured by both sides in the conflict? Joining Séan to discuss is David Hambling, Journalist and Author of 'Swarm Troopers: How small drones will conquer the world'...

We live in a country famed for its writers - this is the land of Joyce, Wilde, Beckett, Shaw and many more. We know these names. But, one name you might not be familiar with, which is very famous elsewhere, is that of Lafcadio Hearn. An exhibition running in Farmleigh House based on Hearn’s 1904 book Kwaidan is aiming to teach Irish people more about his world renowned and most famous book. Paul M...

A couples retreat is a staple of a relationship - the chance to get away from the responsibilities of life with a loved one. Now, imagine that, just with your phone… Joining Seán to discuss these AI couple retreats is Science Journalist and Senior Lecturer at Johns Hopkins University, Sam Apple.

The cancellation of Stephen Colbert’s show has rocked the television industry, but what does it tell us more broadly about the decline of TV? Joining Sean to discuss is Adrian Weckler, Tech Correspondent for the Irish Independent…

With two All-Ireland weekends in a row, for those who are not into sports, it can be a rather alienating time. So, what is it that makes some people sports mad and others so indifferent? Jennifer Horgan, Columnist with the Irish Examiner, has been writing about this, and joins Seán to discuss.

Were you unable or unwilling to fork out a gajillion Euro for one of Oasis’s dynamic tickets? Well fear not, the now even wealthier Manchunian rockers have decided to throw you a bone in the shape of a live version of Cigarettes and Alcohol, recorded on their current tour. So, is it any good? And where does it rank in the pantheon of great live recordings of the past? Broadcaster Dave Fanning join...

The 40th anniversary of Live Aid happened recently. This great moment of global solidarity precipitated a decades-long increase in aid spending from across the developed world, but in recent years, that pattern has reversed. Why has this happened, and how can we redress the balance? Dominic MacSorley is Humanitarian Ambassador for Concern Worldwide and joins Seán to discuss.

Gardaí issued just over 900 fixed penalty notices in Dublin in the first six months of the year, with Finglas and Ballymun being the worst offenders. Why is this such a problem? Newstalk’s Henry McKean has been investigating, and joins Seán to discuss.

With her house full of plastic toys that her child had gotten too old for, Seán’s guest decided that something needed to be done that would allow parents to share unwanted toys and help reduce plastic waste. Joining to discuss is Georgia Anile, Founder of the Toy Library...

Excavations at a ring fort overlooking Galway Bay have revealed that it was home to some of the most prominent members of ancient Irish society. So, what does it tell us exactly? Joining Seán to discuss is Michelle Comber, Head of Archeology at University of Galway. Image: @DiscoveryProgramme on Facebook

A group from Kilkenny recently returned from their 6th transcontinental convoy, delivering decommissioned commercial and public vehicles to the frontlines in the war-torn country, but how does the project work? Joining Seán to discuss is is Jim Harding, Co-Founder of the Kilkenny Ukraine Group…

Have you heard of a sturgeon fish? With a recent sighting of a fish previously thought to be extinct in Irish waters, what is this ‘dinosaur fish’, and why is it important for our aquatic ecosystem? Anja Murray, Ecologist, Irish Examiner Columnist and author of ‘Wild Ireland’, joins Seán to discuss.

The International Space-Out Competition is an annual event that judges who is the best at doing… nothing! But, how is that decided, and what is taking part in the event like? Joining Seán to discuss is Amelia Lumley, Puppeteer and winner of the 10th International Space-Out Competition.

When you’re making a movie, how do you find the perfect location for a scene? Is it  in a house ten minutes down the road, or on the other side of the country? And, could you make money renting out your own home? Joining Seán to discuss the process of sourcing filming locations is Peter Conway, Location Manager and Scout.

A lot of parents are finding it hard to make ends meet as the rising cost of living hits, but one parent families are particularly impacted. Most poor children live in one parent families, and 6 in 10 families living in emergency accommodation are children with lone parents. So, with back to school costs looming and still more long weeks of school summer holidays ahead, how are parents coping on t...

Who doesn’t want to live happily ever after? The important role of romance fiction in Irish Literature is being explored in a new exhibition, which has opened in the Museum of Literature Ireland. Seán is joined by the Curator of Happy Ever After and author of ‘Modernism in Irish Women's Contemporary Writing: The Stubborn Mode’, Professor Paige Reynolds, to discuss this further... Image: MoLI

Forty years ago today a 17-year-old local girl, Claire O’Mahony, saw the statue of Our Lady, in the grotto just outside Ballinspittle at Sheehy’s Cross, move. This incident began a sequence of events that saw thousands of people visit the town, widespread media coverage both at home and abroad and at least 30 other similar sightings elsewhere in the country. Colette Sheridan is a Freelance Journal...

What we consider the markers of Irishness can be something of a fraught question, but one thing that we’re somewhat famous for is our accent. So, what is it like to be Irish but not have the accent? Kate Kerrigan is the Author & Performer of a new show on this subject called ‘Am I Irish Yet?’ She joins Seán to discuss… Image: Circus250

There is currently no practical driver training or test for tractors in Ireland. Paul Daly, a Fianna Fáil Senator and farmer, is calling for this to change, and joins Seán to discuss.