Moncrieff Highlights

With cocaine addiction, particularly among women, on the rise and alcohol dependency remaining an ongoing issue – what support is out there for people in need of treatment?As they publish their report revealing how many people are coming forward to access addiction support services, Tom Dunne is joined by Deputy Head of Services at Coolmine Therapeutic Community, Anita Harris…

The controversy and scramble last summer to get tickets for the upcoming Oasis gigs this month was probably a good indicator of just how beloved the band really is...But, as we prepare for their gigs in Croker, Tom Dunne's guest spent time with the band in their early days, and has written a book detailing their meteoric rise to international stardom.John Robb, author of ‘Live Forever', joins to discuss.

Recent research undertaken by Ernst & Young shows that Gen Z has a significantly different approach to finance than previous generations. But, why is this, and will it make them vulnerable in the future?Joining guest host Tom Dunne to discuss is David Looney, Financial Advisory Director of Alpha Wealth in Cork…

On the 6th of August 1945, US bombers dropped the first nuclear bomb, nicknamed ‘Little Boy', over the Japanese city of Hiroshima.80 years later, guest host Tom Dunne is joined by Ronan McGreevy, Journalist and Historian, to walk through what happened, and the legacy of the bomb today.

Traditionally in this country, a bride would have taken her new husband's surname upon marriage. While this doesn't happen as much nowadays, are Gen Z women now taking up the tradition again?Joining guest host Tom Dunne to discuss is Saoirse Hanly, Columnist with the Irish Independent…

A new book has shed light on Abraham Lincoln's murderer, the infamous John Wilkes Booth.While Booth is thought of as a crazed, lone killer, author Scott Ellsworth's new book, ‘Midnight on the Potomac', reveals the gunman's true personality, and the political connections that fuelled Lincoln's assassination.Scott Elsworth is a New York Times best-selling author, writer and Historian, and he joins Seán to discuss.

After celebrity Katherine Schwarzenegger got engaged to Hollywood actor Chris Pratt, she sought the advice of a step-parenting coach to help her with the transition to a blended family. So, how does this type of therapy work?Joining guest host Tom Dunne to discuss is Sandra Schmidt, a Relationship and Parenting Trauma Therapist based in Kerry…

As the new Premier League season is set to kick off in around 2 weeks time, some of the biggest clubs will be trying to flog you their newest and latest football shirts.But, should you buy a retro one instead?In recent years classic football shirts have exploded in popularity, with them selling for many hundreds and in some cases thousands of euro.Joining guest host Tom Dunne to explain is Nigel Taylor, owner of Onsidejerseys.ie.

Over the weekend, a rather odd thing happened in Texas.Dozens of the state's Democrat Representatives decided to up and leave.But why? And was this a great act of peaceful resistance, or a treasonous betrayal of democracy?Gina London is an International Communications Strategist & Trainer, and a former Award-winning CNN correspondent. She joins guest host Tom Dunne to explain.

Tom Dunne's guest, Senior Features Writer with The Telegraph, George Chesterton, went on a bold, sometimes bloody, often brambly quest to reconnect with his masculinity, or perhaps just his sense of self, through four primal activities: deer stalking, butchery, foraging, and axe throwing.Amid a “feminised household,” teenage daughters, and midlife drift, he found himself longing for something more grounded, elemental, and visceral than a round of golf or a city commute. So, he got his hands dirty (literally) and discovered something deeper than manliness: presence, purpose and peace.He joins to discuss!

Anyone with small kids will know about those sneaky escapes to the bathroom to get a moment's peace, but the trend of so-called ‘bathroom camping' is now something that people do on a night out and even in the office.Kirsty Blake Knox, Columnist with the Irish Independent, has been writing about this phenomenon, and joins guest host Tom Dunne to discuss.

A new creature has claimed the title of Australia's heaviest insect…The discovered stick insect was very difficult to capture, but is proving fascinating to Entomologists.Joining guest host Tom Dunne to discuss is Angus Emmott from James Cook University in Australia…

Hemp is used for many things in the world, but did you know that it could be one of the solutions to the climate crisis?The plant can be used to make building blocks, and one of the biggest suppliers of them is based here in Ireland.Ronan McDermott is the owner of Hemp Build, and joins guest host Tom Dunne to discuss.

With festival season kicking off in earnest this weekend with All Together Now, guest host Tom Dunne is joined by Journalist Pat Carty to discuss ahead of it - and much more!

