Moncrieff
Episodes
'A play space for adults' - Inside Ireland's kink scene
31 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The kink community in Ireland is alive and kicking, with the scene having doubled here over the past few years. That’s according to Professional Dom...
Britain’s Smallest House
31 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Just how small can a house get? Well, the answer is very small indeed, as attested by a tiny abode in a small town in Wales. Sean was joined on the sh...
'It's snobbery!' - Henry finds out if accents matter in modern Ireland
31 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
According to new research in the UK most people prefer to be represented by a barrister with a posh voice than someone with a strong regional accent. ...
News and a Natter: Aoife Barry
30 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Aoife Barry, assistant news editor at The Journal joined Sean today on the show to look as some of the stories from weekend.
Man hoping to repatriate St. Brigid’s remains
30 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The remains of St. Brigid currently reside in a reliquary in a church near Lisbon. But is it time to bring her home? Joining Sean today was David Mong...
Is it wrong to eat fruit?
30 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Is it time to stop eating fruit? We’ve heard of being a vegetarian, even a vegan but what about a fruitarian? People who believe in only eating fru...
Divorce ceremonies
30 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
If we have engagement parties, should we celebrate divorce as well? Can you ever mark the dissolution of a marriage in a positive way? Moncrieff's...
Abandoned pet pigs
30 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
We have heard of the rise of dogs and cats being adopted during the peak of Covid. Pigs were also an animal that rose in popularity around this time b...
Health warnings on wine 'an attack on Italian heritage and culture'
27 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
With the new introduction of health warnings to be included on wine labels in Ireland, it has caused outrage for the Italian foreign minister, calling...
The Husband Calling Competition
27 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Annually at the Iowa State Fair, there is a Husband Calling Competition. It’s part of a suite of heritage competitions at America’s largest state ...
Meath woman featuring in Banshees of Inisherin and An Cáilín Ciúin
27 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Ireland has two big movies up for Oscars – The Banshees of Inisherin and An Cáilín Ciúin. Apart from the Oscar connection and both being Irish, a...
'There isn't much hope left' for the Naomh Éanna ship
26 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Go to any port or harbour in Ireland and you’ll find some boats and ships in various states of disrepair. However, there is one particular ship righ...
The Last of Us: Will fungi eventually kill us all?
26 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
If you’ve been watching The Last of Us on Sky Atlantic or even heard about it you’ll know it is based on the premise that the heating up of the wo...
A menu full of aphrodisiacs
26 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
As we approach Valentine’s Day, attention turns once again for many couples as to where to take your date for dinner, on perhaps the busiest night o...
Kylie Jenner's lion head dress 'romanticising' big-game hunting
26 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
At Paris fashion week Kylie Jenner of the Kardashian tribe, wore a large lion head sewn into her dress made by Italian designer Schiaparelli. We asked...
Rare green comet will be visible over Irish skies next week
26 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
A very rare comet, green in colour, is currently making its way around earth and is now visible to the naked eye. David Moore from Astronomy Ireland...
Real Life Squid Game
26 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Netflix's real-life version of Squid Game started filming this week and it turned into utter chaos as at least one contestant was stretchered off and ...
Negativity Bias: 'Our brains are wired for survival'
25 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The Doomsday Clock has set its time at 90 seconds to midnight, the closest to midnight the clock has been since it was established in 1947. It is ther...
Making the perfect fava bean bread
25 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
White sliced pan is of course a big seller in Irish and British supermarkets but is it possible to make a healthier alternative, without sacrificing t...
How To...Start a Business
25 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
For this weeks 'How To' slot we’re looking at how to start a business. Sean was joined in studio by Oisin Geoghegan, Head of Enterprise at Fingal Lo...
Are questionnaires before first dates helpful?
25 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Filling out forms is a necessary evil for lots of things – applying for a loan, getting a quote for insurance, or some job applications. But what ab...
Children's clock business asked to rebrand by Rolex
25 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
What happens when your company’s name happens to share a tangential link with a corporate colossus? This is precisely the situation a small children...
'She's doing great!' - An unexpected home birth
24 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
It sounds like a TV show - you’re about to give birth, there’s no time to go to the hospital and the only option is to call the emergency service...
Visiting all the pubs in Dublin City in one day
24 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
With around 240 pubs in Dublin city centre, would it be possible to visit each one in a day? John Geraghty, the founder of Publin, the Dublin pub guid...
The 8 Stages of Domestic Homicide
24 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
This week on Newstalk, we’re shining a spotlight on domestic abuse, in partnership with Allianz and Women’s Aid. As we’ve seen in Ireland and si...
