Moncrieff

It was reported yesterday that Cork City Council had collected less than a third of derelict site levies over the last five years.This is just the latest failing in the Government’s attempt to tackle the issue of dereliction, but will the change from levy to tax as announced in the budget change the picture?Frank O’Connor from the #DerelictIreland movement joins Seán to discuss.

Twenty nine year old Sophie took her own life earlier this year, and in her grief her mother Laura Reiley is putting together the pieces of what happened.Sophie’s parents believe that an AI chat bot was giving their daughter advice on how to end her life…Laura joins Seán to share her story…Help is there if you need it. The Samaritans 24/7 Freephone Helpline Number is 116 123, or you can email jo@samaritans.ie.

A newly-published book has taken a dive into Ireland’s vibrant farming past.From evictions and land wars, to golden harvests and dancing at the crossroads, Michael B. Barry and John O’Byrne’s new instalment features hundreds of colourised photos that date back as early as the mid-1800s.‘The Irish Farm in Colour’ was published last week and is the fourth book in a series which recaptures the Ireland of the past through colour.Historian and author of the book, Michael B. Barry, joins Seán to discuss.

When we talk about the climate crisis, we often tend to couch the conversation in terms of negligence or poor corporate governance, as if environmental crime is not really a crime in the way that theft or assault are.But, there are organised gangs and corporate entities out there committing crimes against all of us everyday, just as there are those trying to stop them. Julia Shaw is a Psychological Scientist at University College London and the author of multiple best-selling books including her latest: ‘Green Crime: Inside the Minds of the People Destroying the Planet, and How to Stop Them’. She joins Seán to discuss.

Trinity College is home to the book of Kells and its iconic Library, which makes it one of Dublin's most popular tourist attractions.But, the university is also home to a Zoological Museum, containing a 70-million-year-old fish and a plethora of extinct animals.Dr Martyn Linnie is Curator of Trinity College Dublin’s zoological museum, and he joins Seán to discuss.Image: Trinity College Zoological Museum Facebook

Is there a supermarket price war coming? The German supermarkets have reduced the price of its home brand 2 litre of milk by 10 cent, the first price cut since 2023. But, grocery prices have increased by 40% since 2022. How have you dealt with rising costs?Henry McKean met grocery shoppers in Cork, and sent in this report.

All eyes are focused today on Israel as the peace deal begins, with Hamas releasing the remaining hostages alive...There have been scenes of celebration and jubilation. So, what now?John Costello has been living in Israel for 17 years and he joins Seán from Tel Aviv to discuss…

Scientists and gourmands in Copenhagen have taken to producing yoghurt using the fermenting properties of ants. But, how does it all work?Seán’s guest, a keen “fermentista” herself, decided to make her own ant yoghurt. Linda Geddes, former Science Correspondent for the Guardian, joins to discuss the results!

Free Christening parties are being offered to couples who conceive during their stay at a hotel chain in Poland.There’s more – each employee will be paid a bonus of over €2,000 for every child they have.That’s an initiative launched by Polish hotel chain Arche and its 73-year-old owner in an effort to boost the country’s low birth rates.Poland’s fertility rate of 1.2 children per woman in 2023 is among the weakest in the EU, with only Malta, Spain and Lithuania behind it.To discuss, Seán is joined by Raphael Minder, the Financial Times’ Central Europe Correspondent.

A lot of us will remember collecting stamps or football stickers or stationary or something of that ilk as a child.But, is that a modern phenomenon, or is it something inherent that we have seen throughout history?James Delbourgo is Professor of History at Rutgers University and author of ‘A Noble Madness: The Dark Side of Collecting from Antiquity to Now’. He joins Seán to discuss.