ALAN BRACKEN comes into Near FM to chat with Mark Finnegan. Alan was elected to the Fianna Fáil National Executive last week. “I was delighted to be elected and now hope to get Fianna Fáil moving in Dublin once again. Fianna Fáil must work hard to show an alternative in communities across the country. I…

Introduction to German folk rock band Larkin
Mark Finnegan interviews DAMIEN O’HARE who is keen to publicise a new German band with a rather unique sound for a German band (they do not sound like Kraftwerk or Hasslehoff). In fact, they sound distinctly Irish…
Two meerkats born at Dublin Zoo in 2012
EDDIE O’BRIEN from Dublin Zoo joins Paula Wiseman on the phone to discuss the arrival of two meerkats pups at the zoo in recent days. Eddie begins by sharing some history of the Zoo itself and paints a picture of his job as team leader at the zoo. We hear that there are 58 full…

DCU Educational Trust and Access Programme
Vicky Kavanagh reports on the Access to Education programme being run by DCU for Northside Dublin residents in working class areas such as Ballymun. Vicky speaks to CATHY MCLOUGHLIN and PATRICK MCDERMOTT, head of the DCU Educational Trust, about the access programme. The trust gets no government funding, only corporate donations. Since the access scholarship…
Art Gallery 27
Barbara Jennings speaks to artist MARTY GASCON from gallery 27. MARTY is a make up artist & studied in Ballyfermot college doing three dimensional in sculpture. She speaks about her work , working with real life models & how she actually paints on to the model’s body & the results are amazing…
Becoming An Arctic Explorer: An Introduction
Arctic Explorer JIM MCNEIL speaks to Eoin Drinan about ice-warrior.com, which organizes polar expeditions for ordinary people. Jim talks about what inspired him to become an ice explorer, how the idea for the business came about to create a space for ordinary people to undertake such an experience, the impact of climate change from Jim’s experiences of visiting the Arctic…

Men’s Shed about their work
CIARAN MAHONY speaks to Noel McGuinness in relation to the work of Men’s sheds and the benefits. A Men’s Shed is any community-based, non-commercial organisation which is open to all men where the primary activity is the provision of a safe, friendly and inclusive environment where the men are able to gather and/or work on…
Poisoning of White Tailed Eagles, Ireland
LORCAN O’TOOLE of the Eagle Trust speaks to Noel McGuinness about the poisoning of Eagles in Ireland. Lorcan explains that in some cases farmers leave out poison aimed at Foxes and crows to protect cattle. They speak specifically of the poisoning of a White Tailed eagle. They then talk of the Eagle trusts work throughout…
From Village to Suburb: The Building of Clontarf
Author CLAIRE GOGARTY joins Sabrina Ryan to discuss Claire’s recent book “From Village to Suburb: The Building of Clontarf Since 1760”. Sabrina tells Sabrina about the origins of Clontarf and when it was nothing more than a small circle of houses. She also talks about the rebuilding of Clontarf Castle. Claire talks about the events…
Fintan Lawlor Solicitor Answering Legal Questions
Noel Mc Guinness speaks to solicitor FINTAN LAWLOR who will answer legal questions which will include legal aid, personal injury claim & questions about wills…
Councillor discusses proposed Quays bike lane and the need for an elected mayor
Re-elected councillor ANDREW MONTAGUE (Lab) chats with Noel McGuinness about why Dublin needs an elected mayor who will be accountable for his actions, and the progress in plans for a bike lane down the River Liffey’s Quays…
“The Locker Room” Updated at The Sean O Casey Theatre 2013
Playwright HENRY HUDSON joins Pat Meehan to discuss the production of his play “The Locker Room” being presented at the Sean O’Casey Theatre in East Wall. Henry tells Pat that he worked for a long time for the Electricity Supply Board before moving to teaching and getting started in writing drama with Kay Farrell at…
New Tech Cuts Doc’s Response Times
NICK O’HARE from Medicare introduces Mark Finnegan to the new AMD technology for doctors. Out of hours doctors’ response times will be cut by two thirds in Ireland with the introduction of a new technology by Ireland’s leading healthcare company, Mediserve. The AMD TeleClinic involves a high-tech portable device being despatched quickly to patients’ homes,…
Pope Francis To Wash The Feet Of Prisoners On Holy Thursday
Father PETER MCVERRY of the Society of Jesus speaks to Ger Leddin to discuss Pope Francis washing the feet of prisoners on Holy Thursday 2013. Fr. Peter explains the significance of washing the prisoners’ feet, the direction of Pope Francis’ papacy, Pope Francis’ style in comparison to his predecessors, Pope Francis’ time in Ireland a…
Volunteer Of The Year
John speaks to NINA ARWITZ from Volunteer Ireland and MATT CULLEN who recently won the Volunteer Of The Year award. Nina talks about the background of Volunteer Ireland, the hard work that is put in volunteers, how thanking the volunteers for their hard work makes it worthwhile to be involved, the wide range and diversity…
