Shows / Moncrieff
Moncrieff
The daily dose of madness and intrigue from Sean Moncrieff and his rebel radio crew.
CONVERSATION THAT COUNTS | Ireland’s national independent talk station for news, sport, analysis and entertainment
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Episodes
MoncrieffIs sightseeing at night the best way to be a tourist?
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…
MoncrieffWatching democracy in action - and why it’s happening less
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…
MoncrieffCIÉ digitises and releases public archive of records
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…
MoncrieffWhy hate speech and extremism is driving women away from politics
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…
MoncrieffHow many meetings are actually necessary?
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…
MoncrieffAre the Irish good with compliments? - Henry McKean Asks
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…
MoncrieffWhy is Israel still blocking aid into Gaza?
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…
MoncrieffWhat are the carnivorous “death balls”?
Scientists have discovered 30 new deep-sea species, including a carnivorous “death ball” sponge unlike anything seen before. The expedition explored volcanic…
MoncrieffWill robot butlers actually make our lives easier?
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…
MoncrieffThe Irish woman who almost toppled the British Monarchy
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…
MoncrieffXania Monet and the arrival of AI music artists
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…
MoncrieffWhy would you get a tattoo of your lover’s mother?
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…
MoncrieffShould comedy be eligible for Arts Council funding?
Over the past three years, comedian Ailish McCarthy has been working on getting a legislative gap filled. Although comedians are considered artists by the…
MoncrieffWhy ‘silver influencers’ are changing the attitude to aging
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…
MoncrieffDublin’s safety blackspots - Henry McKean Reports
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…
MoncrieffHow did globalisation begin?
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…
MoncrieffWhat needs to be done about Cork floods?
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…
MoncrieffThe story of the last state execution of a woman in Ireland
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…
MoncrieffCould free buses work in Dublin?
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…
MoncrieffLocation sharing - are we giving away too much?
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…
MoncrieffThe relationship between food and autism
Food and eating can be exceptionally challenging for autistic people, particularly kids. So, why is this, and what questions does it raise about the Free…
MoncrieffWhen is it time to break up with your hairdresser?
Have you ever gotten a haircut you absolutely loathed, but were too shy to say it? Too afraid to speak up and vouch for yourself, you hoped that your…
MoncrieffShould opting out of organ donation be respected?
The decision to opt out of organ donation should be respected. That’s the view of the President of the Medical Council of Ireland, Dr. Suzanne Crowe. It…
MoncrieffNew pop-up book on LA’s ‘Pink Bungalow’
Long before the term multi-media artist came into use, and before a 90s soap about six friends trapped in a small New York City apartment changed television…
- Moncrieff
The role of a workplace in dealing with pregnancy loss
University College Cork has become the first Irish university to introduce paid leave to employees who have experienced pregnancy loss. It follows extensive…
MoncrieffAre the men’s and women’s toilets equal?
We thankfully live in a time when gender equality seems like an achievable goal, and many steps have been taken to right the wrongs of a patriarchal past. No…
MoncrieffThe man responsible for Dublin’s trees
Where does the Irish capital stand on a European level when it comes to our tree canopy cover, and how is it decided where to plant new ones? Joining Seán to…
MoncrieffEU to publish review of its membership criteria
The European Union is publishing its annual review of candidate countries’ progress toward membership today. It’s part of a long and demanding process that…
MoncrieffKim Kardashian and the conspiracy theory that never dies
In an episode of ‘The Kardashians’ the other day, Kim Kardashian made it clear that she is in full support of the idea that the Apollo moon landings never…
MoncrieffOver a third of young boys would consider an AI girlfriend
AI has been discussed a lot, with questions about how the technology is changing things and affecting relationships, but the impact of AI on intimate and…
MoncrieffAre we being conned about climate change?
With COP 30 set to begin this day next week, a lot was made of Bill Gates' recent comments on climate change, but perhaps the way in which they were reported…
MoncrieffIs there any way to fight planned obsolescence?
Are you sick of things breaking the second the guarantee expires? From washing machines, phones and other kitchen appliances, are there simple ways to combat…
MoncrieffWhat are the worst restaurant habits? - Henry McKean Asks
Have traditional restaurant manners in Ireland been replaced by a free-for-all anything goes? Phone calls, watching videos and eating with your mouthful?…
MoncrieffSagrada Familia becomes the tallest church in the world
The Sagrada Familia in Barcelona, under construction since 1890, yesterday became the tallest church in the world after a new section of its tower was…
MoncrieffWhy we should try new things - even if we’re bad at them
Is there anything you do just for the sake of it? Even if you're not good at something, is it worth it to dabble? Karen Walrond, author of ‘In Defense of…
MoncrieffFrom direct provision to published author - Melatu Uche Okorie’s story
As Dublin celebrates its 15th anniversary as UNESCO City of Literature, an Irish-Nigerian writer reflects on her journey from direct provision to a successful…
MoncrieffHow you can repair moth-holed jumpers
It's that time of year again where we’re pulling our woolly jumpers out of the attic ready for another winter. You may be finding that your warm layers have…
MoncrieffWhat are the advantages of AI education?
