Moncrieff

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...

For this weeks 'How To' slot we’re looking at how to get an alternative pet. Sean was joined by Darragh Patel, Assistant Manager of Petmania in Carlow Town. to discuss...

A drug called pregabalin is currently available on prescription from your doctor. However, a number of medical professionals are now calling for it to be reclassified as a ‘Schedule 2’ drug, or what some other countries refer to as a Class C drug. But why? Sean was joined by Dr. Kieran Harkin, GP in Merchant’s Quay to discuss...

At the age of 12, Eoin MacCraith was diagnosed with cancer. His father, Brian, decided to contact the Make A Wish foundation to help with his wish – he wanted to meet Tom Morello, lead guitarist for Rage Against the Machine. Eoin was flown to LA to meet Morello and, unbelievably, they ended up forming a lifelong friendship. Dr Eoin MacCraith joined Sean to discuss the importance of Make A Wish in...

An organisation based in Limerick installs and manages a bee hive on the rooftop of your company. But how does it all work? Sean was joined by Patrick Casey, Founder of Bee Green to discuss.. Image: Bee Green

What are the best biscuits for dunking? Researchers dunked 17 of the most popular biscuits into a mug of hot water. Coming in first was the Jaffa Cake which withstood 116 dunks before breaking. The worst was the digestive with 6 dunks. Henry McKean has been looking into this...

Sometimes the advice grandparents give can be helpful but a lot of the time, it can be uninvited. So, should you give advice to your adult children about your grandchildren or should you just back off? Sean was joined by Anne McCormack, Family Therapist to discuss...

One of our listeners got in touch with the show after they received a parcel that they hadn't ordered. It turned out to be part of what is known as a brushing scam. Newstalk's Technology Correspondent Jess Kelly joined Sean to discuss...

Passing the family farm down to the generations was often a cause for rift and division if not handled properly, but what if there isn’t anyone to pass the farm on to anymore? Fewer than 6 per cent of farmers in Ireland are under 35, and with the closure of shops, pubs and post offices in villages all over Ireland, it seems that rural life is declining faster than ever. Elaine Houlihan is the Pres...

An Irish artist is bringing visibility to an invisible issue, in her new exhibition called 'Got Damp.' Visual artist, Avril Corroon has collected one thousand litres of water from thirty properties where damp is an issue. Avrill joined Sean to discuss how she uses 'damp' as a material in her important art work… Image: Instagram @avcorroon

Banking services, streaming, shopping – it seems like you need an email address to do anything these days. With most companies moving to online services for their customers, is it possible to exist without an email address? Caitriona Redmond, Cost of Living Expert with the Irish Examiner joined Sean to discuss…