Moncrieff Highlights

Wallpaper is back in, and it's louder, bolder and more vibrant than ever.Wallpaper is all the rage for 2026, and have been hailed by interior designers across the country for the personality and warmth they can add to a room.With peel-and-stick options, even renters can join the design revolution.Joining Seán to discuss is Interior Designer, James McNamara…

Increasingly, in cases of death by suicide or mass shootings, CTE is a factor. It's a condition that can bring dramatic changes to someone, more likely to affect those in contact sports, but ongoing research indicates that a genetic disposition may play a role...Joining Seán to discuss is Dr Colin Doherty, Head of the School of Medicine at Trinity College Dublin and Consultant Neurologist at St. James' Hospital.

Have you ever seen or heard something unusual or unnerving that you can't explain, have you ever had an encounter with paranormal activity? Well if you have, Seán's next guest would like to hear about it.Margaret McGrogan, an Applied Psychologist and PhD candidate at University of Galway, is leading the first national anonymous survey to explore these unusual and unexplained experiences. She joins Seán to discuss…

A brand-new exhibition showcasing the breadth of Picasso's work will be opening at the National Gallery of Ireland.‘Picasso: From the Studio' will be the first Irish exhibition of this scale to showcase the Spanish master's art since his death in 1973.The first ever display of Picasso's work in Ireland was organised by Trinity College students in a library storage room back in 1969.This time around, the exhibition places Picasso in the context of his studios, highlighting the phases of his art and life.It will feature paintings, sculptures, ceramics, works on paper, as well as photographic and audio-visual works.Joining Seán to tell more is Curator of Modern Art at the National Gallery of Ireland, Janet McLean...

A survey has revealed just how much people like to gossip. Here in Ireland is it a part of the fabric of society?Newstalk's Henry McKean has been getting all the gossip, and joins Seán to discuss!

While Elizabeth Shaw may not be well known here in Ireland, the Belfast-born author has been a household name in Germany ever since she travelled to the GDR after World War II, to participate in the building of the communist state through her hugely popular children's books.Joining Seán is Fergal Lenehan, an Irish Academic Researcher based in Germany who has co-written (with Sabine Egger) the afterward for the book ‘How I Came to Berlin', Shaw's memoir, which has been newly published by Lilliput Press…

People are being reminded about the importance of complaining.According to Irish Examiner Consumer Columnist, Caitríona Redmond, complaining can actually serve the common good.Last summer, Caitríona was looking forward to a relaxing family holiday, but things didn't go quite as planned. The three-star hotel she was staying in fell far short of what had been promised, and thanks to complaints lodged by her and other guests, the hotel has now been downgraded.To tell us why speaking up can make a difference, she joins Seán to discuss.

Whenever you see an advert for a car brand on television, the visuals usually centre on open roads in a vast landscape, with the driver emanating a sense of freedom...Seán's guest says the notion that a car gives you freedom is a complete myth!Ciaran Brennan, Communications Officer at the Irish Environmental Network joins to discuss.

In Davina McCall's new book, she talks about the challenge of keeping sex interesting and less functional while couples try to conceive. So, how do you keep the heat alive?Joining Seán to discuss is Helena Tubridy, former Midwife turned Fertility Coach…

A man who has spent the past four decades tending to the graves of the only two unclaimed victims of the 1985 Air India disaster has been honoured by an Indian cultural group.Finbarr Archer, who is the official driver to the Lord Mayor of Cork, was working for an undertaker at the time of the terrorist attack.All 329 passengers and crew on board Air India flight 182 were killed in June of that year, when a bomb exploded on board the aircraft, approximately 190km off the south-west coast of Ireland on route from Montreal to Delhi…The flight, which was brought down off the coast of Cork, remains the worst aviation disaster in Irish and Canadian history.Finbarr Archer joins Seán to discuss.

