Highlights From Moncrieff

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 women who stayed living on the island, who did not emigrate, describe their lives and perspectives on a dramatically changed social context from the 1990s to 2023.‘Thirty Years of Change Through Women’s Eyes’ releases officially tomorrow, and Ide joins Seán to discuss.

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 explore just that.The study found there is an intrinsic link between a country’s culture and its swear words, and that the type of taboo words reported can be indicators to the social hierarchies present in that country.Simone Sulpizio, Psychology Professor at the University of Milano-Bicocca and lead author of the study joins Seán to discuss.

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, there is much fascination in terms of boards and what it takes to be appointed to one, but actually there is a whole voluntary sector relying on people to come forward with their time and expertise...Eva Gurn is the Chief Executive Officer at Boardmatch Ireland, and joins Seán to discuss.

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 next month and will feature over 250 real fossils and over five tonnes of material.The exhibition will merge science with art and creativity to bring Ireland’s dinosaur age to life.To discuss more, Seán is joined by Professor of Palaeontology at University College Cork, Maria McNamara.Image: UCC

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 its collapse. This poses acute dangers for Ireland.Ben Tonra is Full Professor of International Relations at the UCD School of Politics and International Relations. He joins Seán to discuss exactly what this means, and where we go from here.

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 and actually helps conservation efforts?Joining Seán to discuss is Paul Joynson Hicks, Founder of the Nikon Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards…Image: Nikon Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards

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 twelve months there have now been more first-time buyers granted mortgages than since the height of the Celtic Tiger in 2007.So, what is the reality for people looking to buy for the first time, and is it really as hard as everyone says it is?Sean Corbett from Sys Mortgages deals with this day in and day out, and joins Seán to discuss.

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 increasingly noticing it affecting their day-to-day lives…To overcome the bleakness of the winter months, we are also more likely to reach for a drink in the evenings. But, what happens when alcohol meets seasonal depression, and what are the risks?To discuss, Seán is joined by Travel Writer and Health & Wellness Coach, Sinéad Kennedy…

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 consensus on the realities of climate change has been established for quite some time, a political consensus seems as far off as ever, thanks in no small part to the government of Donald Trump…But, what can the rest of the world do to avoid catastrophe in the face of US opposition and obstruction?Eamon Ryan is the former Leader of the Green Party, and joins Seán to discuss.Image: Reuters

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 a lot of us are there already.But, what is it like to try to make friends with an AI?Madeleine Aggeler is Lifestyle and Wellness Reporter for Guardian US, and joins Seán to discuss.

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 War One. Joining me now to discuss this is David Malone, Professor in Maths and Statistics at Maynooth University...

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 thousand pounds in prize money from 2027.Author Sarah Webb joins Seán to discuss this.

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 Seán to discuss.

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 could be a party or a big cruise ship, but for Gail Rice she wanted more... so she decided to hire an escort!Gail, who is a Registered Psychologist in the process of writing her memoir, joins Seán to discuss.

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: Dinosaurs theme park in New Jersey in three weeks’ time.Opened in 2012 by dinosaur enthusiast Guy Gsell, the park has attracted thousands of children and adults along its adventure trails, theme shows and workshops.From as little as $700, you can buy your very own scientifically accurate dino, that can move and even roar.To discuss, Executive Producer of the theme park, Guy Gsell, joins Seán.

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 would it make sense just to join them up?Joining Seán to discuss is RoseMarie Dempsey, Chairperson of Clonakilty Women’s Shed…

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, and what separates hair care fact from fiction?Joining Seán to discuss is Claire Fulham, Tricologist, and owner of Trua Tricology Clinic.

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 discuss is Niall Palmer, Senior Lecturer in U.S. Politics at Brunel University in London…Image: Reuters

The former British Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg recently shared a story of his first day working at Meta. He told employees not to bring their 'authentic self' to work - an apparent joke that did not go down well. But, is there a point to this? Should you leave your authentic self at home?Henry McKean has been investigating, and joins Seán to discuss.

You might have spent hours raking leaves this week, but from an environmental perspective, should we even touch the fallen leaves?Dr Michelle McKeown is an Environmental Geographer at University College Cork, and she joins Seán to discuss.