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
MoncrieffWhy don’t we marry people from Northern Ireland?
Since the partition of Ireland in 1921, economic and social interaction between the two jurisdictions was limited until more recent times. One effect of…
MoncrieffHow difficult is it for businesses to hire staff?
If you look around any town or city, you will see staff wanted posters on the windows of businesses. CSO figures show that Ireland is at full employment. The…
MoncrieffThe history of Irish surnames
We’re used to the idea of American or Australian tourists coming here to trace their lineage, but do we really know where our own line comes from, and how far…
MoncrieffThe man who accidentally bought back his stolen car
How well do you know your car? After his beloved Honda Civic was stolen, Ewan Valentine went on the hunt to replace his so-called ‘mid-life crisis car’, and…
MoncrieffMillennials aren’t cool anymore, apparently
It’s official, millennials are not cool anymore. If you’re a millennial, you can take your avocado toast and your single speed sustainable bike and get out of…
MoncrieffWhy concept art is needed to make movies
The process of getting a movie from script to the cinema screen, is a lengthy one, especially if it is a major blockbuster, but one aspect of the process which…
Moncrieff2026 World Cup - is Trump up to the task?
Earlier this week, Donald Trump convened the first meeting of his administration’s 2026 World Cup taskforce, insisting that the tournament will go off without…
MoncrieffCalls for artists to paint Dublin traffic boxes
Have you got an artistic flair? This week, Dublin Canvas in association with Dublin City Council launched their call out for submissions for people to paint…
MoncrieffIrish Journalist wins Pulitzer Prize for Sudan coverage
Declan Walsh and the staff of The New York Times won the award for International Reporting for their coverage of the ongoing civil war in Sudan, including…
MoncrieffIs there still a stigma around red hair?
In a recent interview, the ‘Murder on the Dancefloor’ singer Sophie Ellis-Bextor revealed that her 5 sons, who all have red hair, have been subjected to some…
MoncrieffWhat it’s like for families after bodies are donated to science
Have you thought about what happens after we die, and would you ever consider donating your body to medical science? Nina Shelton’s dad passed away in 2023 and…
MoncrieffThe rise of subscription services
More and more of the services we use are subscription based models. From watching our favourite films to our exercise plans, companies have managed to convince…
MoncrieffWhy does a new tractor cost so much?
How much does a tractor cost, and what are the considerations to take into account before you invest? Joining Seán to discuss is Darragh McCullough, Farmer…
MoncrieffIs democracy in the Middle East dead?
In our lifetime, the Middle East has seemingly always been a region that has been characterised by conflict, strife and instability. So, is the prospect of…
MoncrieffAre gyms too focused on masculinity?
After witnessing the evolution of gym culture in Ireland over many decades, Seán’s guest argues that there is a lot more to be done in terms of making these…
MoncrieffSpain to have a shorter work week - will it work?
Who wouldn’t like to work less hours to live a more ‘relaxed’ life? Well, the Spanish government has made the decision to reduce the 40 hour work week to 37.5…
MoncrieffWhy more and more hotels are going child-free
More and more hotels, both domestically and internationally, are going child free. But, how do these hotels work, and why are they popular? Joining Seán to…
MoncrieffIs male contraception becoming viable?
Male contraception is the wave of the future that has stayed in the future, always about 10 years away no matter what decade you’re living in. But, could that…
MoncrieffWhy wine with ice cream is a new trend - and better than you’d think!
Apparently, the new trend for food is pairing ice cream with wine… It certainly sounds odd, but is meant to be better than you would think! John Wilson, Wine…
MoncrieffWould you ever do a home swap for your holiday?
Have you booked your summer holidays yet? Well, have you ever considered swapping your home for somewhere in a far flung destination? Patsy Winters has done…
MoncrieffHow much of a risk is kissing with allergies?
