Moncrieff Highlights

Are we truly in control of our actions, or are we bound by our predetermined genetic make-up, powerless to act against our instinctive reactions to the stimuli around us?Do we have free will, or is it just a persistent illusion?Kevin Mitchell is Associate Professor of Genetics and nNeuroscience at Trinity College Dublin and author of ‘Free Agents – How Evolution Gave Us Free Will’. He joins Seán to discuss.

You might have noticed from the officially released Vatican photographs that the Pope is lying in an open casket. But, is this still a common practice in Ireland nowadays, and if so, why?Joining Seán to discuss is David MacGowan from Foley and McGowan Funeral Home and Crematorium in Sligo and Ballina.Image: Reuters

As more and more people are finding the online search for love frustrating, the opportunity for real life connection is increasingly sought-after. Although speed dating itself is nothing new, what about speed dating events for gay women?Laura Kavanagh organises such evenings through Queen Of Hearts events, an idea born out of her gay female friends complaints about the online dating scene. She joins Seán to discuss.Image: @qohdating

Do you feel like you’re a bit slow today?For many people, getting back into the swing of things after a few days off, particularly a long bank holiday weekend, can feel like a struggle.But, why does your brain feel like mush after time off work?Dr Tara Logan Buckley, Chartered Clinical Psychologist, joins Seán to discuss.

The Dublin Street Photography Festival kicks off next weekend on May 2nd in Charlemont Square, celebrating all things in the medium of street photography.Joining Seán to discuss is Street Photographer and one the festival’s Co-Founders, Des Byrne.Image: Dublin Street Photography Festival

A new book explores two extraordinary parallel histories, documenting the lives and crimes of a notorious Nazi, and an infamous Chilean dictator.Joining Seán to discuss is Philippe Sands, Human Rights Lawyer and Author of ‘38 Londres Street: On Impunity, Pinochet in England and a Nazi in Patagonia’...Image: W&N

A woman who spent years using sunbeds has taken to social media to warn others about the legacy of her addiction.Joining Seán to discuss is Kerrieann McDonnell, a Personal Trainer from Co. Clare…

Science is rediscovering the medicinal potential of things like magic mushrooms for treatments. UCC recently held a research day about this, and Oliver Davis, Professor of French at UCC and former Co-Editor of the Frontiers in Psychology series joins Tom Dunne to discuss…

With families feeling the pinch of the cost of living now more than ever, people are looking to overhaul their spending habits and make realistic savings in everyday life.But, what mistakes are we making in terms of family budgeting, and what simple things can you do to improve your family’s finances?Also, should you be using this long weekend to take a long hard look at your finances?Anita Collins runs the ‘Efficient Family Life’ Instagram account, and joins Tom Dunne to discuss.

Hollywood movie Director Chris Columbus has revealed this week that he would like to digitally remove Donald Trump from Home Alone 2. But, is there a precedent for removing certain scenes from films, years after they’ve been released?Joining Tom Dunne to discuss is Brian Lloyd, Film Critic and Movies & Booze Panelist…