A Councillor in Limerick city is calling for businesses to take more responsibility for their shopfronts and to reduce the scourge of shoddy signage.Joining Seán to discuss is Maria Donoghue, an Architect and Independent Councillor in Limerick…

This week, the White House released a video of the new ‘Presidential Walk of Fame', featuring portraits of American Presidents. But, one particular frame didn't feature a President at all. Instead, it showed a machine.Newstalk's Simon Tierney has been investigating, and joins Seán to discuss.Image: @WhiteHouse on Twitter

While the Saudis have invested enormously over the past few years into sports such as soccer and golf, they are now stepping into the cultural arena, with the Riyadh Comedy Festival kicking off this weekend. It has an almost unbelievable line up on the cards, from Dave Chapelle to Whitney Cummins and Jimmy Carr.But, is this an attempt to whitewash the regime?Joining Seán to discuss is Liam Kelly, Senior Culture Writer for the Daily Telegraph, who has been investigating…Image: Riyadh Comedy Festival

AI griefbots are personas made to fill in for a deceased individual. They can be used to help people grief a loved one's death, by talking to an AI program pretending to be them.So, how do they exactly work, and are they effective?Justin Harrison, tech entrepreneur and Founder of You, Only Virtual, joins Seán to discuss.

You know those saucy books your nana might read on holiday? What is it like to voice the audiobook for them?Joining Seán to discuss the world of erotica voiceovers is Davey Comerford, Quinn Voice Actor and Trainer.

Human towers, or ‘castells' as they are known in Catalonia, are hugely popular in their home country, but now there is a club in Dublin.So, how do human towers actually work?Joining guest host John Fardy to discuss is Irene Gabara, from Castellers d'Eire...Image: Castellers d'Éire

A Dublin-based Playwright is exploring deaf culture with a creative, innovative spin in his new play.Shane O'Reilly's play ‘Her Father's Voice' (with music by Tom Lane) will premiere at the Dublin Theatre Festival, with six performances from October 1st to October 5th.It draws on Shane's own experience as a child of deaf parents.This new work fuses theatre, opera, and film in a production that explores identity, family, and the unspoken consequences of life-altering decisions.Shane joins guest host John Fardy to discuss more…Image: Dublin Theatre Festival

Rihanna has posted on her socials that her new baby is called Rocki Irish Mayers. So, what's the connection to Ireland, and is it unusual to name a child with a placename or nationality?Joining guest host John Fardy to discuss is SJ Strum, a baby naming consultant and the author of ‘Baby Name Envy'...Image: @badgirlriri on Instagram

People who engage in small talk have the potential to live longer than those who don't.An article recently published in the Irish Examiner explored how small talk helps us feel a sense of belonging.While it is one of the most dreaded aspects of the workplace, experts say communication is a vital component of how we function as humans, and it can define how we perceive our environment.Joining guest host John Fardy to discuss is Clinical Hypnotherapist and Self-Leadership Coach based in Galway, Rachel Gotto.

As the Government commits to establishing more places in special needs schools and special needs classrooms, John's guest is calling for a different policy to be adopted, where children of all needs learn together in the same place.Professor Joe Travers, who is the Director of the Centre of Inclusive Pedagogy at DCU's Institute of Education says we are at a crossroads in relation to inclusive education in Ireland, and joins guest host John Fardy to discuss.

During a lengthy digression of his address to the UN yesterday, US President Donald Trump complained that the floors in the UN building are terrazzo instead of marble…So, why is he so upset, and what's wrong with good old terrazzo? Joining Seán to discuss is Architect and artist Róisín Murphy.Image: Reuters

The pile on against Gen Z is unrelenting, but have older generations always looked at young people with a sense of distaste?Corkonian Ross Frenett, CEO of Moonshot, a company working to end online harms, has been exploring this history, and joins Seán to discuss…

Could heat generated from data centres be the answer for our energy crisis?Heat produced in an Amazon data centre in Tallaght is already being used to heat student accommodation and local authority buildings.Joining Seán to discuss is Sadhbh O'Neill, Climate and Environmental Researcher.

When you think of Fashion you think of New York, London, Milan, but what about Limerick?Well, plans are afoot for Limerick to get its very own fashion museum, but just how stylish is the city, and how does the manufacturing history inform fashionistas there today?Celia Holman Lee, is the founder of one of Ireland's Longest Running Modelling Agencies, and she has been instrumental in this. She joins Seán to discuss.

One question that many find hard to understand is how ordinary Israelis can go about their daily lives with a genocide happening or their doorstep…Paul Kearns, an Irish journalist based in Tel Aviv, has been writing about this for the Irish Times, and joins Seán to discuss.

Do you wear shoes indoors? It might be time to stop, unless you enjoy carrying in bacteria from the less hygienic outside world…Dr Primrose Freestone, Associate Professor in Clinical Microbiology at Leicester University, joins Seán to discuss.

