Moncrieff

New figures show that 2023 witnessed an all time high in sales of Champagne in Ireland, with consumers shelling out almost 19 million euro on the high end bubbles. So why are we all going bananas for the Champers? And, are we beginning to turn up our noses at its pretenders, Cava and Prosecco? Joining guest host Mairead Ronan to discuss is resident Movies & Booze wine expert, Leslie Williams.

The Phoenix Cinema, a century-old building in Dingle, is on the market for a steep price, and an advocacy group is trying to purchase the cinema in order to bring it back.Aoife ­Granville, the spokesperson for the campaign, joined Mairead Ronan to discuss.Image: www.phoenixcinema.ie

Is it ever okay to comment on someone’s baby bump? It’s a seemingly innocent gesture, but as one journalist found out the hard way, even the most well-intentioned comments can go horribly wrong.Imagine interviewing a major celebrity, only to be met with a sarcastic remark that leaves you questioning everything. We’re talking about the infamous Blake Lively interview that’s resurfaced after eight years, sparking a debate on whether it's ever appropriate to mention someone’s pregnancy.Joining guest host Mairead Ronan to discuss is Producer and Digital Journalist, Rebecca Horan.

It’s been a weekend of festivals and big gigs recently. With Kylie Minogue finishing up Electric Picnic and ACDC selling out Croke Park. So, what makes a good gig, and what is the best (or worst!) one you've been to?Newstalk’s Henry McKean has asking concert-goers and musicians, and joins guest host Mairead Ronan to share what he’s heard.

What is your fruit of choice? If you are thinking of a banana, you’re not alone. Because it turns out the Irish are one of the highest consumers of bananas per-capita in the world!John Fitzgerald, a contributor to the Irish Times has been writing about this, and joins guest host Mairead Ronan to discuss.

Painting work on the Poolbeg Chimneys in Dublin begins this week. Having been immortalised in print, on t-shirts and even coffee mugs, why are the towers so iconic, and do they continue to divide opinion?Joining guest host Mairead Ronan to discuss is Emma Gileece, Architectural Historian.

Have you ever been curious about the origins of your favourite foods? While many dishes are carefully crafted by skilled chefs, some of the most beloved treats owe their existence to a stroke of luck. From the unexpected creation of chocolate sliced pan to the serendipitous invention of potato chips, there is no end to the food inventions that came about purely by chance. Joining guest host Stefanie Preissner to discuss is Chef Jack O’Keeffe.

It’s the first day of Electric Picnic, and thousands of people are flocking to Laois. However, some people are travelling with children in tow. So, is it acceptable to bring your children to a festival? Guest host Stefanie Preissner is joined by Comedian Julie Jay to discuss.

It’s 2024 – should we still be solving CAPTCHAs? CAPTCHAs being the online tests where you agonise over a nine inch grid of images to identify traffic lights or bikes to prove you’re not a bot. Are these tests really necessary in protecting ourselves online? Newstalk’s Technology Correspondent, Jess Kelly, joins guest host Stefanie Preissner to discuss.

Dublin zoo enlisted the help of 30 breastfeeding mothers to help encourage a female Orangutan bond with her newborn.  To tell more about this project, guest host Stefanie Preissner is joined by Lizzie Reeves, Clinical Midwife Specialist in Lactation at the National Maternity Hospital.