Record 14 Irish nominations for 2023 Oscars
24 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The Oscar nominations were announced this afternoon. In all, Ireland received 14 nominations - with nine going to the Banshees of Inisherin. Esther Mc...
'I wanted to be accepted' - Henry looks at how children are groomed into crime
24 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The Government has announced that it will pass the legislation to introduce the specific offence of grooming children into crime. Various agencies and...
'It's really very sad' - Rare eagle killed by banned pest poison
24 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
With the reintroduction of the rare white-tailed eagle back into Ireland there are also bound to be threats that these birds face. With a poison alrea...
Regulating street art in Ireland
23 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Over the past number of years the culture of street art has grown in prominence, with more and more murals popping up around the country, particularly...
Tracking down beneficiaries and next-of-kin
23 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
What happens if the beneficiary of a deceased person’s will cannot be located? Who is hired to track them down? Padraic Grennan, managing director o...
News and a Natter: Graham Finlay
23 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Graham Finlay joined Sean on the show today to recap the stories making the headlines this past week.
'An Cailín Ciúin' filmmakers 'nervous' ahead of Oscar nominations
23 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
An 'Cailín Ciúin' is an Irish Language film which is based on the short story ‘Foster’ by Claire Keegan. The film which has been nominated f...
Man tells harrowing story of 'no nuts' in nutty chocolate bar
20 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Imagine sitting down to enjoy your favourite bar of chocolate only to discover all was not as it seems. This happened to Matt O Baoill’s girlfrien...
The Tea Expert
20 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
You may be planning to bring a loved one for afternoon tea in a few weeks for Valentine’s Day but what constitutes the perfect afternoon tea and wha...
Humpty Dumpty Origins: 'He was a canon used in the siege of Colchester'
20 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
It turns out Humpty Dumpty was not an egg. He was, in fact, a cannon. But how did a weapon of warfare become something so different? Aoife Bannon, ...
Pole Dancing your Grief Away
20 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
When we lose someone we often go through multiple stages of grief. We seek counselling, therapy or activities that help brighten our day just a little...
Disarming officers ‘would make them softer targets’ - Former PSNI Officer
19 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
A new report has opened the debate about whether or not PSNI officers should continue to be armed. Police men and women in Northern Ireland are the on...
'It's insane, make your own at home!' - Henry seeks out Dublin's priciest coffee
19 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
With the cost of living and inflation on the rise, the price of everything is being affected. Nowadays in Dublin City, many coffees are selling for ov...
Why women feel the cold more than men
19 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Women often tend to feel the cold more than men, but we never ask why that could be? Leona Donaghy, a PHD researcher of Ulster University and self-...
The decline of the Irish B&B
19 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
20 years ago there were 4000 B&Bs in Ireland. Now there are just 800 left. What has caused this decline and how has it affected rural Ireland? John ...
'If you go around changing too much, you lose authenticity' - The Spire turns 20
18 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
20 years ago this week, Dublin finally became home to the world's tallest piece of free-standing public art - The Spire. It generated countless nickna...
How Mercury Retrograde affects you
18 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Today marks the end of what’s commonly known in the world of astrology as 'Mercury Retrograde'. You may hear a lot of things being blamed on the pla...
'We're cohabiting!' - The 4th Stage of Parenting
18 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Many adult children are still living at home with their parents. For some it’s the comfort of ease of it all but for most, they are at home for econ...
Token's Mozzarella Bite Challenge
18 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
If you’re a cheese lover, this next item might be for you. Token bar in Smithfield is no stranger to food challenges, but their current competition ...
What is Solo Polyamory?
18 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
You may well have heard of polyamory, it is fast becoming the buzzword of 2023. Dr Zhana Vrangalova, is a Professor of Sexuality at New York Univers...
Ireland's Oldest Tree
18 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Sometimes history is hidden right beneath our feet, and this was the case for Tom Joe Murphy, a Waterford farmer who discovered the 3,500-year-old tre...
How To...Go back to college as a mature student
18 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
For this weeks 'How To' slot we’re looking at how to go back to college as a mature student. Sean was joined in studio by Orla Stafford, Mature Stud...
All On The Board: 'We like making the invisible visible'
18 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Words are the way to people’s hearts, especially when you’re down or going about the endless bustle of work and school. And for tens of thousands...
Malin Head to Mizen Head on one EV charge
17 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Two Irish men have done the impossible, the unthinkable - they’ve driven from one end of Ireland to the next, in an electric vehicle, without stoppi...