Is there anything Harry Styles can't do?The musician impressed fans by running the Berlin Marathon in under three hours… So just what kind of a feat is it to run a marathon this fast?John Kinsella is a mountain runner and he has run all the major marathons in under 2 hours and 30 minutes. He joins Seán to discuss.

A new book chronicles how the gay rights movement was organised in Ireland, and examines what lessons can be learnt from its losses and successes, and ultimately how these lessons can be passed on to future social movements.Joining Seán to discuss is Michael Barron, author of ‘How Ireland's LGBTQ+ Youth Movement Was Built: Civil Society in the Pursuit of Social Justice'...

The loss of one's parents can be a ‘deeply traumatic' experience for both young and old.That's according to Journalist Deirdre O'Shaughnessy, who lost both her parents in the past three years…While her parents had been ill for years, she says they died ‘two different deaths,' and her life has never been the same since.Deirdre is the Opinion Editor at the Irish Examiner and host of the Deirdre O'Shaughnessy Podcast, she joins Seán to discuss.

The Cloth Nappy Incentive Scheme is now being rolled out to more and more maternity hospitals around Ireland, with Cork being the latest to introduce the project. But, how willing are new parents to get on board with the idea?Joining Seán to discuss Abi O'Callaghan Platt, Policy Director with Voice Ireland...

According to the actor Matthew McConaughey, sleeping in a smaller bed really helped his relationship with his wife.Is this something we should all be doing?Frances Kelleher, Dating Coach, joins Seán to discuss.

Faten Alsourani left Gaza to come and study in Ireland, and continues to work here today. However, she still has family living in Gaza, including her mother, sister, nieces and nephews. Every day she deals with what she describes as “survivor's guilt”, living safely in Ireland while her close family are forced to face daily bombardment and famine…Faten joins Seán to discuss…

The Marie Keating Foundation is trying to raise awareness around prostate cancer, including how you now only need to take a blood test to check for it - “no bum hole needed”!To discuss further, Seán is joined by Henry McKean.

While the number of families choosing to homeschool their children has risen over the past few years, does the national curriculum matter for these kids, or are they not obliged to follow it at all?Joining Seán to discuss is Catherine Monahan, a former home educator, who homeschooled her son through the entirety of his primary and secondary years…

It's road bowling season, and a major international event: the King and Queen of the Roads just wrapped up.One of the event organisers, Séamus Ó Tuama, joins Seán to discuss how it went!

A couple from the UK have been banned from Venice after they were caught swimming in the Grand Canal. They were spotted by gondoliers and reported to police, for which they were fined €450 and banned from the city for 48 hours.Swimming in the city's 150 canals is prohibited, but that has not stopped people from doing it. This has reignited anger among locals, who are calling for fines to be higher and measures to be harsher…Joining Seán to discuss is Journalist Josephine McKenna, who is based in Italy…

Is an adult-only getaway the key to keeping your marriage alive, and where does AI come in? And, how difficult is it for parents of young children to balance friendships along with the rest of the everyday slog?Author Sophie White explores these topics in her Irish Independent columns, as well as her new book ‘Such A Good Couple'. She joins Seán to discuss.

‘Extended Reality' is the new coming of age thing at the Venice Film Festival.The Venice immersive section of the Venice International Film Festival is dedicated entirely to immersive arts and media, but what exactly is it?Michel Reilhac is Founder of Venice Immersive, and joins Seán to discuss.Image: La Biennale di Venezia

If you've ever been on holiday and found yourself speaking the local language with the waiter a little too well, it may be because of the few drinks you had before that…University of Bath Researcher, Inge Kersbergen, has put to the test the possibility that a little tipple makes you more efficient at speaking a new language, and she's been awarded the Ig Nobel prize for her work!She joins Seán to discuss.

This Saturday morning will bear witness to a once in every 15 years celestial event, the passage of Titan in front of Saturn, and will be visible from Ireland.Joining Seán to discuss this is Niall Smyth, Head of Research at Munster Technological University and Head of Blackrock Observatory in Cork…

Are young people more consumed with self doubt and a fear of causing offence than other generations? And if so, what can be done to make them more resilient?Joining Seán to discuss is Joe Humphries, Columnist with the Irish Times…

Electronic conveyancing could cut the time taken to buy a home to as little as four weeks.Secure, paperless and electronic conveyancing processes would save costs, cut red tape and reduce stress of house sales.Right now, it can take up to 6 months, sometimes even more to buy and own a house.Joining Seán to discuss is Mike Stack, a Solicitor with digital conveyancing specialists Beam.