Highlights from Moncrieff

Who doesn't want to live happily ever after?The important role of romance fiction in Irish Literature is being explored in a new exhibition, which has opened in the Museum of Literature Ireland.Seán is joined by the Curator of Happy Ever After and author of ‘Modernism in Irish Women's Contemporary Writing: The Stubborn Mode', Professor Paige Reynolds, to discuss this further...Image: MoLI

Forty years ago today a 17-year-old local girl, Claire O'Mahony, saw the statue of Our Lady, in the grotto just outside Ballinspittle at Sheehy's Cross, move.This incident began a sequence of events that saw thousands of people visit the town, widespread media coverage both at home and abroad and at least 30 other similar sightings elsewhere in the country.Colette Sheridan is a Freelance Journalist who reported on the event at the time and has been writing about it in the Irish Times. She joins Seán to look back on this time.

What we consider the markers of Irishness can be something of a fraught question, but one thing that we're somewhat famous for is our accent.So, what is it like to be Irish but not have the accent?Kate Kerrigan is the Author & Performer of a new show on this subject called ‘Am I Irish Yet?' She joins Seán to discuss…Image: Circus250

There is currently no practical driver training or test for tractors in Ireland. Paul Daly, a Fianna Fáil Senator and farmer, is calling for this to change, and joins Seán to discuss.

Often, some days feel longer or shorter than others, but today, July 22nd, is actually literally shorter than others.Why is that?Shane Bergin, Physicist & Assistant Professor in Science Education at UCD, joins Seán to discuss.

The My Lovely Horse Rescue group believe that there is an animal welfare crisis taking place in Ireland currently, and are calling on the Government to introduce a dedicated animal welfare and crime unit.Joining Seán to discuss is Martina Devlin, Co-Founder of My Lovely Horse Rescue…

Are you a terrible texter? Or are you sick of sending messages and seeing the blue ticks and then waiting days for a reply?When it comes to texting, is there a specific etiquette, and is not texting back just plain rude? Or are some people just bad texters rather than inconsiderate people?Chartered Registered Counselling Psychologist, Niamh Delmar, joins Seán to discuss.

A movement called ‘Stop Killing Games' is trying to convince the EU to introduce new rules so that consumers have more rights in relation to the digital assets they own. But, what exactly is the problem?Joining me now is Tech journalist and columnist with the Irish Times Emmet Ryan…Image: stopkillinggames.com

If you're a League of Ireland football fan, you may have noticed that the Drogheda United crest has a star and crescent on it, much like you would see on the flags of many Muslim-majority countries.And, a recent social media post from TurkeyToday has been highlighting this fact.So, what's the connection there?Joining Seán to discuss is Conor Hoey, Director with Drogheda United Football Club.

From Parker Posey in ‘The White Lotus' to Megan Stalter in ‘Too Much', the nightgown is having a moment. But, how did such an old-fashioned garment become fashionable again?Joining Seán to discuss is Journalist and Fashion Expert, Laura Mullett…

The world's oldest ice cores have just arrived in the UK after a journey all the way from East Antarctica.Scientists will soon begin melting this ice in an attempt to find out what the world was like 1.5 million years ago.But, what can melted old water really tell us about the Earth of the distant past?Dr. Liz Thomas is the Head of Ice Core Research at the British Antarctic Survey, and joins me now…Image: @britishantarcticsurvey on Instagram

Amal and George Clooney have a no phones rule for guests, their policy is to allow a safe and frank conversation. So, what rules do you have for your house guests and how long is too long for someone to stay?Newstalk's Henry McKean has been talking to the public, and joins Seán to share what he's heard.

Has cocaine become completely normalised?A new report published by the Department of Health has highlighted that cocaine users are now older and better educated than ever before. The typical cocaine user is changing as older people embrace the party drug.For more on this, Seán is joined by Professor Colin O'Gara, Addiction Psychiatrist and Head of Addiction Services at St. John of God Hospital…

Comedians Julie Jay and Colm O'Regan join Seán in Lighthouse Cinema to talk all things comedy, and the work-life balance that is needed in their careers.Julie Jay and Colm O'Regan will be performing at the Paddy Power Comedy Festival this weekend. For more information go to ppcomedyfestival.com.

