Moncrieff
Episodes
The history of Ireland’s great wives
10 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
"Behind every great man is a great woman" - or so goes the old cliché. Historically, the wives behind great men in history end up proving themselves ...
How does the free children’s 'party kit' scheme work?
10 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
A scheme which offers free party kits for children's birthdays has been rolled out across the country. But, how does it work?Joining Seán to discuss ...
Do we need balconies on apartments?
10 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
You might have noticed that most new apartment blocks around the country are covered in balconies. But, are these mandated by councils, and at what co...
What is ‘The West’?
10 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Following last night’s shooting down of Russian drones in Polish Airspace, Poland has asked NATO to open consultations under Article 4 of its treaty...
What it’s like to jam with the President
09 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
As President Michael D Higgins prepares to leave the Áras later this year, he might be considering his next career move.One possible option might be ...
What to know about improving your home’s energy rating
09 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
As a Senior Lecturer in clean energy at UCC, Dr Paul Deane knows a thing or two about energy efficiency...But in reality, when you go from transformin...
How do you chronicle Ireland’s recent history?
09 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Technically speaking, anything that is in the past can be categorized as history.But, more often than not, historians deal with events that they exist...
Will the EU’s Chat Control Regulations hurt privacy?
09 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Last month, Minister for Justice Jim O’Callaghan announced plans to introduce a bill that would attempt to tackle child sexual abuse and the prolife...
Why is September a busy month for divorces?
09 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
September is one of the busiest months of the year for divorces, with couples in fractured relationships coming out of a summer spent together and rea...
Why is Trump taking on architecture?
08 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Donald Trump’s latest executive order, entitled, ‘Making Federal Architecture Beautiful Again’, is essentially a ban on any architectural style ...
How to deal with housing anxiety
08 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
With the enormous obstacles involved in buying a home in this country, housing anxiety can cause those who are searching for a home to feel anxious an...
Should we have touchscreens in restaurants? - Henry McKean Asks
08 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Have you noticed a rise in touchscreens in take aways, petrol stations and mobile phone shops?When you’re ordering fast food, would you rather stab ...
John Gibbons on ‘The Lie of the Land’
08 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
John Gibbons is an Environmental Journalist and Commentator who is releasing a book called ‘The Lie of the Land’ about Ireland and the climate cri...
Russia’s Intervision returns! What is it?
05 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
While it might be a long wait until Eurovision in Vienna next May, fear not, because in two weeks time we will have Intervision, the Russian version! ...
What is ‘The Thing’?
05 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In 1945, just after the Second World War, a listening device dubbed as ‘The Thing’ was hidden within a piece of artwork and gifted to the US ambas...
The oldest black hole ever may have been discovered!
05 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
A black hole that may have been spotted seconds before the big bang has been sighted by the James Webbs space telescope, which has the power to upend ...
Why do we make fake memories?
05 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
How reliable is your memory?And would you ever admit to faking it? A new research project is set to analyse why we tend to fabricate false memories an...
AI psychosis is becoming a problem - what is it?
04 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
As the increase of AI becomes increasingly frequent in our everyday lives, a new mental health concern is on the rise.AI psychosis is a phenomenon cha...
What is ‘revenge quitting’?
04 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
A new trend has been circling the internet called ‘revenge quitting’, this is where employees are resigning in spectacular fashion. From marching ...
Is breaking up over text okay? - Henry McKean Asks
04 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What is the etiquette around breaking up in 2025?Is it in person, a DM, a text or a ghosting?Henry McKean has been asking the public, and joins Seán ...
Would you freeze yourself before you die?
04 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
If you are despairing about the absence of evidence surrounding the existence of an afterlife, have you considered cryopreservation? There is currentl...
Are we getting dumber?
04 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Did you notice that the world just didn't have its head screwed on right during the pandemic? Well, Stuart Jeffries did.From Trump telling people to d...
Why this Professor communicated her research through jazz
03 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Over the past 3 decades, Florida’s oyster population has declined massively. So much so, that there has been a 5-year ban of harvesting oysters in A...
Do we engage in ‘performative prosperity’?
03 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Seán’s guest has just put in a beautiful shiny new kitchen in her house, but it has got her questioning the role of ‘performative prosperity’ i...
Should we all send messages in bottles?