Do we need to start teaching our young people about the advantages of AI? With the way the world is going, these could be valuable career deciding skills. Jean…
MoncrieffTaking an underground sound bath! - Henry McKean Reports
Today, we sent Henry McKean down the Marble Arch Caves in county Fermanagh to experience a sound bath for the first time, with thanks to…
MoncrieffWhat does it take to be ‘cool’?
Do you have what it takes to be cool, and can you fake it until you make it? Writing in the Guardian, Journalist Elle Hunt gave it a shot, and joins Seán to…
MoncrieffIs there a link between loneliness and dementia?
An Irish Neuroscientist has been speaking out about the link between loneliness and dementia. In Ireland, CSO figures show that in 2024, 5.6% of 16-24 year…
MoncrieffSteven Moore on ‘The Stuff of History’
Steven Moore, a familiar name and face for many of antique lovers, has released a book entitled ‘The Stuff of History’, a curated compendium of curious objects…
MoncrieffIde O’Carroll on her 30 year research project
Ide O’Carroll is a Social Researcher, author, and former teacher who undertook a 30-year project for her latest book. In this unique book, we hear from Irish…
MoncrieffThe power of swearing
What makes a word a ‘taboo’, and what power do these words hold? Research conducted by experts across 17 countries and in 13 different languages aimed to…
MoncrieffExhibition to showcase Ireland’s only known dinosaurs
Fossil remains of Ireland’s only known dinosaurs will go on public display for the first time ever. The exhibition will take place at UCC’s Glucksman Gallery…
MoncrieffWhat does it take to join a board?
Do you have skills that you think would help a charity organisation? Or have you always thought about volunteering but never got around to it? In this country…
MoncrieffEurope or the US - The geopolitical choice facing Ireland
Ireland is facing a geopolitical choice that is pulling us in two different directions. We are not just witnessing a drift in the Transatlantic Alliance, but…
MoncrieffWhat is the Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards?
The shortlist for this year’s Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards has been announced. But, what is it about these photographs that captures people’s imagination…
MoncrieffHow easy is it for first time buyers to really buy a home?
Nearly every day, you see headlines of rising property prices and the lack of supply of homes for people to buy and live in, but at the same time, in the last…
MoncrieffThe dark side of drinking during the winter months
With the clocks wound back an hour over the weekend, the days are getting darker, and so is our mood. Seasonal affective disorder is not a myth, and people are…
MoncrieffCan the US bullying on climate change be overcome?
This day next week, world leaders will gather in the city of Belem on the banks of the Amazon to start the Cop30 climate negotiations. And though a scientific…
MoncrieffWhat making friends with AI is like
If sci-fi writers are to be believed, we're only a few years away from a world in which some, or even most, of our friends are artificial. Some might say that…
MoncrieffThe history of daylight saving time
As we prepare to turn back the clocks this weekend, you might be surprised to discover the history of Daylight Savings Time and how it all began during World…
MoncrieffBooker Prize announce Children’s Fiction category
The Booker Prize has announced that, for the very first time, they will be including a category for Children’s Fiction, with authors eligible to win fifty…
MoncrieffHiring an escort for your 70th birthday
When approaching a milestone birthday, many of us do take time to reflect on life and maybe plan something special to celebrate. For most seventy year olds, it…
MoncrieffIs there such a thing as ‘culchie culture’?
What makes a culchie, and is there such a thing as culchie culture? Writer and Irish Times journalist Patrick Freyne has been musing on this matter and joins…
MoncrieffLife-sized dinosaur animatronics on sale in New Jersey
More than 30 life-sized animatronic dinosaurs in New Jersey are up for grabs on Facebook Marketplace. It follows the imminent closure of the Field Station…
MoncrieffThe growing trend for ‘women’s sheds’
While the men’s shed concept has been an enormous success around the country, there is now a growing trend for women’s sheds, but what’s the difference and…
MoncrieffDebunking hair care myths
You have probably seen ads for hair care products that make huge promises, with ingredients you've never heard of. What should you actually do with your hair…
MoncrieffShould Trump be allowed to demolish parts of the White House?
As the wrecking ball eviscerated the East Wing of the White House this week, concern is growing about Trump’s plans for the historic compound. Joining Seán to…