Highlights From Moncrieff

Is your summer holiday booked, and will you be travelling through Dublin Airport in a bid to escape Ireland for a break away abroad?Given record passenger numbers, Aer Lingus have suggested that travellers drop their bags the night before to avoid long queues when checking in luggage... but, how is the airport coping with so many people during this exceptionally busy period?Spokesperson for Dublin Airport, Graeme McQueen, joins Seán to discuss.

You’re probably aware that pornography is having a major impact on our culture and sexual practices.There are many sinister elements to this, but among the most worrying is the prevalence of violent sexual practices among young people, in particular, strangulation.So, is it time for a blanket ban on so-called ‘choking porn’?Ruth Breslin is the Director of The Sexual Exploitation Research and Policy Institute. She joins Seán to discuss.

Huge crowds converged on Croke Park over the weekend to witness the spectacle that is the All Ireland Hurling semi-finals.Hurling is much loved here and is starting to gain exposure abroad as well with the BBC showing the matches live, but for most of us, it is something to be watched rather than played.Hurling requires a very specific skillset that can take years to master, but former Wexford hurling captain Diarmuid Lyng is trying to re-connect people with the joy of actually taking part in one of the ancient aspects of our cultural heritage by engaging them in wild hurling.So, what is wild hurling?Diarmuid Lyng joins Seán to discuss.

The community in Castlebridge, Co. Wexford, a town of 2,000 people, is currently campaigning to get their first playground. But, why is it such a struggle, and do we need a new approach in Ireland, so that we see playgrounds as a necessity rather than a privilege?Joining Seán to discuss is local mother and campaigner Lucie Revay, who comes originally from the Czech Republic…

With many of the biggest musical acts in the world being solo women, we were told earlier in the year to prepare for “Pop Girl Summer”.But, it appears that some of the Irish music festivals don’t seem to have gotten the memo…Aoife Barry is a Freelance Journalist and Arts Columnist with the Sunday Times. She joins Seán to discuss.

According to a new report from Children’s Books Ireland, more than 1 in 5 Irish children under the age of four are not being read to. So, what are the benefits of reading aloud to your children?Joining Sean to discuss is Leona Forde, Children’s author, best known for her popular Milly McCarthy series of books…

Being homeless is undoubtedly a terrible experience, and unfortunately it is one that too many people in this country are familiar with. But, there are organisations out there providing hope for people, and it is sometimes possible to come out the other side.Allen Bobinac is the Manager of the Lighthouse Homeless Cafe in Dublin, and lived on the streets of the city for a year. He joins Seán to discuss.

Ed Miliband, the UK Energy Secretary, is proposing the relaxing of regulations so that people can build wind turbines in their back gardens. So, should we be doing the same here?Joining Seán to discuss is Environmental Journalist John Gibbons...

Irish Unification is a very emotive subject and often quite personal issue.It can often be quite difficult to evaluate the various reasons people have for being for or against it.But, one argument that often arises that is somewhat more measurable is the economic impact for all concerned.So, just what would be the cost of unification?John Doyle is the Vice President for Research at Dublin City University, and joins Sean to discuss.

One of the symptoms of ADHD is time blindness, but how does this differ from poor time management?Joining Seán to discuss is Nicola Coss, ADHD Ireland National Service Development Manager.

The summer holidays are long, especially for our teenagers who often sit outside the traditional models of summer camps and the like. What do you do when a lot of options are either too expensive or just non-existent in the first place?Joining Seán to discuss is Journalist Jen Hogan, who has been writing about this for the Irish Times…

The excavation of the Tuam mother and baby home site has been hailed as “A light at the end of the tunnel” according to the families affected.Anna Corrigan is down in Tuam all week and ahead of a public press statement from the Tuam Babies Families Group this afternoon she spoke to us today...Anna believes her two brothers John and William Dolan may be buried there…She joins Seán to discuss.

A new study has examined the link between the consumption of cheese and bad dreams, and more broadly the relationship between problem foods and dreams. Joining Seán to discuss is Tore Nielson, Neuroscientist at the University of Montreal and Director of the Dream and Nightmare Lab.

Beginning on June 13th and ending with a ceasefire on the 24th, the recent Israel/Iran conflict may have been relatively short lived, but its consequences will likely be long felt and widespread.Could they even perhaps precipitate the collapse of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty?John O'Brennan is Professor of European Politics at Maynooth University, and he has been writing about this in the Irish Examiner. He joins Seán to discuss.

How many times have you looked at your weather app when it’s raining, only for your phone to insist that you’re actually mistaken and the sun is splitting the rocks!This didn’t happen in the past. Back in the good old days, you could be sure of the weather by just taking a look around you.If the hills seemed far away, then the weather would be good. If the cat sat with its back to the fire, then the weather would be bad. Simple!Kelly Fitzgerald is the Head of the School of Irish, Celtic Studies and Folklore in UCD. She joins Seán to discuss the origin behind some of these weather phrases.

With Ireland remaining an outlier on an EU level when it comes to mother and baby psychiatric units, what efforts need to be made in order to ensure that this issue gets resolved?Joining Seán to discuss is Krysia Lynch, Chair of the Association for Improvements in the Maternity Service Ireland…

A cyclist has claimed that he was given a ticket by a City of London Police officer under the Human Rights Act for cycling no handed. But, here in Ireland what is the law for cycling without holding onto the handlebars?Henry McKean has been investigating, and joins Seán to discuss.

With temperatures set to soar to 28 degrees later this week, many listeners will be paying top dollar for expensive suncream products. But, should the VAT be removed from suncream and should it be reclassified as an ‘essential product’?Joining Seán to discuss is Anne Marie Tobin, Consultant Dermatologist…

Jean Smullen joins Moncrieff with two wines for the weekend. Chris Wasser reviews Jurassic World and Cronenberg’s The Shrouds, while Fionnuala Jones has the latest showbiz stories.After the sad passing of Michael Madsen and the creative change-up for the next season of The Last Of Us, there's plenty in the news to discuss (and plenty of wine to taste.)Listen here.

Helen O’Rahilly, Former television executive with the BBC, joined Moncrieff earlier to speak about her decision to ditch the dye and go grey – little did she realise quite how eagerly she would take to it.Listen here