Local singer GRACE O’MALLEY comes into the Near FM studios (along with back up from Jimmy Sheerin and John Colbert) and plays a few tunes for Noel McGuinness. Grace tells Noel about her career has gone so far and where she gets her inspirations from. Three songs are performed live in studio: ‘Time Is Right…
Amnesty International campaign on Mental Health
Noel interviews ROBERT MCCAFFERTY from Suaimhneas and Psychotherapist CAROLINE McGUIGAN about the Amnesty International campaign on Mental Health As A Human Rights Issue…
Astronomy Ireland’s September Star-B-Q
Noel McGuinness talks to DAVID MOORE about ‘Star BQ’, taking place this September and what you can see in the sky tonight. Tonight, Saturn is visible just above the moon, and you’ll be able to see it with the naked eye. A half-decent telescope will reveal the rings, and with a good one, you’ll be able to…
Learning about the Work of Umbrella Charity group “The Wheel”
GERT ACKERMAN joins Pat Meehan to discuss the results of studies done by “The Wheel”. Gert explains that “The Wheel ” is an umbrella body for charities in Ireland who work to help charities more effectively “get things done”. They talk of some elements of a recent press release beginning by talking of “services under…
FLAC’s 8th Dave Ellis Memorial Lecture
FLAC (Free Legal Advice Centres Ltd) invited renowned US public interest lawyer BRYAN STEVENSON to speak at this year’s Dave Ellis Memorial Lecture. Mr STEVENSON’s speech brought home some very powerful points about justice in the US that have great relevance for us here in Ireland. The justice and imprisonment statistics in the US are…
The Importance of Press Freedom – Johnathan Rugman
JOHNATHAN RUGMAN of Channel 4 News joins Eoin Drinan on the eve of World Press Freedom Day. Johnathan speaks about his work in Turkey, getting locked up in Venezuela, and being accused of spying. He says the concept of press freedom differs a lot from region to region…
Kilbarrack Coast Community Programme Visiting Foreign Embassies In Dublin
John speaks to BRENDAN BURKE from the Kilbarrack Coast Community Programme who visited all the foreign embassies in Dublin. He talks about the background and services of the community programme, the activities that they do for different age groups, the idea behind visiting the embassies, the differences between some of the embassies and what he learned…

NearFM Spring Round up
DAVE O’CONNOR speaks to Noel McGuinnes about what is going on in NEARFM including celebrating thirty years of Near Media Co-op and a conference on “Social Justice Media” to mark the anniversary. He also speaks of what inspired him to get involved in Community Media. They also talk of “Folklore from the Dance Floor” a…
Changing World, Changing Dublin: The Development of the ‘Northside’
Living Archives is a selection of oral recollections on the growth and development of the north side of Dublin, told through the words of the people who experienced, firsthand, the gradual change from country to city life in the former countryside now known as the suburbs of North Dublin. In the summer of 2014, producer…
Deputy Mayor Brian McDowell from the Belmayne Allotments
Amanda Ni Ghabhann interviews Deputy Mayor BRIAN McDOWELL on the official opening of the Belmayne Allotments. residents they found there was a need for people to have space to have a garden, somewhere they could go to grow. It took 18 months to get the project running, so people from the area had space to have a garden, somewhere they could…
Tradfest 2013 preview
PAUL LOUGHRAN speaks to Noel McGuinness about the upcoming broadcast live from Tradfest 2013. We hear how it will be broadcast across a number of Community stations in the Dublin region. We hear some of the planned performers on the day and what will be heard on the day…
Monster Clock, a puppet musical at the Axis Theatre
DAN COLLEY speaks to Noel McGuinness about “Monster Clock”, a stage production being performed at the Axis Theatre in Ballymun. Dan is the shows director and speaks of the productions history and target audience. They discuss the story behind the show, where it has travelled to and where the name of the drama company came…
What is “Flight of Ideas”?
PETER RYAN speaks to Eoin Drinan about his work as part of the flight of ideas group, set up as a networking initiative for artists. Peter explains the work of the group as a resource for artists across varying platforms and disciplines. He details their next scheduled event and offers up ways to connect with…
“What Would Ma Say” Adapted For The Stage
Author KATHLEEN DOYLE and director GERARD RONAN join John Healy in studio to discuss Kathleen’s book “What would Ma say” and the process of adapting it for the stage. Kathleen says the book took 18 months to write. It book is based in the tenements on Cooke Street in the Christchurch area and in Crumlin…
The work of Spunout.ie in educating about Online Bullying
IAN POWER joins Ronnie O’Brien to discuss Online Bullying. He begins by sharing details of the website “Spun-out.ie” and the primary care health service which they provide online. They speak of some of the shortfalls of popular online websites in terms of reporting inappropriate posts or posts of a serious nature using a “three click…