Korean War Memorial is 'full of thousands of errors'
17 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
After many years of preparation, the new Korean War Memorial in Washington DC was unveiled last summer. But now researchers have discovered countless ...
The Perfect Roast Potato
17 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
This year marks the 5 year anniversary of the famous Edge School Roast Potato. But how exactly do you create it and what has its impact been? Sean w...
Henry asks 'Where have all Ireland's nightclubs gone?'
17 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Four in five Irish nightclubs have shut since the year 2000. At the turn of the millennium, 522 nightclubs were in Ireland and now only 85 remain. Why...
Minecraft's 'End Poem' made free by author
16 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
A number of years ago, Tipperary author Julian Gough was asked to write a poem that would feature at the end of the popular video game Minecraft. The ...
Women being targeted by egg donor adverts in the UK
16 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Altruistic egg donation has been available in the UK for years. Hannah Tomes is the Spectators’ Newsletter Editor says she’s been targeted by ads ...
The art of ghostwriting a book
16 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The revelation that Prince Harry’s hotly anticipated tell all book was in fact ghost-written has caused quite the stir on social media in the last f...
'Definitely hand wash any good glass,' expert warns
16 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The question everybody asks these days is, do you put your wine glasses in the dishwasher? This causes much debate and Sean was joined Tara O’Connor...
News and a Natter: Elaine Burke
16 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Elaine Burke, host of For Tech’s Sake podcast joined Sean on the show today to recap the stories making the headlines this past week...
The LOL Verifier
13 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
You may type LOL and make people you think you laughed out loud but if you didn’t, a new device will hold you accountable. The LOL Verifier is a ...
Prince Harry's lookalike is 'trying to keep a low profile' after book release
13 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Since the publication of ‘Spare’, some of the revelations in the book have caused a Prince Harry lookalike to rethink his own personal security. S...
'I was told never go under a ladder!' - Friday the 13th superstitions with Henry
13 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Today is Friday the 13th but what does it really mean? Henry McKean has been speaking to paranormal experts and trying out their ghost capture equipme...
100 Years of Ireland's First Stamps
13 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
100 years ago, the Irish Free State began issuing its first stamps, the earliest tangible expression of our independence. Beginning in December 1922 a...
The dangers of cooking with gas
12 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
A new report from non-profit energy efficiency group, CLASP and European Public Health Alliance suggests that cooking on gas in a typical kitchen with...
'Something for everybody' in Dublin's new augmented reality trail
12 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The streets of Dublin have been brought to life through a new augmented reality app. The 'Dublin Discovery Trails' application allows history enthusia...
10 years since the horsemeat scandal
12 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
This year marks 10 years since the horse meat scandal hit the headlines and caused out outrage across the island. It completely changed the way we loo...
Franciscans withdraw from Athlone due to 'falling numbers'
12 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Last October the Franciscans announced that, after 800 years of presence in Athlone, they would be departing the town. Now a major volunteer and commu...
Rare, smelly 'Corpse Flower' blooms in Australia
12 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
A rare horticultural event has taken place in Australia, as the exceptionally smelly Corpse Flower has bloomed, something it does only once every few ...
The impact of grief on our emotions
11 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Science offers clarity in ways us humans can understand. Some study emotions, place them under a microscope and dissect them bit by bit. However, when...
The Rise of AI Generated Music
11 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
With the steadying growth of AI, it has started to creep its way into the arts, robbing and stealing human content to imitate as its own. With whisper...
Jenny the Donkey from The Banshees of Inisherin
11 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The Banshees of Inisherin scooped up multiple awards at last night’s Golden Globe ceremony but one character that stole many scenes and was a big pe...
How To...Retire
11 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
For this weeks 'How To' slot we’re looking at how to retire. Sean was joined in studio by Val Diggan, Specialist in Life and Pensions with Fitzgeral...
The Human Poo Vault
11 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
There are few circumstances where receiving a package of human faeces is a welcome delivery, but for scientists in a Swiss laboratory, they were delig...
Poland calls for wartime reparations from Germany
10 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The Polish government has reiterated its request for Germany to pay over 1 trillion Euro in reparations that it believes it is owed due to historic ag...
Noma, one of the world's best restaurants, to close
10 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The Copenhagen restaurant Noma, one of the world’s top restaurants, with three Michelin stars, will close at the end of 2024 to reinvent itself as a...
Campaign to change the Bald Emoji
10 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Newstalk's Simon Tierney joined Sean in studio to tell him why he finds the bald emoji ageist and degrading... Image: HotEmoji
'She's a lasher!' - Henry McKean looks into Cork slang
10 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Hiberno-English is the dialect of English that most Irish people speak. But, in Cork, do locals speak a different language altogether? Henry McKean w...