On Monday, the annual Poc Fada will take place up the Cooley Mountains in North Louth.The sport has ancient traditions in Irish history, but it wasn't until the early 1960s where the competition as we know it today developed.So, what is it like to play in the Poc Fada?Joining Tom Dunne to explain is Brendan Cummins, former Tipperary hurler, who holds the record for the most Poc Fada wins.

While today marks the 50th anniversary of the Miami Showband Massacre, a new book explores the extraordinary impact the showbands had on Irish society more broadly, from the pleasure they brought to Irish people's lives during the dull economic landscape of mid-century Ireland, to the new ways of dancing that they ushered in…Joining guest host Tom Dunne to discuss is Rebecca Miller, Author of ‘Are You Dancing: Showbands, Popular Music, and Memory in Modern Ireland'.

Christmas is a good bit away from us, but down under in Australia for many, especially in Sydney, Christmas isn't just celebrated in December, but also July!The tradition apparently has Irish roots, with it originating from 6 Irish men walking into an Australian hotel.Garry Crockett is former owner of the Mountain Heritage Hotel in Sydney, and he joins guest host Tom Dunne to discuss.

If you're a fan of Star Trek, you'll be familiar with the concept of the ‘Prime Directive'. Put simply, the idea is that you avoid contact with people who haven't reached your level of technological development.This is more or less the approach of governments that still have uncontacted peoples living within the borders of their country today.But, what do you do when initial contact has already been made? How do you manage that situation without creating a catastrophe?John Reid is a Freelance Writer working with the Guardian on a series about uncontacted peoples and author of ‘Ever Green: Saving Big Forests to Save the Planet'. He joins guest host Tom Dunne to discuss.

Gen Z adults in the States, those currently in their teens and 20s, are becoming more frugal about what they spend on dates as they deal with higher living costs, according to a Bank of America survey. Is it similar here?Newstalk's Henry McKean has been out asking the public, and joins guest host Tom Dunne to share what he's heard.

In October, the EU's Transparency and Targeting of Political Advertising (TTPA) regulation will come into force. The aim of the regulation is to ensure transparency when it comes to political ads on social media.But on Friday, Meta announced that they're banning political ads altogether.So, is this a victory or a loss for the EU's new regulations?Clare O'Donoghue Velikić is the Director of ODV Digital, a digital consultancy for the political and campaigning sector, based in Dublin. She joins guest host Tom Dunne to discuss.

This Friday will see the annual Oyster Swallowing Competition take place, as part of the Ballylongford Oyster Festival in Kerry. The festival is struggling however to attract women competitors and is currently calling all female oyster enthusiasts to participate…Joining Seán to discuss is Marie Hanrahan O'Neill, PRO of the Ballylongford Oyster Festival…

Are you a first time buyer desperately house hunting in a housing crisis?According to a report from Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, prospective home owners don't have much confidence or trust in estate agents or sellers, and instead turn to family and friends to get information when going through the process.Joining Seán to discuss this is Ciaran Mulqueen from the Crazy House Prices social media pages.

To discuss this, Seán is joined by Cass Sunstein, Robert Walmsley University Professor at Harvard and Author of ‘Manipulation: What It Is, Why It's Bad, What to Do About It'.Image: Cambridge University Press

Thousands gathered at Knock Shrine in Mayo last month for a ceremony where the Archbishop consecrated Ireland to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.While the image of the Sacred Heart is nowhere near as popular as it once was, it is clearly still very important to Irish people today.Professor of Ecclesiastical History at St Patrick's College in Maynooth, Salvador Ryan, joins Seán to explain the history of the iconic image.

Sea swimming has become all the rage in recent years and there are more than a few lovely places to engage in it this summer.Ireland has 98 Blue Flag beaches in all. How many have you swam at?Well after being faced with that question, Biddy Hughes and Orla Leahy decided to swim all 98 to raise money for the RNLI.They're currently on the northwest leg of the challenge, and Biddy Hughes joins Seán to discuss.You can donate here - https://www.gofundme.com/f/sea-fillies-fundraising-for-the-rnliImage: Achill Island

Many of us will have seen photos and images of starving children across our social media feeds and tv screens in the last number of days, as warnings that Gaza is slipping into a famine are echoed across the world.This comes as figures estimate that more than 60,000 people have died in the war…Joining Seán to discuss this is John Whyte, Deputy Director of UNRWA Affairs in Gaza.

