RTÉ RTÉ Radio 1

Derek Mooney with his unique mix of conversation, information, advice and entertainment

Last Thursday, we premiered the five acts who will vie to represent Ireland at Eurovision 2013. The winning act will be decided on during Eurosong 2013 on The Late Late Show on Friday, February 22. Today, we hear again 'Son Kez (The Last Time)', performed by Inchequin (written by Hugh O'Neill & Sinéad Bradley; arranged by Tevfik Kulak; mentor: Shay Healy).

A European search is underway to find not just the oldest, the tallest, the biggest, the most beautiful or the rarest of trees. The search is for the most lovable tree, a tree with a story that can bring the community together. The trees participating in the European Tree of the Year are winners of national contests.  The Irish entry is the King Oak - Pendunculate Oak (Quercus robur), in the Charleville Forest Estate, Tullamore, Co Offaly.  At the moment it is in 5th place, so if you would like to see our tree go up the ratings, then click here to vote! www.treeoftheyear.org

When you think of razors, and the whole ritual of shaving, you think of the two major brand names, Wilkinson Sword and Gillette. These two giants of the shaving industry have been battling it out in court for decades over patent infringements, improper claims, and even advertising slogans! Which brand gives the closest shave? Do you really care?

If you’re from a certain Islamic tradition, you not only don't care, but you might feel that the whole shaving ritual is a strictly Western phenomenon. Many Muslims feel that growing a beard should be mandatory for men. On the other hand, during the Mubarak era in Egypt, beards were a total no-go.

These days, they are back with a vengeance in Egypt. And it's thrown open a huge debate in the Muslim world about the cultural and religious status of facial hair on men.

Ashraf Khalil is a Cairo-based journalist and author of Liberation Square: Inside the Egyptian Revolution And The Rebirth Of A Nation. And he wrote about this issue for the BBC earlier this week. He joins Derek from the BBC studio in Cairo to chat about the cultural issues surrounding beards...

Although the number of people in Ireland who drink green tea (2%) is small compared to black tea (98%), it is a growing market. And it’s the health claims of the green leaf that appeals to many drinkers. Depending on who you listen to green tea helps lower cholesterol, reduces heart disease, eases pain, keeps your teeth healthy, it’s good for your skin and aids weight loss. Only last month a judge in Wexford cited the drink’s calming and detoxifying effects – judge John Lindsay advised a teenager who appeared before him accused of threatening and abusive behaviour to consider switching from alcohol to green tea.

Mooney producer Fergus Sweeney spoke to David McKernan, the founder of Java Republic, about the health benefits of the drink...  And Derek talks to Nigel Hooper, Professor of Biochemistry at the school of Molecular and Cellular Biology at Leeds University. He and a team of researchers have discovered that an extract in green tea and red wine could slow the progress of Alzheimer’s...

Three players attempt to beat the clock, and each other, to win a two-night weekend break for two people sharing one room in the 4-star Mount Falcon Country House Hotel on the banks of the River Moy in Ballina, County Mayo.

If you win, the prize includes breakfast on both mornings and dinner on an evening of your choice in the hotel’s Kitchen restaurant. While there you might like to visit the hotel’s leisure centre with its 17 metre swimming pool with a view of the woods – or pay a trip to The Elemis Spa.

Runners-up will get a hardback copy of Bird Habitats In Ireland by Richard Nairn and John O’Halloran. And EVERYONE who takes part in the quiz will get a special “PRIDE” Mooney Watch!

The Questions:

Player 1

1: What city is famous for its Leaning Tower?

2: In what 'cartoon town' do Fred Flintstone and Barney Rubble live?

3: What is measured in decibels?

4: What animal is celebrated in Killorglin, Co. Kerry, every year?

5: In which American state are the cities of Austin, Fort Worth and San Antonio?

6: In maths, if X minus 7 = 8, what is x?

7: Who wrote the play Dancing At Lughnasa?

Player 2

1: What is the floral symbol of Scotland?

2: In maths, if X minus 4 = 4, what is x?

3: Which Irish county is known as the Premier County?

4: What is amnesia?

5: Who wrote the famous novel Black Beauty?

6: What is the collective term for a group of whales?

7: In which American state are the cities of Orlando, Jacksonville and Tampa?

8: What game is being played if Advantage follows Deuce?

Player 3

1: The song You’ve Got To Pick A Pocket Or Two comes from which musical?

2: What "S" is a black powder produced when you burn coal or other fuels?

3: Who wrote the novels Pride And Prejudice, Emma and Persuasion?

4: In maths, X minus 3 = 7, what is x?

5: In which American state are the cities of Yonkers, Albany and Syracuse?

6: What "S" is the fruit of the blackthorn tree?

7: According to the legend, what happened to anybody who looked directly at Medusa?

8: Would you find your ‘patella’ in your wrist, leg or ear?

9: Arnold Schwarzenegger is a native of what country?

The Answers:

Player 1

1: What city is famous for its Leaning Tower? (Pisa)

2: In what 'cartoon town' do Fred Flintstone and Barney Rubble live? (Bedrock)

3: What is measured in decibels? (Sound)

4: What animal is celebrated in Killorglin, Co. Kerry, every year? (Puck goat)

5: In which American state are the cities of Austin, Fort Worth and San Antonio? (Texas)

6: In maths, if X minus 7 = 8, what is x? (15)

9: Who wrote the play Dancing At Lughnasa? (Brian Friel)

Player 2

1: What is the floral symbol of Scotland? (Thistle)

2: In maths, if X minus 4 = 4, what is x? (8)

3: Which Irish county is known as the Premier County? (Tipperary)

4: What is amnesia? (Loss of memory)

5: Who wrote the famous novel Black Beauty? (Anna Sewell)

6: What is the collective term for a group of whales? (School)

7: In which American state are the cities of Orlando, Jacksonville and Tampa? (Florida)

8: What game is being played if Advantage follows Deuce? (Tennis)

Player 3

1: The song You’ve Got To Pick A Pocket Or Two comes from which musical? (Oliver!)

2: What "S" is a black powder produced when you burn coal or other fuels? (Soot)

3: Who wrote the novels Pride And Prejudice, Emma and Persuasion? (Jane Austen)

4: In maths, X minus 3 = 7, what is x? (10)

5: In which American state are the cities of Yonkers, Albany and Syracuse? (New York)

6: What "S" is the fruit of the blackthorn tree? (Sloe)

7: According to the legend, what happened to anybody who looked directly at Medusa? (They turned to stone)

8: Would you find your ‘patella’ in your wrist, leg or ear? (Leg - it’s your kneecap)

9: Arnold Schwarzenegger is a native of what country? (Austria)