03 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The speed at which we can communicate in the modern world has many benefits for us all. It keeps us in touch with friends and family abroad, and allow...
How do you have fun at work?
03 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
While most people are unlikely to associate their job with being fun, is there an argument to be made for approaching work in this way?Joining Seán f...
Why is Germany pivoting to becoming a military superpower?
03 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The 2022 invasion of Ukraine pivoted Germany’s once discrete war machine to a star-studded spectacle.With the glamour of an ‘upmarket car showroom...
What it’s like to raise trans children
03 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Karen Sugrue is the Co-Chair of Mammies for Trans Rights, and she joins Seán to talk about the struggles and fear she has been facing, as she notices...
How do you win the World Toe Wrestling Championships?
02 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Seán’s guest is fresh from his recent victory at the World Toe Wrestling Championships in Derbyshire, but how do you win this esteemed competition?...
What was the Nagrev poisoning crisis?
02 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In late December 1929 four Hungarian women went on trial for murdering their husbands.This was a huge scandal in and of itself, but it turned out to b...
What are ‘portable’ coffee machines?
02 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
With the cost of barista-made coffee rising considerably over the past year or so, more and more people appear to be turning to portable coffee machin...
Did the Liverpool boycott of The Sun change voting attitudes?
02 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
When the newspaper The Sun covered the Hillsborough Disaster, a tragic crush at a football match where 97 lost their lives, they wrongly blamed Liverp...
Should we cycle more for our mental health?
02 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
According to UNICEF, Irish teens are number one in academic performance, beating all other nations in the rich world. However, we rank only 24th in ad...
How can you safely land a plane without GPS?
02 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
With the EU accusing Russia of ‘GPS Spoofing’, after Ursula van der Leyen’s airplane was allegedly targeted, what exactly is this form of electr...
The impact of the Public Dance Halls Act - 90 years on
01 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This year marks the 90th anniversary of a piece of legislation which had a profound impact on the way people socialised in this country.Joining Seán ...
The evolution of the Irish restaurant menu
01 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The traditional Irish hotel and restaurant menu has evolved enormously over the past four decades, with many homegrown staples, such as lamb and salmo...
Can Darwin explain JD Vance?
01 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
We all know Darwin’s Theory of Evolution - that we as humans all share a common ancestor. But, what else falls under the bracket of evolution? Is an...
Do you suffer from ‘friendflation’? - Henry McKean Reports
01 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
'Friendflation' is a new internet term, which defines the idea that it is too expensive nowadays to have too many friends, and all the dinners and nig...
Why has Limerick’s “bird shit district” become a tourist attraction?
01 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
We have had a huge amount of tourists visiting Ireland over the course of this summer, and generally they tend to frequent a lot of the same spots: th...
Retracing Joyce’s steps from Ireland to Trieste
29 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In 1904, James Joyce travelled from Ireland to Trieste by train, getting a little lost along the way. Now, the novelist Caoilinn Hughes has retraced J...
Is cultural criticism dying out?
29 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week, the Chicago Tribune announced that it was scrapping its film critic position entirely. Is there a danger that cultural criticism is on the ...
What is a ‘lavender marriage’?
29 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
A lavender marriage is a marriage between a man and a woman. The catch? One, or both of them, is homosexual. In this scenario, why do these marriages ...
The internet is good for seniors - why?
28 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
A recent study has found lower rates of cognitive impairment among seniors who frequently use computers, smartphones, and the internet than those who ...
Should homebuyers be allowed a sleepover ahead of time?
28 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
When you’re buying a new car, you’d be mad not to take it for a test drive. How else could you really know whether it’s the car for you?Yet, whe...
New documentary examines decline in Irish dolphin activity
28 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Dolphins have long made the waters off Ireland home, with the first record of a dolphin in Irish waters being recorded as far back as 752 AD. But in r...
Does manifesting actually work? - Henry McKean Asks
28 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
A lady was recently at a baby shower, and the mother to be was manifesting the sex of the baby, convinced it would work in her favour. Is this positiv...
Young people are more unhappy than the middle-aged, why?
28 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
For decades now there has been a widely held belief among researchers that we are at our happiest in early adulthood, and then as we age into our midd...
New film documents past 20 years of mother’s relationship with son
27 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Seán’s guest has spent the past 20 years recording her relationship with her son Jim. The culmination of this longitudinal project is ‘Motherboar...