Seán's guest's latest book, ‘Strange Sally Diamond', went straight to number one in Ireland.Liz Nugent, one of Ireland's foremost crime writers, joins live in Lighthouse Cinema to discuss!

A traditional Irish basket for collecting harvested onions had been lost to history, until Seán's guest managed to recreate one so accurately that it is now being celebrated by those in Kerry who remember the original.Joining to discuss is Diane Southey from Saille Baskets in Kerry...

Do you make the effort when you are abroad to speak the language?Even just a ‘gracias' or ‘merci' can go a long way.So, are we good at attempting to speak another language (despite mispronouncing the words) or do we end up just increasing our volume in English?Travel Writer Joan Scales joins Seán to discuss.

‘One bill per table' - that's the new rule being rolled out across all restaurants in Mallorca to stop tourists bickering over the bill and wasting staff time.Surely splitting the bill can't be that hard for restaurants, or can it?Chef and Restaurateur in Galway, JP McMahon, joins Seán to discuss.

Who are you?When someone asks you that question what first springs to mind? Your nationality? Your job? Your sexual orientation? Your religion?How useful are these concepts in actually describing us, and should we even be identifying as any of these things?Alexander Douglas is the Author of ‘Against Identity: The Wisdom of Escaping the Self'. He joins Seán to discuss.

Seán's guest used to be a pilot with a major airline before he developed ‘eco-anxiety', causing him to quit flying. He now features in a new documentary entitled ‘Guilt Trip'.George Hibberd joins to discuss.

You may be aware that the Taoiseach was on a state visit to Japan last week.What you may not know is that Japan has something of a thriving community of traditional Irish musicians, who are indigenous Japanese, with no ancestral ties to Ireland.Rieko Yamashita is the Chair of Comhaltas Ceoltoirí Éireann Japan, and joins Seán to discuss.Image: John John Festival

What can philosophy teach us? And just how can applying philosophical logic help when assessing major news stories and global conflict?Co-Founder of Hear Listen, a community based philosophy project, Dr Robert Grant joins Seán to discuss.

Nora O'Connor has been the Postmistress in Ballyduff in Kerry since 1984, after her family ran the post office there since the 1860s when the Penny Black was first introduced. This month, the doors have finally been closed for the last time.Nora joins Seán to discuss.Image: Google Maps

Whether it's been tucked away and forgotten about, or left to you through inheritance - the humble attic could be containing treasures right above your noses!Joining Seán to discuss is Sara Kenny, owner of Sara Kenny Fine Art.

Does the price of barbecue food go up when the weather is good? And should you be stocking up on certain household items at particular times of year?With the cost of groceries continuing to go up, people are feeling the pinch now more than ever.Consumer Columnist with the Irish Examiner, Caitriona Redmond, joins Seán to discuss.

While over a million Irish people emigrated to the UK during the 20th century, the narrative over these people's experiences varies, with the mythology surrounding the ‘No blacks, no dogs, no Irish' signs often contributing to the way we perceive this great migration. But, is there any evidence that these signs actually ever existed?Joining Seán to discuss is Journalist Michael Murphy, who has been writing about this for the Daily Telegraph…

Getting an ingrown toenail during the summer can be a real pain, if you want to be in sandals and flip flops during the good weather. So, how do you prevent one, and what can be done if it's too late?Joining Seán to discuss is Podiatrist Niall Donaghue, from the Cure Spa Clinic in Dublin, who has all the grisly details…

Last week saw Ireland's long-awaited Defamation Bill passed in both the Dáil and the Seanad.However, not everyone is satisfied that the bill is sufficient to prevent so-called SLAPP cases and therefore to protect free speech.Jessica Ní Mhainín is Head of Policy and Campaigns at Index on Censorship. She joins Seán to discuss.