Ireland's pygmy shrew at risk from other species
10 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Ireland's smallest mammal, the pygmy shrew, is under catastrophic threat from an invasive and non-native shrew. But why has this happened? Sean was ...
Is dimpleplasty the latest trend?
10 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
What do Orlando Bloom, Cameron Diaz and Cheryl Cole have in common? They all have dimples, a physical trait that more and more people want to have for...
The Dublin venue that 'charges for time'
09 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
There is a venue in the heart of Dublin’s city centre that is a pub but offers no alcohol and doesn’t charge you for what’s inside, but instead ...
Virgin rocket 'endangering lives of people for financial gain'
09 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Richard Branson's Virgin Orbit is due to rocket-launch satellites over Irish water later tonight. The military and commercial satellites will be the f...
Holmfield Hum: Villagers plagued by mysterious sound
09 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Sean was joined on the show by Yvonne Conner, who lives in a village in Yorkshire that has been plagued by a mysterious sound for the past 3 years, th...
'No definite evidence that there are clear benefits to homework'
09 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
With the first full week of school ahead, lots of parents will be dreading the return to the homework battle every evening. However, Jennifer Horga...
News and A Natter: Tom Clonan
09 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Senator Tom Clonan joined Sean on the show today to recap the stories making the headlines this past week...
Staying in an Ice Hotel
06 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Just before Christmas every year ice hotels around the world begin building their annual, and of course very seasonal, accommodations which usually op...
Predicting Irish weather using folklore
06 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Red Sky at Night, Sailor’s Delight. A Green Christmas makes a fat Churchyard. If it be clear, a happy year. These are some of the common sayings ...
How to cook pasta according to science
06 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
A Nobel prize winning scientist shocked the world earlier this week when he suggested an unusual and cost-saving method for cooking pasta. Now, a team...
The Phone Box Man
06 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
A survey has found that 60 percent of people aged 18 to 29 have never used a phone box. What was once a lifeline for families and communities has been...
EU speed limiters will 'tell the driver when you're exceeding the speed'
05 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
2022 saw a 13% rise in road fatalities. This was the highest number for 5 years. But what is causing this and is the EU’s protocol on speed limiters...
Why does American chocolate taste so bad?
05 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
If you’ve ever had the opportunity to taste American chocolate you’ll know it’s an odd experience. The chocolate is not as creamy, it’s dry an...
Priest urges families of missing people 'never to give up'
05 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
For almost 20 years, Fr Aquinas Duffy has worked with missing persons cases and set up missing.ie in 2000. Last month on National Missing Persons Day ...
Investigations into UFOs
05 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
When we hear the word “UFO”, many will think about science fiction, little grey men and The X Files. But for Dr Eamonn Ansbro, his research paints...
Traditional Irish banjo makers
04 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
It’s easy to forget that most musical instruments start out as a block of wood. Slowly, and over time, they are manipulated into beautiful objects t...
The Period Coach
04 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Lisa de Jong is a women’s health coach or what people call a period coach and educator. Before this role and after years of suffering, Lisa felt no ...
Misconceptions about Twins
04 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
How do twins differ? How are they exactly the same? There are many misconceptions about twins and how similar and different they can be. Could a pair ...
One woman's pilgrimage from Cork to Jerusalem
04 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Anja Bakker started her pilgrimage last April, from Cork to Jerusalem on foot. Now, 9 months later, she is currently in Serbia and she joined Tom Dunn...
How To...Sell Your House
04 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
For this weeks 'How To' slot we’re looking at how to sell your house. Tom Dunne was joined in studio by Barry McDonald, Estate Agent and Spokesperso...
The Hugging Robot
03 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Perhaps one of the big questions facing the creators of artificial intelligence is how to replicate human touch. Now, a robot has been created that is...
Midlands Prison to open a new palliative care centre
03 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
A new palliative care centre is to be built on Midlands Prison campus. This is a decision made as the elderly population in the prison continues to ri...
'Eat it, or drink it!' - How to recycle your Christmas Tree
03 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
With the Christmas period coming to an end, many people around the country will be starting to take their Christmas tree down. But when is the right d...
Mars to be visible 'to everybody in the country' tonight
03 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
A rare celestial event will take place later tonight. But what is it and how can people look out for it? Dave Moore from Astronomy Ireland joined To...
'Art meets activism' - Modelling Ireland's derelict buildings
03 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
It is often said that bad times make great art - Dublin based artist, Nathan Wheeler certainly believes that to be true and has been using his creativ...