New initiative aims to bring more life to local community
27 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
For many communities, there is a sense that as life gets busier some of the heart of the community can fade away; in Bluebell in south west Dublin, a ...
The reality of friendship in your 40s
27 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
When was the last time you got together with all of your oldest friends?Friendship changes as we get older, and it can get harder and harder to priori...
Are vintage engagement rings the next trend?
27 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Will Taylor Swift change the engagement ring industry after sharing shots of her giant ring and romantic proposal with NFL player Travis Kelce?Matthew...
Why are some phrases so common in speech?
27 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
It is very likely that someone has said “one hundred percent” to you when what they actually mean is “yes”, but why has this affirmation becom...
Will a new EU pay transparency directive cut the gender pay gap?
27 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
A new EU directive on pay transparency is going to change how open companies need to be about the salaries they offer to their employees, but what wil...
Around the World
26 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Jonathan DeBurca Butler joins Seán Moncrieff to take listeners through the week's international stories…
Restorative justice for serious crimes
26 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Restorative Justice is a voluntary process where victims and offenders, with the help of an impartial third party, meet to resolve repair the harm don...
Family dinner time under threat
26 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Family dinner time seems to be increasingly under threat. A survey carried out in the UK found a minority of people at the table, with 45% eating in f...
Building your own tiny house
26 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The cost-of-living and housing crisis have made life extremely difficult for the young people of Ireland. Many have had to resort to ...
Can you fix a dodgy haircut?
26 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
At the US Open this week, the world number two Carlos Alcarez sported a new tight haircut. He revealed in a post-match press interview that this ...
The new Irish Republican Brotherhood
26 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Those with an understanding of Irish history will know the Irish Republican Brotherhood played a pivotal role in the country's politics from the late ...
Music to help babies sleep
25 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
When it comes to art, the preferences of adults and small children rarely coalesce. Most parents are unlikely to choose to listen to Baby Shark ...
Hiring wolfhounds to walk - Henry McKean reports
25 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In advance of the Oasis gig, Richard Ashcroft was spotted walking around Stephen’s Green in the company of some Irish wolfhounds. But the dogs ...
Red Cross aid effort in Palestine
25 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Last week, experts at the UN-backed body of food security increased the food insecurity level within Gaza city to its highest and most severe classifi...
Why are most cars grey now?
25 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Grey is by far the most popular choice for cars in this country, but why is this and why have we ditched the colour spectrum of the 70s and 80s? Owner...
Tracking where clothes go when you recycle them
25 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
If you donate to a clothes bank, where do these clothes end up, and will someone even end up wearing them? A project called Voice Ireland decided...
Death of the traditional college student?
25 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
More and more students are having to commute long distances due to the housing crisis, and having to hold down jobs while studying due to the cost-of-...
Do you lie about your age?
25 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The idea of getting older is something that many of us struggle with, and some people prefer to keep how old they are a secret altogether. TV sta...
Is everything better with company? - Henry McKean Asks
22 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
A US study found that the smallest daily moments of company gain a lift from human connection. Is that true?Henry McKean has been speaking with the pu...
Could an ancient cow’s tooth unlock the origins of Stonehenge?
22 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
After careful analysis, the age-old mystery over exactly how the enormous monoliths at Stonehenge were lugged all the way from Wales to Wiltshire may ...
Cheshire restaurant launches menu curated by ‘Water Sommelier’
22 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
A restaurant in Cheshire in England has just launched its first ever water menu, curated by a dedicated Water Sommelier. But, what exactly does that e...
Will AI change office culture?
22 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Are you in the office every day, or do you have the luxury of working remotely?And just how close are you with your colleagues? You might have met you...
Are school uniforms outdated?
22 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
It’s that time of year when an odd quirk of modern Irish society comes to light.As our kids go back to school, we enter a period when our children a...
So You Think You're an Adult
21 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Barbara Scully and Declan Buckley joins Sean to find solutions to listeners' life problems...
Joseph O'Connor - One City Many Stories
21 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Joseph O'Connor is among six Irish writers to share their thoughts on Dublin’s literary history and their own writing journeys in a new video seri...
Do people talk about their kids too much?
20 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Irish Times contributor Céire Sadlier joins Sean to explore why parents spend so much time talking about their children...
