Moncrieff

The kindness of strangers - Henry McKean Reports

27 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Hundreds of thousands of people are without power and water in the afermath of Storm Éowyn, but one side of this is that strangers are coming togethe...

The show that lets the audience perform!

24 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Perhaps you’ve always dreamed of performing in a major theatre in front of a big crowd, but you always felt that your singing voice wasn’t quite u...

What is a grab bag? Staying prepared for the worst

24 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

With today’s storm causing havoc across the country, should more of us be prepping? One particular aspect of prepping that Tom Dunne’s guest has b...

30th anniversary of Eric Cantona’s kung-fu kick

24 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

It was 30 years ago this week that Mat Utd’s Eric Cantona infamously kung fu kicked a fan at Crystal Palace. But, why did it happen, and what was th...

Forget the Loch Ness Monster - look out for aliens!

24 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Breaking news: the Loch Ness Monster is not real!Well, that’s what guest host Tom Dunne’s guest says anyway - and that instead, we should be spend...

How has Ireland done in Oscar nominations?

23 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

After being delayed due to the LA wildfires, this year’s Oscar nominations have just been announced live in Hollywood. So, how have the Irish fared,...

How do you make an audiobook?

23 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Audiobooks have become big business, and naturally you may have listened to some big name actors narrating your favourite novel.But, they’re certain...

Why is the UK Ministry of Defence hiring sci-fi writers?

23 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In order to better understand how policies could affect human outcomes and how people might react to various catastrophes, the UK Ministry for Defence...

What it’s like to be catfished

23 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Could somebody online be pretending to be you?There’s been a national fascination with ‘catfishing’ recently, but can it really happen to anyone...

‘Corpse flower’ is about to bloom in Sydney

22 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

A huge and putrid plant called a corpse flower is about to bloom at any moment, and is currently being watched by thousands around the world on a YouT...

There are less than 30 cobblers left in Ireland

22 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

When was the last time you got your shoes repaired instead of just buying a new pair?Within your answer to that you may recognise the plight of the co...

Is coffee paste the future?

22 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The days of drinking instant coffee from a flask are over! Enter spreadable coffee from a tube…Joining Seán to discuss is Philippe Greinacher, Co-F...

What does a pluralist Syria look like?

22 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Speaking yesterday, the UN Special Envoy Geir Pedersen made clear the global organisation’s desire for a pluralist democratic Syria.But considering ...

What is a ‘light box’?

22 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Dublin City Council has this week rolled out light boxes across all libraries in the capital. But, what are they, and why would you use one?Joining Se...

Does taping your mouth shut help you sleep?

22 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Have you thought about taping your mouth shut to get a better night’s sleep?A new viral craze has seen people put tape to stop themselves breathing ...

The house that survived LA’s wildfires

21 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

This month’s LA wildfires may yet prove to be the most devastating natural disaster in U.S. history... It is already the country’s most costly wil...

Why are thongs being banned in Sydney?

21 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

A council in Greater Sydney has banned thong and g-string bikinis at its public swimming pools, causing outrage among pool users.Despite the outrage, ...

Can Ireland handle a wave of espionage?

21 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In the past, Ireland as a country has assumed a certain level of immunity from espionage.It perhaps comes from our neutrality, our geographical locati...

Are supermarket loyalty schemes worth it?

21 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Does it really pay to be loyal, or are we giving away too much information?The Consumer Columnist for the Irish Examiner, Caitriona Redmond took a lon...

Citizen science survey aims to map the Irish stoat

21 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

What's the difference between a stoat, a weasel, a mink and a pine marten? A citizen science survey of Ireland is currently trying to map the Irish st...

Should international surrogacy be banned?

21 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In the last couple of weeks Italy brought in a new law making surrogacy a “universal crime”.This has been seen as part of a larger international r...

The world’s oldest fish is aging backwards

20 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In 2019, it was discovered that the Bigmouth Buffalo fish was the world’s longest-lived freshwater fish, surviving to an age of at least 127 years o...

What is ‘eldest daughter syndrome’?

20 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The idea of ‘eldest daughter syndrome’ is the latest trend on TikTok, but what is it, and do first born daughters really carry a burden of respons...

The history of Ireland’s banking strikes

20 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

What happened during the Bank Strikes in Ireland in the 1960s and 1970s? And how did people get access to cash when the banks went on strike?To discus...