Is kissing safe if you’ve got coeliac disease or a nut allergy? New breakthrough research has been looking at couples to test out how food stays in the saliva…
MoncrieffThe story behind the Dublin Songwriting Circle
Dublin has no shortage of open mic nights, but once a month, the Black Sheep Pub on Capel street hosts an altogether more interactive experience. The Dublin…
MoncrieffCan ‘AI friends’ replace the real thing?
The Founder of Facebook and CEO of Meta Mark Zuckerberg has said that in the future he can see how AI could help us address loneliness. Although, he did stop…
MoncrieffCourt access to counselling notes - what should be done?
The 2025 Programme for Government contains a commitment to amend the law regarding the provision of a sexual abuse complainant’s counselling notes, but what…
MoncrieffWould you buy a shipwreck from Facebook Marketplace?
If you’re looking for a second-hand car, or a set of used golf clubs, Facebook Marketplace might be a good place to look. But, would you consider buying a…
MoncrieffWhy the BBC are using an AI version of Agatha Christie
Agatha Christie is one of the most known and celebrated authors in modern history, being a pioneer of the crime fiction genre. Today, BBC Maestro are offering…
MoncrieffSoviet spacecraft set to crash into Earth soon
A Soviet-era spacecraft, that has been in orbit for over 50 years, is set to crash land into Earth at some stage over the next week or so. But, why is this…
MoncrieffGuinness World Records celebrate 70th anniversary of first book
This year, Guinness World Records is marking the 70th anniversary of the publication of their first book. But, did you know that the origins of this…
MoncrieffMan tracks down origin of iconic ‘Shining’ photograph
Many horror buffs have puzzled for years over the mysterious photograph that appears at the end of the iconic 1980 Stanley Kubrick classic ‘The Shining’. Well…
MoncrieffThe white Afrikaners lining up to accept Trump’s offer of asylum
Trump's offer of refugee status to white South Africans has, inevitably, proven hugely controversial, in a country with a dark history of apartheid. But, are…
MoncrieffAre poems only for the posh?
It's Irish National Poetry Day! Are poems for the masses, or are they just for the posh? Newstalk Reporter Josh Crosbie sent this in.
MoncrieffHow many penises are on this medieval tapestry?
There are many important debates among historians. Where did the agricultural revolution start exactly? Would Germany have won World War 2 if they hadn’t…
MoncrieffShould we have more cross-generational friends?
Most people’s closest and dearest friends are around the same age as themselves. With us usually making our friends through school or college, it is not…
MoncrieffWhat is it like to use a driverless taxi?
As driverless taxis begin to take off in the States, what is it actually like to go for a trip in one? Ciara O’Brien, Technology Correspondent for the Irish…
MoncrieffMonty Python and the Holy Grail turns 50!
The first movie from iconic British comedy group Monty Python, ‘Monty Python and the Holy Grail’, turns 50 this year! Joining Seán to look back on the film is…
MoncrieffAre men worse at remembering birthdays?
In a recent episode of Joe & Stacey on BBC 1, it emerged that Joe Swash couldn’t remember most of the family’s birthdays. But, why is that, and does it have…
MoncrieffIs it ever okay to wear shorts in the office?
With the good weather continuing, is it ever ok to wear shorts to the office, and are blazers too old fashioned nowadays? Joining Seán to discuss this is…
MoncrieffWill a ‘Peter’ Pope end the world? St Malachy’s Prophecy
There’s a good chance that by the end of next week we will have a new Pope. There’s also a reasonable chance that the new Pope’s name will be Peter. If that…
MoncrieffWhy there is a need for anti-racism education in Ireland
A recent study, commissioned by the Policing Authority entitled Still Not Heard, Still Not Safe, reveals that people of African descent, and Brazilians, in…
MoncrieffDo you like nicknames?