Parenting: Separation anxiety
20 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Joanna Fortune joins Sean to answer listeners' parenting questions...
What is ‘experimental archaeology’?
19 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Experimental archaeology is a field of study within archaeology that focuses on recreating past technologies, activities, and environments to better u...
How does leg lengthening surgery work?
19 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Seán’s guest is a Journalist based in Istanbul, and has spent time investigating the unusual world of leg lengthening surgery which clinics in the ...
Should we actually eat the placenta?
19 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The DJ Calvin Harris has shared images of his wife’s placenta encapsulation to his 9 million followers on Instagram, in the aftermath of their son’...
What exactly is ‘night swimming’?
19 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The past couple years, Ireland has made a big name for itself for its big wave surfing spots. With beaches such as Mullaghmore, Aileens and Bundoran b...
What is a citizen's role in a democracy?
19 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
With the Irish Presidential election coming up, normal everyday people are being urged to speak up for democratic principles. Elections are a charged ...
Why are Lithuania training children to fly drones?
19 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The war between Russia and Ukraine has become something of a testing ground for military use of drones, and the lessons haven’t gone unnoticed elsew...
Should we ditch the Mercator map?
18 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The Correct the Map Campaign is encouraging governments and organisations to stop using the Mercator Projection in favour of a map that more accuratel...
Do you get FOMO? - Henry McKean Asks
18 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Why do many of us have the fear of missing out? What is it that makes us feel we need to be somewhere, and does social media magnify it?Henry McKean h...
What is ‘mankeeping’?
18 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
While data shows us that women continue to carry the domestic burden in the home, a new phenomenon is gathering pace: ’mankeeping’. But, what is i...
How to look after your garden in the heat
18 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Even with it being near the end of the summer, looking after your garden as it deals with high temperatures can be a challenge. So, what’s the best ...
What is the EU’s relationship with China like today?
18 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This year marks 50 years of diplomatic relationship between China and The EU.In 1975, just a couple of years after Ireland had joined what was the Eur...
Do cows like jazz?
15 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Humans like Jazz. At least some of them do anyway.But, do cows? It’s one of the great questions of our time, and the fine people on TikTok have been...
The good and the bad of growing up on O’Connell Street
15 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Distant cousins of Danny DeVito grew up in the heart of Dublin City on O’Connell Street, and while the actor missed out on the hustle and bustle of ...
Why has pretending to have a job become popular in China?
15 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
China’s youth unemployment rate has stayed stubbornly high since Covid, and is currently above 14%.As a result, some young people have taken to pret...
Has dating become more transactional?
15 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What were your first impressions of your partner?And were you thinking about whether they were ‘MORTGAGE material as well as MARRIAGE material’ wh...
Is there a shift towards renting debs dresses to be more sustainable?
14 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Some schools around the country have been taking a stand around the excess cost and waste followed by debs season. But its not just the sch...
The science behind reality TV and how it shapes our thinking
14 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Reality television has been a point of contention for lots of people for many years, with many saying it promotes bad behaviour and not to mention the...
Gender gap in STEM subjects and the effect at third level
14 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
A studio has highlighted the stark gender gap in STEM subjects at Leaving Cert level. Just over 43% of female Leaving Cert students studied...
So you think you're an adult
14 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Declan Buckley and Amanda Brunker join Fionnuala in studio to offer up advice on problems big or small!
What literary references is Taylor Swift making with her new album?
14 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
As excitement for Taylor Swift’s new album release reaches fever pitch, what do we know so far? And just what literary references is Taylor mak...
Why sex education needs improvement
14 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
A study done by Galway University has called for ‘urgent action’ to address sex education in Irish schools after contraception use has dropped.&nb...
Summer in Dublin and the best swimming spots!
14 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Newstalk reporter Henry McKean went out to hear when your favourite swimming spots are and what do to in Dublin in the Summer!
Calls for WhatsApp messages to be available during criminal investigations
14 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Minister for Justice Jim O’Callaghan recently announced plans to introduce a Bill that would require end-to-end encrypted messaging services, such a...
Are we achieving a better work life balance?
14 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Experts are declaring that people are choosing to ‘decentre’ their jobs from their lives and focus on a better work life balance in order to avoid...
What are the worst movies directed by actors?
13 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Over the weekend, the UK Independent released a list of what they believe to be the worst movies directed by actors.This list includes films like ‘L...