Irish artist Jenny Brady's new film, ‘The Glass Booth / An Both Gloine', explores the worlds of interpretation and communication.Chris Guichot de Fortis is an Interpreter working for a Brussels-based defense organization, and one of those people interviewed. He joins Sean to discuss.Image: Project Arts Centre

Can you really turn back time? Well, what about by just not ever acknowledging how old you are?56-year-old Mariah Carey has come out to say that she “doesn't allow ageing” and that is what keeps her young...Really?Consultant Physician in Geriatric and Stroke Medicine, Ronan Collins, joins Seán to discuss.

You might be looking forward to a holiday at this stage in the summer, but if you are taking a trip abroad, just how gross is the airport?And, should you be wiping down the plane before you get comfortable?Anna Burns, Microbiologist and Nutrition Scientist, joins Seán to discuss.

While the many Irish pubs in China do a decent trade in Guinness, a major overhaul of where Chinese Guinness is brewed is getting people worried, and even threatening businesses.Joining Seán to discuss is Denis Staunton, China Correspondent of The Irish Times.

Often in the Irish countryside, motorists and pedestrians will offer a finger or hand salutation on passing each other. This is something that doesn't happen nearly as often in the city.Tina Pisco, Columnist with the Cork Echo, has been writing about it, and joins Seán to discuss.

Seán's guest suffered a mental health episode during lockdown while living in Italy. Diagnosed as psychosis, a condition she wasn't familiar with, her journey out of it has been a challenging task.Joining to discuss is Lisa Callaghan, an Ambassador for Shine, the mental health charity…Samaritans 24/7 Freephone Helpline - 116 123

Due to historical discrimination, the culture of the Irish Traveller community is not well known or understood.But, the minority's heritage is steeped with rich folklore stories, including one which explains how the bogs of Ireland were formed!Oein DeBhairduin is a Traveller activist and writer of ‘Why the Moon Travels'. He joins Seán to discuss.

On the evening of November 24th 1971, a man held a plane to ransom for $200,000, then parachuted out in his suit and dress shoes, never to be seen again.DB Cooper had apparently pulled off one of the great heists in American history.But, who was he and what happened to him?Marty Andrade is the Author of ‘Finding DB Cooper', and joins Seán to discuss.

A quarter of us stick to core office hours and go home at 5 on the dot. What does your job say about you? And does it define you?Henry McKean has been finding out, and joins Seán to discuss.

The Scouts, a vast youth organisation with thousands of members across the country, is attempting to offer a roadmap to our young people using more traditional methods.Joining Seán to discuss is Sean Sheahan, CEO of Scouting Ireland…Image: Scouting Ireland

Last night, Russia sent another barrage of 300 kamikaze drones into Ukraine, a campaign they have ramped up by a factor of ten over the past 12 months. But, how do these drones work, and why are they favoured by both sides in the conflict?Joining Séan to discuss is David Hambling, Journalist and Author of 'Swarm Troopers: How small drones will conquer the world'...

We live in a country famed for its writers - this is the land of Joyce, Wilde, Beckett, Shaw and many more. We know these names.But, one name you might not be familiar with, which is very famous elsewhere, is that of Lafcadio Hearn.An exhibition running in Farmleigh House based on Hearn's 1904 book Kwaidan is aiming to teach Irish people more about his world renowned and most famous book.Paul Murray is the author of ‘A Fantastic Journey: The Life and Literature of Lafcadio Hearn'. He joins Seán to discuss.

A couples retreat is a staple of a relationship - the chance to get away from the responsibilities of life with a loved one. Now, imagine that, just with your phone…Joining Seán to discuss these AI couple retreats is Science Journalist and Senior Lecturer at Johns Hopkins University, Sam Apple.

The cancellation of Stephen Colbert's show has rocked the television industry, but what does it tell us more broadly about the decline of TV?Joining Sean to discuss is Adrian Weckler, Tech Correspondent for the Irish Independent…

With two All-Ireland weekends in a row, for those who are not into sports, it can be a rather alienating time. So, what is it that makes some people sports mad and others so indifferent?Jennifer Horgan, Columnist with the Irish Examiner, has been writing about this, and joins Seán to discuss.

Were you unable or unwilling to fork out a gajillion Euro for one of Oasis's dynamic tickets?Well fear not, the now even wealthier Manchunian rockers have decided to throw you a bone in the shape of a live version of Cigarettes and Alcohol, recorded on their current tour.So, is it any good? And where does it rank in the pantheon of great live recordings of the past?Broadcaster Dave Fanning joins Seán to discuss.