Do you have a nickname? And is it one that you were given, or something you embraced over the years? Nicknames can be weird, wonderful and often completely…
MoncrieffNew theory on meaning of spiral symbols at Newgrange
A new theory on the meaning of the spiral symbols at Newgrange might mean that the site is more of a “cosmic calendar” than we may have thought before. Joe…
MoncrieffWhy DIY is having a resurgence with women
How handy are you with power tools? Whether you’re fed up waiting to get a tradesperson out, or are trying to save money, it seems there’s a big change to…
MoncrieffShould you go to more gigs on your own?
There is something of a social stigma that we have about attending certain events or doing certain activities on our own. In particular, a gig or a concert is…
MoncrieffHas the adverb gone out of fashion?
It’s over a week since many of us would have first heard that Pope Francis had “sadly died”. And this particular phrasing may have reminded those of you who…
MoncrieffCould ChatGPT help with dating advice?
Who do you go to for advice? And what do you do when your friends are fed up with listening to you? Well, could ChatGPT prove to be a listening ear? Edeain…
MoncrieffThe mysteries behind the Dublin Whiskey Fire of 1875
What happened in the Great Liberties Whiskey Fire of 1875 and what mysteries surround it one hundred and fifty years later? Historian Donal Fallon joins Seán…
MoncrieffAre there nuclear weapons in space?
Russia’s secretive Cosmos 2553 satellite, which has seemingly been spinning out of control lately, has raised alarming questions about the potential use of…
MoncrieffWhy rewilding is so important
Randal Plunkett took on an ambitious project of rewilding his family estate, Dunsany, embarking on a large-scale rewilding project aiming to improve…
MoncrieffMaking a mosaic out of digestive biscuits!
Can you really use digestive biscuits to make a portrait? Mosaic Artist Ed Chapman has successfully created biscuit versions of Judi Dench and David Bowie as…
MoncrieffDo we like missing out on things? - Henry McKean Asks
Are you a ‘JOMO’ or ‘FOMO’ person? According to the experts, the Joy of missing out can protect your mental health in a fear-of-missing-out world. It can help…
MoncrieffIs having one child enough?
Seán’s guest had decided with her husband to have only one child, but a chance encounter with a newborn brought pangs of yearning. Joining to discuss is Tanya…
MoncrieffPJ Gallagher on 20 years of Naked Camera
This month marks the 20th anniversary of one of the funniest shows on Irish television, ‘Naked Camera’. Seán is joined by its star, PJ Gallagher, Co-Presenter…
MoncrieffRory O’Neill on Panti Bliss, The Four Mothers and Marriage Equality
Seán is joined in The Sugar Club by drag artist and gay activist Rory O’Neill, AKA Panti Bliss. Rory can currently be seen in cinemas nationwide in The Four…
MoncrieffThe hidden side of YouTube
There are many many people who have made whole careers out of content they put on YouTube; the likes of Mr.Beast can have hundreds of millions of views on just…
MoncrieffThe Great Gatsby Turns 100
As the Great Gatsby turns 100 this month, how relevant are its themes to the America of today? Seán speaks to Keith Duggan, Washington Correspondent for The…
Moncrieff35 Years of Nothing Compares 2 U
Can you remember where you were when you first heard it? This week marks thirty five years of Sinead O’Connor’s iconic hit ‘Nothing Compares 2 U’ reaching…
MoncrieffThe Art of Friendship Exhibition
Irish artists Mainie Jellett and Evie Hone were lifelong friends who are credited with bringing modern art to Ireland. An exhibition which explores their lives…
MoncrieffFinding Grey Pubes, Ageing and Feminism
Does it all really go down hill after 50? Author Kathy Lette decided to bare her soul and wrote about the experience of finding her first grey hair... down…
MoncrieffThe Soviet Spy stationed in Ireland
In the 1960's, an Austrian man came to live in Ireland - tried to become a Butcher and later became a Travelling Salesman. The catch? He was a Soviet Spy the…
MoncrieffWhy is free speech under attack?
You only need to look at the controversy surrounding Kneecap’s appearance at the Coachella Music Festival to recognise that free speech has been and continues…