Highlights From Moncrieff

The Spanish Armada, while often remembered as a clash between England and Spain, had its impact stretched far beyond the English Channel, leaving a lasting mark on Ireland’s shores.Michael B. Barry’s new book ‘1588, The Spanish Armada and the 24 Ships Lost on Ireland’s Shores’ explores the surprising connections between Spain and Ireland. He joins Seán to discuss.Image: Andalus Press

Restrictions on the movement of vehicles and people have been tightened in Delhi as a toxic smog envelopes the Indian capital. A respiratory Doctor in India has said that being exposed to the smog is the equivalent to smoking 50 cigarettes a day…Rahul Bedia is a Freelance Senior Journalist in New Delhi, and joins Seán to discuss.

A new documentary film, opening in Irish cinemas tomorrow, explores the bizarre story of a curious national television contest called ‘Housewife of the Year’.Joining Seán to discuss is its Director, Ciarán Cassidy.

Apparently, there is a recommended amount of time you should be spending on a toilet. Are there issues with sitting on the loo for too long? And what’s the recommendation?Newstalk’s Henry McKean has been investigating and asking about people’s toilet timings, and joins Seán to discuss.

How do you make yourself stand out from the crowd when canvassing for an election? With so many candidates on the ballot paper, you have to create a perception of uniqueness, which means thinking outside the box and getting creative. From Ben Gilroy’s infamous hurley video to Danny Healy Rae’s crayons, there are endless ways to win over voters.Joining Seán to go through some of the most innovative examples is Newstalk’s Political Correspondent, Seán Defoe.

While the remains of Richard III were discovered back in 2012 under a car park in Leicester, a new part of the project has tried to recreate his voice, with surprising results.Joining Seán to discuss is Phillipa Langley, Historian and author who discovered the remains of Richard III...Image: Britannica

Divorce after 50 is on the rise, and it can drastically change your retirement plans. With fewer working years left, declining pensions and assets like your home and retirement accounts at stake. Navigating a ‘grey divorce’ requires careful planning.Joining Seán to discuss this is Family Law Solicitor, Keith Walsh.

‘There is a screaming need for lots more female tradespeople’ - that’s according to Freelance Journalist Áilín Quinlan, who recently made the point that more and more women living alone may feel more comfortable dealing with female tradespeople visiting their homes.Áilín joins Seán to discuss.

A small earthquake was recorded in Cork yesterday. This was a very rare occurrence, with most taking place in Wexford and Donegal.Joining Seán to discuss this is James Granell, Seismic Data Analyst for the Irish National Seismic Network…

In last night’s I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!, N-Dubz star and former XFactor Judge, Tulisa Contostavlos opened up about being demisexual, shedding light on a term many may not know. Demisexuality describes those who only experience romantic or sexual attraction after forming a deep emotional connection with someone.To tell more about what it is to be demisexual, Seán is joined by Sex and Relationship Expert, Caroline West.Image: ITV

Cambridge Dictionary has named ‘manifest’ its word of the year for 2024. But can the concept of willing your desires into reality be harmful? Joining Seán to discuss is Sander van der Linden, Professor of Social Psychology at Cambridge University and author of ‘Foolproof: Why We Fall for Misinformation’...

‘Veggly’ is a dating app made specifically for vegans, but is it necessary? Can vegans and meat eaters not get along?Joining Seán to discuss is Becky Jenkins, Vegan and Animal Rebellion Ireland Activist.

When Sinn Féin published their manifesto today, one part pledged to hold a referendum on extending voting rights for the President of Ireland to citizens in Northern Ireland and beyond.Joining Seán to discuss this is Emma de Souza, writer and Northern Ireland Spokesperson for VotingRights.ie...

While many parents enjoy yelling tactics and strategy from the sidelines, very few decide to don the whistle and clipboard and take the reins for themselves.But coaching your child’s team can actually be a rewarding process both for your child and for yourself, that’s the view of Ian Mallon, Communications Consultant with Staydia Sports and Sports Business Columnist with Irish Examiner.Ian joins Seán to discuss.

Cosmetic procedures, once the exclusive indulgence of the rich and famous, have now become mainstream, with treatments like lip fillers and Botox as common as a trip to the hairdresser. But, what happens when the promise of perfection leaves you caught in a cycle of wanting more, or when the results fall short of your expectations?Podcaster and social media influencer, Niamh O’Connor, joins Seán to share her journey through the highs and lows of cosmetic enhancements.

As so many kids now possess a smartphone, and therefore have access to Google Maps, have they lost their sense of direction, and why is that a problem?Joining Seán to discuss is Jerry Brotton, Author of ‘Four Points of the Compass: The Unexpected History of Direction’...

A lack of affordable housing in a Meath Gaeltacht is ‘preventing Irish speakers from staying’, that’s the call from local residents who fear that without intervention, the Gaeltacht will be a thing of the past.Joining Seán to discuss from the Baile Ghib Gaeltacht in Meath is Harry McGarry, Principal of St. Patrick's Classical School.

The Church of England is struggling with dwindling congregations, but a wrestling charity is putting on matches with prayer and worship to buck the trend. Founder of Kingdom Wrestling, Gareth Thompson, has erected a 16-foot wrestling ring at St Peter’s Church in Shipley, with the aim to bring communities together in the name of God, and wrestling!Gareth joins Seán to discuss.Image: @KingdomWrestUK on X/Twitter

It’s the season of joy, celebration, and a sharp rise in sexually transmitted infections across Ireland! Public health officials are urging partygoers to prioritise their sexual well-being this festive season, as cases of STIs like chlamydia, gonorrhoea, and even antibiotic-resistant strains of gonorrhoea continue to climb…Last year alone, chlamydia cases soared by 26%, with over 13,000 cases reported. Joining Seán to discuss is Dr Aisling Loy, Consultant in Sexual Health at St James's Hospital & Himerus Health Clinic.

A robot dog named ‘Spot’ has been spotted patrolling the perimeter of President-elect Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Florida. Passers-by are warned by a sign on each of Spot’s legs: “DO NOT PET.” Are dogs like Spot the future of pet-ownership? Newstalk’s Technology Correspondent, Jess Kelly, joins Seán to discuss.Image: Boston Dynamics