Highlights from Moncrieff

A new book explores the extraordinary escapades undertaken by diplomats and revolutionaries to forge alliances abroad in support of Irish independence during the 1920s. Joining Tom Dunne in for Sean to talk about it all was the Editor of the book ‘The Irish Revolution: -Diplomacy and Reactions 1919-1923' Mervyn O'Driscoll,

Have you ever thought about going back to college?Well James O'Reilly has just graduated from Dublin City University with a degree in history and literature and he proves that it really is never too late.He joined Tom Dunne in for Sean alongside his son Emmett to chat about his lifelong love for learning...

After a famous win for Ireland yesterday, beating Hungary 3-2 to reach the playoffs for the World Cup, screams and tears engulfed the nation as Troy Parrott scored the winning goal in the last seconds of the game. But has yesterday shown that we have become better at expressing our emotions in public ?Henry McKean reports.

What would you do to be famous?For some people, it doesn't matter. For others, it's their greatest ambition.In 1968 Irishman Mick Meaney decided he was willing to bury himself alive for his shot at fame.Daire Collins is the director of a new documentary about these events called Beo Faon bhFód and he joined Tom Dunne in for Sean to discuss

The vinyl release of a protest album entitled ‘Is This What We Want?' will be launched on December 8th and will feature an extraordinary contribution from Paul McCartney. So, how will the album help in the fight against generative AI using artists' work without their permission? Joining Tom Dunne in for Sean is the man behind this effort, Ed Newton-Rex, Founder of Fairly Trained.

A contemporary artist took the world by surprise this week when he snuck an AI-generated print into the National Museum of Cardiff.Elias Marrow, who maintains anonymity in his work, used AI software to create his work, ‘Empty Plate', which he says represents Wales in 2025.The secretive artist carried out similar stunts at Bristol Museum and Tate Modern, but denied it was “vandalism”.This has sparked a heated debate about the place of AI in art and whether it ought to be displayed…Conceptual artist Elias Marrow joins Seán to discuss.Image: Elias Marrow

"All that glitters is not gold", "Do or do not, there is no try". The first quote is from Shakespeare, and the other is from Yoda. Both are examples of aphorisms, a form of expression you don't hear much anymore. According to this author, they're making a comeback.Joining Seán to discuss is James Geary, author of ‘The World in a Phrase: A Brief History of The Aphorism'.

Jane McNeice did not expect that her admission that she has breastfed her children and grandchildren would cause such strong reactions. To her, there is nothing more natural than feeding any child related to her that is hungry. As she sees it: “it's no different than making them beans on toast”...She joins Seán to discuss!

‘Death Cleaning' is the Swedish practice of getting rid of stuff you don't need before you die. But, why bother? And, is there more to it than meets the eye?Joining Seán to discuss is Psychologist and host of the NBC show ‘The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning', Katarina Blom…Image: NBC

A brand-new exhibition coming to Dublin is set to take visitors on a gripping psychological journey into the darkest corners of the human mind...‘Inescapable Darkness: A Serial Killers Exhibition' will immerse people in the cases of some of history's most notorious killers, from Ancient Rome to the modern day.Through realistic recreations, original case materials and cutting-edge virtual reality, guests can explore the psychology behind these crimes and the investigations that exposed them.Joining Seán to discuss is John Zaller, Creative Director at Exhibition Hub.

A brand-new short documentary celebrating boobs has been sparking conversations and sweeping awards around the globe.The film, ‘BOOBS', follows Dublin artist Geraldine Carton's journey to paint one hundred real women's breasts, celebrating the reality of female bodies in all their shapes, stories, and imperfections.What began as a simple call-out on Instagram has grown into a powerful movement about body image, resilience, and self-acceptance.Geraldine joins Seán to discuss more.Image: @geraldine_carton on Instagram

It has long been debated as to whether or not Adolf Hitler had just one testicle. Now, a new documentary on Channel 4 explores this and other intimate topics associated with the infamous dictator.Joining Seán to discuss is one of the participants, Dr. Alex Kay from the War Studies Department at the University of Potsdam.

There's nothing that inflames our judginess more than getting behind the wheel and judging other people on the road.So, what are your biggest driving icks?Henry McKean has been asking the public, and joins Seán to discuss.

As parents of primary school children around the country participate in the largest ever survey of attitudes to school ethos, Seán's guest has been sharing her personal experiences of her four children who have opted out of religious instruction.Aoife Cassidy, Communications Officer at Education Equality, who has been writing about this in the Irish Examiner, joins to discuss…

As flu and cold season descends on us, what are the best home hacks to treat a cold, and does the old ‘Wine & Garlic' method actually work?Joining Seán to discuss is Illona Duffy, a GP based in Monaghan…

From the extensive hijackings of the 1970s to the emergence of suicide bombers in the 1980s, a new book traces the evolution of terrorism in the mid to late 20th century.Joining Seán to discuss is Jason Burke, Foreign Correspondent for the Guardian and author of ‘The Revolutionists: The Story of the Extremists Who Hijacked the 1970s'...

