Moncrieff Highlights

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.

Do you dread the hassle of travel?Well, if you're an Irish passport holder, you may take for granted being able to travel without the panic of a visa. That is not the case if you're from a country like India, where your passport can often lead to visa issues and airport delays...Azmia Riaz has been writing about her experiences travelling with a ‘bad' passport and just how inconvenient it really is. She joins Seán to discuss.

A recent survey in the UK shows that over half of college students admit to only being able to cook up to 5 meals – and these include the likes of instant noodles…Should we be equipping our young people with more efficient cooking skills before they fly the nest?Joining Seán to discuss is Darina Allen of Ballymaloe Cookery School, who has written a book on this very topic!

Cover your ears, superstitious listener, because this new generation of parents will cause you to toss all the salt and make you bless yourself into oblivion. Not only are they finding out the gender of their babies, they're naming them and throwing a pre-birthday party too!Newstalk's Sarah Madden reports on the stupidest trend to reach our shores so far.

When Mondo Duplantis broke the world pole vaulting record this week, attention turned to his unusual ‘claw shoes'...So, what are they, and how do they work? Joining Seán to discuss is Sports Journalist Cathal Dennehy, who is on the ground at the World Championships in Tokyo...

Donald Trump has announced that he will sue the New York Times for 15 billion dollars for alleged defamation. The US President now has several major active lawsuits against media outlets, but what is the reason for his war on the media, and what does it mean for free speech in America?Joining Seán to discuss is Graham Finlay, Lecturer in the School of Politics at UCD…

Ben & Jerry's co-founder Jerry Greenfield has quit the ice cream maker after almost 50 years at the company; this is over the brand's new ties with Unilever.But, they are not the only company to have had a very public breakup...Joining Seán to chat about some of the more interesting and maybe unknown side of corporate breakups is Conor Pope, Consumer Affairs Correspondent for the Irish Times.

It was almost 50 years ago when the anti-apartheid activist Steve Biko was viciously beaten to death while in custody. His story became the subject of the Richard Attenborough movie ‘Cry Freedom'.Joining Seán to discuss is Dillon Woods, whose father played a key role in bringing the truth of Biko's murder to light.

A new medical study has found that people who spend time scrolling social media while sitting on the toilet are far more likely to develop hemorrhoids…Joining Seán to untangle this is the GP Brian Higgins.

Extreme temperatures caused by global warming may have caused 16,500 deaths across Europe this summer.New research from the Grantham Institute in the UK has estimated that climate change is likely to be responsible for 68% of additional heat-related deaths.This summer was one of the hottest on record, with temperatures soaring well past 45 degrees celsius in Western Europe, including Spain and Italy.So, how are soaring temperatures affecting mortality rates, and how can we prevent it from increasing in the coming years?Joining Seán to discuss is Peter Thorne, Professor of Physical Geography and Climate Change at Maynooth University…

A study led by Trinity College has shown improvement in physical activity and social engagement in children with mobility issues when a specially trained mobility assistance dog is introduced.Dr Heather Curtain from Trinity School of Engineering and the Gait Laboratory was the first author of this research, and joins Seán to discuss.Image: Trinity College Dublin

Robert Redford, American actor and Director, has died at the age of 89.Joining Seán to look back on his legacy is Esther McCarthy, Film Critic.

Having completed the Liffey Swim 55 years in a row, Dublin native Derek ‘Bimbo' Wilkes has once again claimed victory for the first time since 1989.He joins Seán to discuss!

As ‘Supercar Season' in London draws to a close, Mark Paul, London Correspondent for the Irish Times, has been prowling the streets of the UK capital's boujiest streets to get the lowdown on whether or not these priceless imported cars are acting with impunity…He joins Seán to discuss.

There are now more adults living at home with their parents than ever before...And as the housing crisis deepens, the latest 2022 census data showed that 1 in 5 18 to 50 year olds lived with their parents, while 6 in 10 under 25 are still at home…But for so many people who are stuck in this situation, living with family is their only hope of saving for a deposit and buying their first home.El Keegan is a Photographer in this situation, and joins Seán to highlight the hidden housing problem…

As Ireland looks ahead to the next presidential election, we face an important question: what role should the President play in public life?Traditionally, the office was seen as largely ceremonial, but in recent years, Irish Presidents have taken a more outspoken role on both national and international issues.Some praise this as a fundamental approach, while others argue it risks blurring the boundaries between politics and the Presidency.Joining Seán to discuss is Laura Cahillane, who is a Professor at the School of Law at the University of Limerick…

The University of Galway has unveiled a new digital archive revealing what life was like in an internment camp in the 1970s. The journals and photo albums were given to the college by Paddy McMenamin, who spent time in Long Kesh…Archivist at the University of Galway Library, Dr Barry Houlihan has been pivotal in collating the material, and joins Seán to discuss.Image: University of Galway

Seán's guest is a multimillion bestselling author. Her recent book ‘The Women', based during the Vietnam War and examining the role of American women in the conflict, was a huge success, with Warner Brothers buying up the filming rights. Other listeners will know her work from the hit Netflix show ‘Firefly Lane' starring Katherine Heigl.Author Kristin Hannah joins to discuss!

