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 columns
Seán Moncrieff: It’s a neat trick: simultaneously criticising the ‘corrupt’ system while trying to become part of it
Day two of parental leave and we’d already learned something new. I’m looking forward to the rest of it
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
This is one aspect of being a man that can be benign and useful; even an expression of love
RTÉ host’s low-key approach is quietly effective, while Kieran Cuddihy is left speechless by Gazan horrors
Nothing brings people together like knowing another person who is a bit of a melt
On their last 2FM show, a notable theme emerged from listeners' voice notes: it was great to hear culchies on the radio
The dawn of the passion-industrial complex has brought with it a sort of tyranny, especially for young people
We’re better off now so less in need of supernatural explanations, but a family First Communion still felt significant
Seán Moncrieff: I have a job which explicitly involves drawing attention to myself, but I don’t enjoy drawing attention to myself
You have to accept that at some point, you will fail your children, sometimes spectacularly
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
The danger with this – whether you’re Taylor Swift or you have a dozen followers on Instagram – is that it can quickly become performative
Radio: Even at his most factually minded, the RTÉ presenter can’t resist his mischievous side
The word now routinely comes out of the mouths of people from Kerry or Offaly. It’s like if you met Willie O’Dea and he said Yo
Even among kids, queue-jumping is frowned upon. They understand that the queue is essentially egalitarian
Seán Moncrieff: For some years I had a vague hope that it might go away forever. But I’m past that now. Psoriasis is part of me
The British – or more specifically, the English – think of us as their fun cousins. The ones you want to sit with at weddings
The family drama, particularly in the Irish context, can also operate as a powerful metaphor
It’s only a few decades old, but our reliance on the internet is almost total: financially, structurally and emotionally
Apparently, it gets worse the older you get
Sometimes I talk to people, now dead, who made an imprint on my life
Daughter Number Four’s sassy slang is the start of a realisation that her generation is different to that of her embarrassing parents
If anything, older people should think more about their sex lives than the young
I love the city, as it is now – but I fear that might change. Pray that Prophet Song remains a work of fiction
Sean Moncrieff: Singers represent a country, but all too often they are of mixed heritage, of uncertain gender or no gender at all, yet still attract votes from competing countries
Every time – every single time – I get the 'approval needed' announcement and hear myself saying to some 20-year-old: I am desperate for your approval
Daughter Number Four’s birthday became more of a birthday week, not with the usual play centre party, but a pampering session
Ours are full of fancy corkscrews that don’t work, a slow cooker we never got the point of, a block of blunt knives – will we ever learn?
When it comes to immigration and the Irish, it’s the same old story
Seán Moncrieff: The centre ground can be a dull place but without it there’s less chance of change happening
Try to remember many people aren’t Christmassy. So if they are a bit withdrawn or quiet, leave them be
They obviously don’t watch the nine o’clock news. They’re all TikTok and Instagram and think the stuff the old people look at is irrelevant
My three cousins, all brothers, didn’t curse their genetic ill-fortune when cancer struck. They opted to remain themselves, to be funny and charming and tell stories
Crosswords & puzzles to keep you challenged and entertained
How does a post-Brexit world shape the identity and relationship of these islands
Inquests into the nightclub fire that led to the deaths of 48 people
Weddings, Births, Deaths and other family notices