Controversy has erupted in Japan as to whether or not the new female Prime Minister will step into the sacred sumo ring to present a prestigious trophy later this month, as sumo rules do not allow women to enter the dohyō…Joining Seán to discuss is Ireland's only female sumo wrestler, Tori Mallon, from Sumo na hÉireann, the Irish Sumo Wrestling Association...

A Cork gym is breaking barriers in fitness accessibility. Elite Fitness Cork has just introduced a new hyperbaric chamber to support people with serious health conditions, which has been proven can help people with symptoms of long Covid.From professional athletes to wheelchair users, this gym is redefining what inclusivity in fitness really means.Owner and kickboxing champion Colin O'Shaughnessy joins Seán to talk about why Elite Fitness Cork is more than just a gym…

What defines trauma, and why are people more vulnerable to it than others? This will be the main focus of a talk happening at the Sugar Club in Dublin later this month, which will unravel the neuroscience behind Irish trauma…Behavioural and Clinical Neuroscientist Dr. Michael Keane will be giving the talk and demonstrating trauma through visuals like brain imaging and scans.He joins Seán to discuss more.

What makes us yawn? We all do it, but few of us actually know why. Even today, scientists are still puzzled by the recurring action. Wrongly attributed to breathing, the instinctive act might have more to do with our brains and neurological functions.Professor of Behavioural Biology at John Hopkins University, Andrew Gallup joins Seán to discuss the breakthrough on the contagious gesture few of us understand…

Today marks Armistice Day, the signing of negotiations which brought the end of World War I.It is also known as Remembrance Day, Veterans' Day, and Poppy Day, in other parts of the world, and over the years has evolved to commemorate all those who have died in war.Joining Seán to discuss the history of Armistice Day is Historian and Archives Manager at Dublin Cemeteries Trust, Dr. Brian Casey…

Is Gen Z going ‘braless' and what does this mean for the future of lingerie?Social media has recently been taken by storm when actress Sydney Sweeney went for a ‘braless' red carpet look.She freed her nipples in a sheer dress that made the rounds on social media, with users blaming her for sexualising herself for the male gaze, while others hailing her for what was deemed to be a ‘feminist' move.But, is this the sign of a new trend emerging for women, and how could this define the future of the bra?Owner of Peaches and Cream lingerie shop, Sinead Sanderson, joins Seán to discuss.

You know what it's like, when you go to a new city you can end up spending hours in queues and being stuck in crowds with the masses...Actor Richard E Grant has revealed a new approach to sightseeing ,saying that the best time to explore somewhere new is at night, around 8pm, when every other tourist is eating dinner.So, is this true? And what is there to do at night as a tourist in Ireland?Trudy Carmody is a private tour guide who runs Experiencing Ireland. She joins Seán to discuss.

You may have been watching today's inauguration of Catherine Connolly as Ireland's 10th President.Seán's guest was there in person to see this peaceful transfer of democratic power in action, and whereas that's the norm here, it's a process that seems to be increasingly imperilled elsewhere…Art O'Leary is Chief Executive of the Irish Electoral Commission (An Coimisiún Toghcháin), and joins to discuss.

Córas Iompair Éireann (CIÉ) has digitised its records, and is making them available to the public, with many documents going back to the glory days of Irish rail in the 19th century.Joining Seán to discuss is Kevin Forkan, Group Archivist for CIÉ.Image: CIÉ

Hate speech and extremism causing women to be driven away from politics is putting our democracy in “serious danger”.It follows the resignation of Sweden's Centre Party Leader, Anna-Karin Hatt, over what she described as an “unbearable number of threats and harassment”.The party leader said she no longer feels safe in her own home, with her predecessor leaving the role three years ago for the same reasons...CEO of Women for Election, Brian Sheehan, joins Seán to discuss how this may be reflecting the situation here in Ireland…

How much of your working day is spent in meetings?We tend to think of them as a necessary evil, but are they all really necessary?Joining Seán to discuss is Margaret E Ward, CEO of Clear Eye Leadership Consultancy.

Designer Paul Costelloe said “I really love Irish people... they are so quick to pay you a compliment”, but is he right? Do we give out enough compliments to people? Are they genuine and how do you take a back handed compliment? Should we compliment people more?Newstalk's Henry McKean has been asking the public, and joins Seán to discuss.