Every so often you'll spot those headlines about derelict homes going for one euro in Italy, and you might ask yourself if the dream matches the reality. However, some people who do the scheme end up spending far more money, so what does life in rural Italy really look like?Stephanie Woods Barry, who runs a travel instagram @stephmylife bought in Abruzzo with her husband, and she joins Seán to discuss her experience.

1,500 illegally traded tarantulas were recently seized by officials in Cologne Bonn airport. But, how dangerous are tarantulas, and are they still popular as a pet? Joining Seán to discuss is Michel Dugnon, Principal Investigator of the Venom System Lab at the University of Galway…

In an upcoming talk at the Sugar Club in Dublin on August 20th, Dr Shane Cassidy, a Music Therapist and Director of Neurolinks, will discuss how music can be used to help people with neurological conditions. But, what exactly is the link between the brain and music?Dr Cassidy joins Seán to discuss.

Is Trump really a madman, or is he simply following in the footsteps of Richard Nixon and acting out the Madman Theory in International diplomacy?Joining Seán to discuss this is Professor of Political Science at the University of Notre Dame, Michael Desch.Image: Reuters

There are calls for the government to follow through on the promises made to ensure marine preservation and the protection of our ocean environments.It is vital for marine life to be protected and for more on this, Seán is joined by Ecologist Pádraic Fogarty...

With cars relying more and more on touchscreen technology, is there a growing safety concern, and is it time to return to good old-fashioned buttons?Joining Seán to discuss is Ger Herbert, Motoring Editor and Columnist with the Sunday Independent…

While you might be scared of spiders yourself, you probably don't want to pass this fear onto your kids, so how do you manage the transfer of phobias?Joining Seán to discuss is Rebecca Quinn, Principal Psychologist at the Tree House Practice in Dublin…

What age are we at our happiest, and does it surprise you that happiness can dip in your mid-forties, especially in women?Newstalk's Henry McKean has been happily investigating, and joins Seán to discuss.

When Seán's guest moved into his flat in the middle of Temple Bar in 1996, this historic and recently regenerated part of Dublin was a bohemian and cultural mecca. Frank MacDonald has been writing in the Irish Times about how it transformed into a very different beast over the decades, forcing him to sell up and move out of the city altogether.He joins to discuss…

Almost anyone who grew up in Ireland will have encountered the poetry of WB Yeats at some point in their education. His brother, Jack B Yeats, was an acclaimed painter who took home Ireland's first ever Olympic medal, winning the silver for art in 1924.But, they weren't the only siblings in the Yeats family, nor were they the only Yeats children to be highly acclaimed.Lyndsey McDougall is a Singer with New Pagans and Art History lecturer at Ulster University. She joins to discuss.Image: Trinity College Dublin

With most countries' highest recorded temperatures having occurred in the 21st century, Ireland is very unusual. Ours occurred in the 19th century, a record that still stands 140 years later.Joining Seán to discuss is John O'Sullivan, from the Climate Services Division of Met Éireann...

Filmmaker and Writer Neil Jordan joins Sean ahead of his appearance at the West Cork Literary Festival to talk about his career, memoir, and the ever-changing film industry.Neil Jordan is in conversation on Monday July 14th at 8.30pm in The Maritime Hotel in Bantry. For tickets and more information go to www.westcorkmusic.ie/literary-festival/.

Tennis fans watching Wimbledon in the last week will have been up in arms at the issues with the AI electronic line calling system which was brought in for the first time for this year's tournament.With players and spectators suitably annoyed after high profile malfunctions in the last number of days, Host of the For Tech's Sake podcast, Elaine Burke, joins Seán to explain exactly what is going on, and just why new technology is not always reliable…

There has been much discussion about who the next President may be, and who will put their name in the hat, but as part of this year's Galway International Arts Festival, they have curated an exhibition looking back at current President Michael D Higgins - and all he has done in public life.For more on this, Seán is joined by Artistic Director of the Galway Arts Festival, Paul Fahy…Image: Galway Arts Festival