COLM O’GRADY of Clowns Without Borders joins John Healy to discuss the “Miles of Smiles” exhibition. Clowns Without Borders is a group performing circus acts and comedy to bring laughter to young people in areas of conflict and crisis around the world. The group also performs for homeless groups, refugees and HIV patients, trying to…
Men’s Shed Movement Has A Welcome For Everyone
FRANK SCALZO & ROB WALSH talk to Mark Finnegan about the Men’s Shed movement in Ballymun and Ireland as a whole. What is a Men’s Shed? A Men’s Shed is a dedicated, friendly and welcoming meeting place where men come together and undertake a variety of mutually agreed activities. Men’s Sheds are open to all…
Bram Stoker historical walk and museum
Local historian DENIS MCINTYRE joins Pat Meehan in the Near FM studios to discuss the upcoming Bram Stoker historical walk, St Stephens Day 2012. The walk concludes in the Bram Stoker museum in Clontarf where there will be a discussion on the book of Dracula focusing on the links between the story and the area of Clontarf. They…

RTE showing “Insurrection” as part of 1916 Centenary Series after a 50 years gap
Conor Doyle talks to BRID DOOLEY – Head of RTE Archives about showing after a gap of 50 years the acclaimed “Insurrection” as part of their 1916 Centenary Series. On the 50th anniversary of the Easter Rising, Telefís Éireann produced ‘Insurrection’ an eight part drama that depicted the events of Easter Week 1916 as they…
Barretstown Camp Puts The ‘Fun’ in Fundraiser
Singer DAVID McGUINNESS comes into the studio to chat to Noel McGuinness about the forthcoming Barretstown fundraising gig and to sing a couple of songs. The songs are at 08:14 to 10:58 and 13:35 to 16:51 The Barretstown summer camps are specially designed programmes where children with a serious illness can attend, have some fun…
Volunteering in Kenya with the “Friends of Londiani”
ROSE HENNESSY from the Friends of Londiani speaks to John Healy about the “Harambee project”. Rose talks about the work that the Friends of Londiani does in Kenta, the lack of medical services and spaces in the Londiani area, the volunteers that come to help, how people can finance the trip and the results of…
Proposed Privatization of Aer Lingus
PAT GUERIN talks to NIALL SHANAHAN, communications officer with IMPACT Trade Union, on the Union’s reaction to the announcement that the government would consider selling its stake of Aer Lingus…
Ciara McMahon, exhibition in Phizz Fest 2011
Noel interviews CIARA MCMAHON, doctor and artist with an exhibition on the Phizz Fest in Phibsboro about transplants, where she mixes her work and her passion…
New Badminton Premier League Starting
Conor speaks with DAVID MURPHY from Leinster Badminton about a new premier league starting. He talks about the idea behind the league, the reasons for changing the league and game formats, the idea behind the power play in the badminton league and the invitational players to come into some of the teams. He also talks…
‘Zero Tolerance’ Crackdown On Illegal Dumping
Dublin City Council is to begin a “zero tolerance” crackdown on illegal dumping in the north inner city after the area was declared a litter blackspot. CCTV is being installed in the area in a bid to tackle the issue. BRIAN HANNEY from Dublin City Council’s Waste Management Division talks to Pat Meehan abpout the…
Learn to play the Ukelele
Noel McGuinness talks to musician COLM QUERNEY about Ukelele Workshops in axis Ballymun. The ‘Uke’ is becoming popular again, after a 60 year hiatus. It’s easy to learn and cheap to buy. It’s also a great way to meet new people and make new friends while have a fun time…

Tales of Medievil Dublin 2013
GILLIAN KENNY of Friends of Medievil Dublin joins Pat Meehan to discuss “Tales of Medievil Dublin”. A series of talks that have been run each year since 2010. All of the talks are free to the public. Gillian outlines some of the talks, in particular one based on Medievil coins. Seperately, Gillian will give a…
Forest Eireann, Plain Cigarette Packaging
Mark Finnegan speaks to JOHN MALLON who is the spokesman for the speakers group Forest Eireann. He talks about plain packaging cigarettes & how it would be a huge & unnecessary risk for the government to take. If this was to happen it would make it a lot harder for sales assistants to distinguish the…
Documenting The Lives Of The ‘Undocumented’ in Ireland
GRACE WILENTZ, Near FM’s Intercultural Coordinator talks to Noel McGuinness about the latest series of ‘Culture Shots’. The aim of Culture Shots is to take a panel of eight people: Four Irish and four non-EU immigrants. The eight undertake a seven-week training course in community radio and intercultural media literacy that promotes equality and diversity…
Bruce Goodison’s ‘Leave 2 Remain’ Brings Child Refugees’ Experiences To Life
Writer and director BRUCE GOODISON speaks to Eoin Drinan about his debut film “Leave 2 remain”. Bruce says the story was inspired by children and teenagers who were displaced during the Afghanistan war. He heard that 3-4,000 of these children arrive in the UK each year seeking refuge. The film details some of the hardships…