Star Citizen - the most expensive piece of entertainment ever

20 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The development expenses of blockbuster games have been climbing ever higher over the years towards big Hollywood-style spending.But, a new game has o...

What did you want to be when you grew up? - Henry McKean Asks

20 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Life rarely works out the way you planned it. When you were younger - did you actually achieve the profession you said you wanted? And, is that such a...

White-tailed eagle shot in Westmeath

16 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The National Parks and Wildlife Service has announced that one of the state’s rare white-tailed eagles has been shot dead in Co. Westmeath. But, why...

Why is milk a villain’s drink?

16 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Even though “Them bones them bones need calcium!”, why is it that drinking whole milk has become so contentious?In many films and TV shows, milk i...

What happened to GAA Handball?

16 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

GAA is such a central part of Irish life that, even if you are not athletically inclined at all, it’s pretty much impossible to avoid its sports.Wel...

What’s your biggest regret in life? - Henry McKean Asks

16 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Is it healthy to reflect on past mistakes? Should we be wallowing in them? Or is it best to rarely think about things - and move on with our lives?Hen...

Why do we yawn?

15 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Why do we yawn? Is it our body’s way to tell us we’re tired, or is it an attempt to keep us awake? Also, why is it infectious?Phil Smyth, Physicis...

Could a ‘Digital Euro’ be our answer to cryptocurrency?

15 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

As a continent, Europe is the least engaged with cryptocurrencies. Are we lagging behind, and if so, could a so-called ‘Digital Euro’ be the solut...

Could we see Cornish independence?

15 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The amount of people living in Cornwall who now identify as Cornish nationals, as opposed to English, has doubled since 2011. With a Labour government...

How technology has changed death

15 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

As technology has infiltrated almost every part of our lives, it may have gone unnoticed to many that it is also infiltrating death…Online grief gro...

What is a ‘5 minute city’?

15 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

You are probably familiar with the concept of the ‘15 minute city’, where the essential things in our lives aren’t too far away. While we strugg...

Has women’s contraception gone backwards?

15 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Free contraception is available in Ireland for women from ages 17 to 35.But, research in the UK suggests that many women are moving away from traditio...

The legacy of Thomas the Tank Engine’s creator

14 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The woman who turned the Thomas the Tank Engine books into a global TV phenomenon has died. But, how did she pull it off?Joining Seán to discuss is a...

Newly-declassified MI5 guidebook is fascinating

14 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

A newly declassified guide booklet for new spies reveals fascinating details on how the British trained their new espionage recruits in the middle par...

Bertie Ahern: How to Broker a Peace Deal

14 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Reports suggest today that Hamas has accepted the Gaza peace deal with Israel, some sources claim it could be finalised by the end of this week.But, w...

Have we seen the death of nightclubs?

14 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

There was a time when people spent their Friday and Saturday nights on the dance floor…Nowadays, there are just over 80 nightclubs open nationwide, ...

Spain introduces 100% real estate tax on non-EU residents

14 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Yesterday, the Spanish Prime Minister unveiled a series of measures to attempt to alleviate the housing problem facing the country.Perhaps the most re...

New campaign seeks to bury the forgotten

13 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

There are currently 65 people whose remains are lying in unmarked shallow graves around the country, since the War of Independence. A new campaign is ...

Is music really as big as ever?

13 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Despite the many predictions of doom in the music industry, the UK trade body for music retailers has just reported a “20 year high for recorded mus...

Is technology ruining the human experience?

13 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

We can all see that there are pros and cons to the digital age.Where at one point we may gain a convenience, we might also lose a skill.But, has our r...

What owning the world’s smartest dog looks like

13 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

You might hear anecdotally that border collies are the smartest dogs, and in Britain at least, this appears to be the case.A 6-year-old Border Collie ...

Should Dublin change its 20-year rule for statues?

13 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

While calls have been made for a statue to be erected to Sinead O’Connor in Dublin, current rules don’t allow a figure to be commemorated until 20...

What have you heard on public transport? - Henry McKean Asks

13 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

It seems that recently, people have become less aware about their personal conversations, leaving everyone in their vicinity in earshot of their busin...

What is 'sleep divorce'?

10 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Last month, figures revealed that a third of Irish couples aren't getting enough sleep. To help fix this, couples have been sleeping in separate beds,...

How to know if she’s faking it

10 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Babygirl hits screens in Ireland today and depicts a saucy love affair between a female CEO and her 28-year-old intern.The CEO is in a seemingly happy...