Over the past couple of months, a number of high profile corporate executives have either been fired or resigned over romances with their employees. But, what rules exist in Ireland in this area?Joining Seán to discuss is Julie Galbraith, Head of Employment at Eversheds Sutherland law firm…

The Irish Government is once again being urged to prioritise the Occupied Territories Bill.This comes as a report was released today, signed by 80 humanitarian and faith-based organisations, saying that a ban on services must be included in the bill.Joining Seán to discuss this is Conor O'Neill, Head of Policy and Advocacy at Christian Aid Ireland and Spokesperson for the campaign to pass the Occupied Territories Bill.

Around 60,000 kids from around Ireland started school for the first time recently. We decided to follow junior infants from their first day and then recheck on them to see how they got on.Henry McKean joins Seán to share what he heard!

Ireland isn't exactly overflowing with world champions, but we could potentially have a new one next week…Emma Quirke is the world's 3rd best Dissectologist, and a hot prospect at next week's World Jigsaw Puzzle Championship!She joins Seán to discuss.

Marking the return of the Galway Comedy Festival, which takes place this October Bank Holiday, Seán is joined by Comedian Phill Jupitus!Image: Off the Kerb Productions

Have you heard the term ‘Shrekking' before?It seems to be the latest buzzword in dating, where women go on dates with men they consider to be much less attractive in a bid to be treated better…But, does dating someone ‘uglier' actually work?Fiona Cooney writes a dating column for Evoke.ie, ‘No Sex and The City' and she joins Seán to discuss.

NASA's Perseverance Rover has been on Mars since February 2021.Its mission is to seek signs of ancient life and collect samples of rock and regolith for possible return to Earth, and NASA announced on Wednesday night that it seems to have discovered something very interesting indeed…Dr. Seán Jordan is Principal Investigator in the ProtoSigns Lab & Associate Professor in Biogeochemistry and Astrobiology at Dublin City University. He joins Seán to discuss.

While you might love the precision pressure of a massage, would you surrender your body to the tentacles of a robot masseuse? This is exactly what Seán's guest has done…Madeleine Aggeler, Lifestyle and Wellness Reporter for Guardian US, joins to discuss.

Ireland's biggest sculpture event, Sculpture in Context, is currently taking place at the Botanic Gardens in north Dublin, with all the pieces located outdoors. But how different is outdoor sculpture to indoor work? Joining me now is artist Roisin de Buitlear, who is exhibiting at the event…

Offices can be notorious places for passive aggressive behaviour, as can people's homes. But, can this type of action ever be truly effective?Journalist Gwen Loughman has been writing about this in The Journal, and joins Seán to discuss.

It was 160 years ago when President Abraham Lincoln was shot dead in a theatre in Washington DC. However, it took 12 days for this news to arrive in Europe. What is little known is the crucial role that three men in Cork played in the communication of this global news…Joining Seán to discuss is Jo Kerrigan, author of ‘Stories from the Sea'...

The Global Sumud Flotilla, which is currently sailing through international waters towards the shores of Gaza in an attempt to break Israel's illegal blockade is made up of dozens of boats.One of those boats is the Shireen, a legal support boat, but what does a legal support boat do exactly?Leigh Brosnan is an Asylum Barrister based in Dublin and a member of Irish Lawyers for Palestine. She is on board the Shireen now, and joins Seán to discuss.Image: Freedom Flotilla

An underground metro service, a city centre lido - many impressive proposals have been suggested to transform life in the capital.But while we wait for the finances, resourcing and energy to make such major projects happen, what smaller developments would make a big difference to Dublin city?Newstalk's Sarah Madden reports.

While a garden pond might be something nice to look at, they are also a bountiful source for biodiversity. But, how do you build one, and what assistance is available from local authorities?Joining Seán to discuss is Alan O'Reilly from Carlow Weather, who is this week marking the one year anniversary of his pond project…Image: @CarlowWeather on Twitter

"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 to be even greater, but, because they were women, they didn't get that recognition.Nicola Pierce, author of 'Great Irish Wives: Remarkable Lives from History' has been digging into the history of some of these women, and joins Seán to discuss.

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 is Sharon Kielthy, Founder of Jiminy Eco Toys, who kickstarted the Party Kit Network in Ireland…Image: Party Kit Network

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 cost? Do we really need them in a country where it rains so much?Joining Seán to discuss is Seán O'Neill McPartlin, Director of Housing Policy at Progress Ireland…

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, which states that members of the Western military alliance will consult together whenever any of them is threatened.The incident is being seen as one of major concerns for ‘The West'.But what is ‘The West'? Why are Poland in it? Are New Zealand and Australia, countries on the extreme east of the map, as we understand it, also part of “The West”?Georgios Varouxakis is Professor in History of Political Thought at Queen Mary University of London and author of ‘The West: The History of an Idea'. He joins Seán to discuss.