Social media taps into a dark human need to be mean to other people
As people – even Stephen King – flee the platform, discussion of where to move to feels underpinned by a sadness that the kind of virtual space they crave may no longer be possible
Seán Moncrieff
Ukrainians in Ireland must be nervous. There’s a difference between a tough decision and a cruel one
With a week to go before Irish general election, you can see that cynicism has crept into our politics
Seán Moncrieff: Is it normal to have a teddy as an adult?
In scientific terms, a soft toy is known as a transitional object, providing emotional security to a child. But those feelings can continue way into adulthood
Tempers rise over immigration debate as Matt Cooper scolds warring politicians
Radio: Today FM host bemoans uneventful general election, as Pat Kenny hears two sides of the charged migrant issue
‘I never know when the Dart will arrive. And Irish Rail doesn’t seem to know either’
When looking to plan a Dart trip, the information on the digital sign, the schedule on the Irish Rail app and the website are no more than serving suggestions
‘When the cinema lights came up, we all hugged, and I wondered why, on this day, the magic worked for me too’
Seán Moncrieff: Towards the end, on two separate occasions, I felt a shudder run through me
I hate running. I tried it and it didn’t do me any good. I can’t be alone feeling like this?
I think I might belong to an as-yet-unidentified subset of humans who will never find exercise enjoyable
If we don’t expect an improved Government, we won’t get one
Rather than break a promise, Simon Harris might simply change his mind about the timing of the general election
Tote bags offer a lesson on our imperfect responses to the climate crisis
If you’re feeling down about carbon emissions, take that feeling and stuff it into a tote bag
Seán Moncrieff: The woman in the car rental office was a black hole of emotion, sucking up feelings but giving nothing in return:
She told us the bill for the damage would be, rather neatly, €300 - plus a €50 ‘damage processing’ fee
My approach to college resulted in a just-about-scraped-a-pass degree. I regret nothing
I regarded university as a resource to be used, not a place to be told what to do
Listening to Seán Moncrieff would chip away at your national pride
Radio: There are a few queasy moments in what turns out to be an oddly digestible smorgasbord from the Newstalk host
Why do Irish people slather everything with insincere positivity?
I’m far from the first person to notice this. Trying to be happy all the time will make you unhappy
Daughter Number Two and partner finally found an apartment to rent. People keep asking what their secret is
Seán Moncrieff: After an eight-month search to find a place pretty close to Dublin city centre Number Two and partner are thrilled beyond words
We wanted Daughter Number Four to experience something a bit more foreign. We got more than we bargained for
No one glared disapprovingly. Any looks we got were kindly, but perhaps tinged with: you didn’t know?
Kids’ lives are being constrained by their parents’ fears
I’m wary of mythologising the past but still: children having the freedom to just go outside to play is better than driving them to playdates
Why is everyone lugging huge water bottles about? Perhaps I’m gifted with an astonishing ability to resist thirst
Why is everyone lugging huge water bottles about? Perhaps I’m gifted with an astonishing ability to resist thirst
Misogyny is not wired into our DNA – it is something to be overcome
I like women now. Misogyny is not wired into our DNA – it is something to be overcome
Too often our emotions – anger, frustration, fear – propel us to search for ‘facts’ to fit how we are feeling
There was a time – not too long ago – that we might roll our eyes and even feel a bit superior to Americans, given all the stupid things so many of them believe
Seán Moncrieff: Things in Ireland have got better. So why doesn’t it feel better?
Seán Moncrieff: There is a human tendency to believe that things were better in the past. Not just in relation to pubs, but life in general
My generation didn’t talk about mental health. We could be oblivious, or in denial, about the damage done
The realisation dawns eventually that overthinking can derail joy, obscuring the fact that every day is precious
It’s startling to see the towering regard so many Independent politicians have for themselves
Seán Moncrieff: It’s a neat trick: simultaneously criticising the ‘corrupt’ system while trying to become part of it
Seán Moncrieff: Day two of parental leave and we’ve already learned something new
Day two of parental leave and we’d already learned something new. I’m looking forward to the rest of it
I’ve got sucked into stupid rows online and regretted it afterwards. So why keep going back for more?
When social media first took off, it was presented as a public commons, where people could exchange ideas and interests. What it eventually became couldn’t be further from that civilised concept
I come from a generation where it’s a given that the man will always have a toolbox
This is one aspect of being a man that can be benign and useful; even an expression of love
Claire Byrne shows you don’t have to spice things up to have some bite
RTÉ host’s low-key approach is quietly effective, while Kieran Cuddihy is left speechless by Gazan horrors
Seán Moncrieff: I have no idea why a woman at a dinner party decided to tell this untrue story about me
Nothing brings people together like knowing another person who is a bit of a melt
A large swathe of the country looks at the 2 Johnnies and sees themselves
On their last 2FM show, a notable theme emerged from listeners' voice notes: it was great to hear culchies on the radio
Passion overload: Is everyone really that excited about everything?
The dawn of the passion-industrial complex has brought with it a sort of tyranny, especially for young people
Seán Moncrieff: Modern, affluent Ireland lost the need for the church’s supernatural explanations
We’re better off now so less in need of supernatural explanations, but a family First Communion still felt significant
Seán Moncrieff: I have my reasons for not wanting to celebrate 20 years of my radio show
Seán Moncrieff: I have a job which explicitly involves drawing attention to myself, but I don’t enjoy drawing attention to myself
Seán Moncrieff: The day my daughter went into surgery is the day I failed her
You have to accept that at some point, you will fail your children, sometimes spectacularly
Seán Moncrieff: The gift of having the whole house to myself wasn’t really a gift at all
I drank wine, played loud music and watched a movie in space where nobody talks about their feelings. Weirdly, it felt like something was missing
Seán Moncrieff: We all need some degree of privacy so we can quietly define ourselves
The danger with this – whether you’re Taylor Swift or you have a dozen followers on Instagram – is that it can quickly become performative
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