Farmers have been digging sheep out of the snow

10 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

One of the most remarkable images emerging from the cold snap this week is that of the hill farming community digging out their sheep buried in severa...

How important is a dress code in sports?

10 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

After the world’s number one chess player was forbidden from playing a match because he was wearing jeans, questions are now being asked about the d...

How to organise your personal tech for the new year

09 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

With lots of devices requiring new passwords for the new year, and the inbox full after the holidays, what can we do to clean up our personal tech?Joi...

How a name change can affect geopolitics

09 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Trump has announced that he intends to change the name of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America. What does this mean for geopolitics in the region...

What is ‘Gaza Cola’?

09 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

With a popular boycott of both Coca Cola and Pepsi across many of the nations in the Middle East, a new product has stepped in, which will use its pro...

Why more women are going ‘full bush’!

09 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The full bush bikini movement is the latest trend to hit TikTok and apparently, more and more young women are getting behind body hair positivity.So, ...

What’s the point of small talk? - Henry McKean Asks

09 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Is small talk something that’s necessary in our lives? In Sweden, there's apparently none! Could we ever go without it? And, should we?Henry McKean ...

Is breakfast really the most important meal of the day?

08 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

It’s often said that breakfast is the most important meal of the day.However, in recent years, with the rise in popularity of intermittent fasting, ...

Newly-married couple’s home is falling into river

08 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

A newly-married couple living in Inchicore have been forced to vacate their home due to the danger of it falling into the River Camac, which the prope...

Why accents tend to change

08 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Over time, your accents can tend to change. According to research, Queen Elizabeth II sounded more cockney throughout her 70-year reign. So, why does ...

Why are people against less censorship?

08 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Mark Zuckerberg has announced that Facebook and Instagram in the United States will remove their content moderation. Is this a bad thing?Seán is join...

How human activity impacts animal adaptations

07 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Perhaps the most famous example of observed evolution in a species is that of the Peppered Moth, which largely turned black in some English cities dur...

What is Ireland’s ‘pulmonic ingressive’?

07 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Irish people are famous for the so-called ‘pulmonic ingressive’ or ‘inhaled yeah’... but, what is it exactly, and where does it come from?Join...

10th anniversary of the Charlie Hebdo attack

07 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

It’s exactly 10 years to the day that a terrorist attack killed most of the editorial staff at France’s satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo.The shoot...

Is hospital food getting better?

07 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

While Ireland has traditionally had a poor reputation for its hospital food, things are changing, especially at one particular maternity hospital.Join...

Why ‘fairy porn’ is insulting the Welsh

07 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Fairy erotica is big business these days, but it seems the people of Wales are not too happy about it. They claim that fairy porn is a misrepresentati...

The science behind hula hooping

06 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Were you a dab hand at hula hooping in your youth, and do you reckon you’d still be king or queen of the playground if you were to revisit it in adu...

What is ‘pig butchering’? Avoiding online scams

06 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

A recent survey concluded that Ireland is the most phished country in the world. At this time of the year, people are particularly vulnerable to onlin...

What are ‘Swap Centres’?

06 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The Green Party are motioning a commitment from Dublin City Council to do a case study of Copenhagen's work on localised Re-Use Centres, otherwise kno...

What are your snow day memories? - Henry McKean Asks

06 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The current weather might have you looking back on some of your fondest memories when the snow would grace you with its presence. So, what are some of...

When should you take down your Christmas tree?

03 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Simon Tierney joins Sean Moncrieff to discuss some hard life lessons learnt from taking his tree down too early...

Are young people uninterested in farming?

02 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Young people are opting against a career in farming, with a new CSO survey revealing that less than 5% of farmers in Ireland are under the age of 35.W...

How a simple chat can help with suicide prevention

02 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

A group of volunteers in Limerick claim a simple chat could mean the difference between life and death. Volunteers from across the county patrol the R...

Why some mums regret staying at home

02 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

With the financial restrictions today, it can be hard for families to have a stay at home mum. However, those who can, sometimes regret it.Jen Hogan, ...

25 years since the millennium - Henry McKean Reports

02 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

It’s been 25 years since the millennium turned over - back when the Liffey digital clock broke down, and when people were terrified about Y2K.Henry ...

Families reuniting for Christmas - Henry McKean Reports

24 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

There wasn't a dry eye at Dublin Airport, as families reunite for Christmas from all over the world!Henry McKean sends in this report…

How the Ancient Romans treated soldiers

23 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

While the Ancient Romans waged battle across their empire, how exactly did they treat pain on the battlefield and what sort of medical equipment did t...