One month into the ceasefire in Gaza, how have things actually improved on the ground? Has the fighting halted completely, can people return to their homes (or what's left of them) and just why is aid still being blocked?John Whyte is the Acting Senior Deputy Director of UNRWA (Operations), the United National Relief and Works Agency for Palestine, for the Gaza Strip and joins Seán to discuss.Image: Reuters

Scientists have discovered 30 new deep-sea species, including a carnivorous “death ball” sponge unlike anything seen before.The expedition explored volcanic craters and oceanic trenches near the South Sandwich Islands, revealing a hidden world of strange creatures.Among the findings were iridescent scale worms, new species of sea stars, and the first confirmed footage of a juvenile colossal squid.To tell us about these fascinating discoveries, Dr Michelle Taylor from the Ocean Census project joins us on the line…Image: Schmidt Ocean Institute

This week saw two major events to promote the future of household robots; Neo, the 1X Technologies butler and Optimus, the much heralded robot from Tesla. But, will these robots actually be able to do any of the tasks that are promising to make our everyday lives easier?Joining guest host Tom Dunne to discuss is Tech Journalist Emmet Ryan, who has been investigating…Image: 1X Tech

Much of the scandal surrounding the now former Prince Andrew has been seen as being unprecedented, but this is far from the first public scandal the British Royal family has faced.Just over a century ago, Irish woman Nellie Clifden was a central character in a controversy that almost toppled the Monarchy…Those events inspired Andrew O'Connor's 2018 novel ‘By Royal Appointment', and he joins guest host Tom Dunne to discuss.

Xania Monet, the R&B singer-songwriter, has become the first AI-generated artist to debut on a Billboard radio play chart. So, what does the incursion of AI into music mean for the future?Joining guest host Tom Dunne to discuss this is Journalist Pat Carty…

Feminist statement or search for instant notoriety? Harriet Richardson's latest artwork has the internet divided. Especially since the work of art is in this case is - her!The London-based artist spent nearly a thousand euro to tattoo the names of all of her former lover's mothers across her ribs and even hired a private investigator to find some of them…She joins Seán to discuss…

Over the past three years, comedian Ailish McCarthy has been working on getting a legislative gap filled. Although comedians are considered artists by the Department of Culture, Communications and Sport, they remain ineligible for grants and funds allocated by the Arts Council.Sinn Féin TD Aengus Ó Snodaigh launched an amendment to the Arts Bill this Thursday to have their joke-telling recognized in law.Ailish McCarthy joins Seán in the studio to discuss…

We're all familiar with the saying “dressing your age”, but are we really reading between the lines?In the digital age, everyone can become an influencer, and women over the age of forty are making their voices heard more than ever before.Dubbed ‘Silver Influencers' by the BBC, this new generation of women is completely unapologetic about aging and seeks to redefine what being a mature woman is during this decade.Stylist Cathy O'Connor joins Seán to discuss how she and other ‘silver influencers' are changing the game for women across Ireland through representation.

Two-thirds of people would avoid Dublin City Centre for fear of crime, according to a new survey from Dublin Inquirer and Amárach. But is it geography, do you feel safer in some areas and not in others?Henry McKean has been touring the streets of Dublin City Centre and joins Seán to discuss…

How did the globalisation drive begin, and how has it impacted our economy?That's what David J Lynch's new book, ‘The World's Worst Bet' aims to explore.Lynch is a Global Economics correspondent for the Washington Post, and his latest book examines how the United States' ambitious plans after the Cold War have led to interdependence and a precarious global economy.He joins Seán to discuss.

Businesses in Bantry in west Cork are again counting the cost after about 20 premises were flooded when the town experienced a heavy downpour earlier in the week…This left many locals worried, as it marked the town's seventh flood since 2020 and 10th since 2012.So, what needs to be done to prevent more flooding?Andrea is joined by Michael Collins, Leader of Independent Ireland, as well as local residents, to discuss.

This year marks the centenary of the last state execution of a woman in Ireland, but what is the story behind the Annie Walsh case?Joining Seán to discuss is Dr Patrick McGarty, Senior Lecturer in Public Policy at Munster Technological University…

Democrat Zohran Mamdani has won the New York City mayoral race, with a pledge to “make America affordable again.”This would include plans to make New York City's buses across the entire network free to ride.But, how feasible would something like this be here in Ireland? Could free buses work in Dublin?Professor at the Department of Civil, Structural and Environmental Engineering at Trinity College Dublin, Brian Caulfield, joins Seán to discuss.Image: Reuters

Seán's guest knows, at the click of a button on her phone, where many of her loved ones are at any given time. But, the normalisation of location sharing is prompting her to reconsider whether or not this is good or not.Saoirse Hanley from the Irish Independent has been writing about all this in today's paper, and joins to discuss.