Should celebrity memoirs recognise ghost writers?

23 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Christmas is a major time for celebrity memoirs: the number one book in the country this Christmas is the autobiography of one of Ireland’s most fam...

How two brothers beat the Guinness shortage

23 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

You may have found it funny to hear about a shortage of Guinness in British pubs in the last while. Well, two brothers have discovered it’s no laugh...

What was the best decade for Christmas? - Henry McKean Asks

23 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

When was the best time to have Christmas? Are they better now than ever - or were things simpler and better back in the day?Henry McKean has been aski...

Was the Silent Night really that silent?

20 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The nativity, also known as the Christmas pageant, claims to tell the story of the birth of Jesus Christ.However, new research suggests that the so-ca...

Can death be abolished?

20 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

A new book explores how to preserve our brains when we die, so that our successors can revive us at a later date!Joining Seán to discuss is Ariel Zel...

Should you get a real or fake Christmas tree?

20 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Over half a million Christmas trees will be cut down for homes across Ireland this festive period, but which is actually better for the environment…...

Why spiced beef is a Cork tradition

19 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

While spiced beef has traditionally been associated with Cork, it has grown wings over the past few years and appears to be becoming more and more pop...

Does Roblox draw children into gambling?

19 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The popular video game Roblox is apparently being used by illegal casinos to draw young children into online gambling.The new investigation found that...

Is AI dangerous for artists?

19 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Kate Bush has called on Ministers to protect artists from AI using their copyrighted works amid growing concerns from high-profile creatives and ongoi...

Do Disney princesses actually live ‘happily ever after’?

19 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Is there really such a thing as ‘happily ever after’? Not for Disney’s famous princesses apparently. A new study suggests that many of these wel...

Is the Christmas card dead? - Henry McKean Reports

19 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Did you get any Christmas cards this year? It seems like something that has been dying out...Henry McKean has been investigating how popular the card ...

Why is there a Guinness shortage in the UK?

18 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Due to a shortage of the supply of Guinness in London currently, and the fact that it is now the best selling draught beer in the UK, some pubs have r...

Gardaí to spend €12 million on shoes

18 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The Garda Síochána intends to spend 12 million euro on shoes for the force over the next few years, with every member of the 14,000 currently servin...

What is a ‘hiccuping’ star?

18 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

A rare ‘hiccupping’ star has finally been documented for the first time ever. But, what is it, and why is it so big?Joining Seán to discuss is Dr...

Saying ‘no’ around Christmas - Henry McKean Reports

16 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

At this time of year, we are rushing around saying yes to everyone, but is it time to actually take a step back and just say “No, I can’t do it”...

New record set for world’s oldest newlyweds!

13 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

A new Guinness World Record has been verified for the oldest newlyweds: Marjorie Fiterman and Bernie Littman are both over 100 years of age!Joining Se...

Can sandwiches count as a meal?

13 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Kemi Badenoch, the Tory leader, has sparked outrage after claiming that sandwiches are not ‘real food’ and that ‘lunch is for wimps’...Joining...

UK shop knits nude versions of local townspeople!

12 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

A shop in England has knitted the effigies of local townspeople for their Christmas window display, but there’s a twist… they’re all naked!Joini...

Having fun with a ‘sober’ Christmas

12 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Christmas is a time for festive cheer and, for most, a time when they drink too much beer!But, what about those who are sober at Christmas?How do they...

Is Eurovision’s new code of conduct fair?

12 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In light of controversies at this year’s Eurovision in Malmo, a new code of conduct is being introduced by the European Broadcasting Union...but wha...

Making the perfect cheeseboard

12 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

What makes a perfect cheeseboard? Is it the creamy textures, the bold flavours, or the perfect pairing with chutneys and crackers?Joining Seán to dis...

What makes people forgetful? - Henry McKean Reports

12 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

What makes the human brain forget things? Why do we often lose our keys? Are you a forgetful person?Henry McKean has remembered to ask the public for ...

Why is the cost of coffee increasing?

11 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

How much would you pay for your morning coffee? Prices are going up as coffee bean costs hit record highs. Bad weather in Brazil and Vietnam has led t...

New animated film explores trafficking in Dublin

11 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

A new short animated film, The Runners – A Trafficking Timeline, sheds light on a grim reality unfolding in Dublin’s north inner city: children as...