CHERYL GUNNING from Portmarnock is one of four winners in the Vodafone Ireland World of Difference awards. The prize for the competition is a one-year internship on full pay with a charity of the winner’s choice. Vodafone pay the wages on behalf of the chosen charity. Some 500 competitors took part this year. Each entrant…
Sounds Good Summer Camp 2011
MICHAEL DAWSON came into the studios of Near FM with some kids to talk to NOEL MCGUINNESS about the experience in the Summer camp organised by Sound Good School of Music…

Hay Literary and Arts festival, Kells Co. Meath 2013
GER GAUGHRAN tells Eoin Drinan about the upcoming Hay Festival in Kells, Meath. We hear that this brand of Arts and Literary festival started in Wales. In 2011 the chamber of commerce contacted the festival committee about organising a Hay festival in Kells and after two years work this is the first Irish event. Ger…
Religious Freedom Also Means Freedom to Be Catholic
Ronnie O’Brien talks to DR. JOHN MURRAY of The Iona Institute about religious freedom. Tanaiste Eamonn Gilmore’s speech has worried the Iona Institute, who feel that separation of Church and State in Ireland has gone far enough. The Institute say that it is not wrong to have the Catholic ethos at the heart of Education and…
Grace Wilentz on UN’s Commission on Population & Development
GRACE WILENTZ talks to Noel McGuinness about her recent week-long trip to the UN in New York as part of the Commission on Population & Development. The Commission is part of the UN’s ongoing plan to focus on improving health in the Southern Hemisphere by 2015. Grace has some good stories about the work being…
Lift Youth Arts Festival
Noel Mc Guinness speaks to EMMA CONNORS about lift youth arts festival which are celebrating their 10th year anniversary. They will kick off with workshops & events in the Axis in Ballymun which will include rap, drama workshops, & showcases…
Robbie Reilly & Luke Cunningham on Guitars
Noel McGuinness interviews ROBBIE REILLY & LUKE CUNNINGHAM, and they have been busking with Spanish Guitars to raise €3500 to fund a trip to Calcutta for Luke. Both the lads attend Belvedere College. Noel Spotted them playing in the Rose Festival in St Anne’s Park. They also play in the market in Dun Laoghaire and…
The effect of deferred Maintenance grant payments for Students in 2013
President of the Union of Students in Ireland, JOE O’CONNOR speaks to Pat Meehan to discuss the impact of cuts in student grants and the rise in college costs for third level students in 2013. Joe talks about of the reality of the situation at the time and tells how many students are struggling financially. Joe…
Frances Black and the Rise Foundation
Well known singer FRANCES BLACK speaks to Noel McGuinness about her own recovery from addiction and the overwhelming response she has received from the public: “I was inundated with calls from family members, who wanted to know how to cope with someone they love who could possibly be in addiction. People would come up to…
Culture Shots Introduces New Course Options
Near Media Co-op Intercultural Coordinator Grace Wilentz talks to NOEL MC GUINNESS about the next Intercultural Course and the upcoming programme on Libya. Grace is very excited about the range of options on offer now for those with an interest in finding out more about the ways people from other cultures see the world, think…
Twelve Points Jazz festival, Dublin 2013
AOIFE CONCANNON speaks to Barbara Jennings about the “Twelve points” jazz festival taking place in the Project Arts centre. Aoife explains the format of the festival and shares information on some of the artists performing…

Dublin Bus teaching kids to be respectful on the bus
Donie Tarrant speaks to MARIA PAYNE from Dublin Bus in relations to their new plans to teach the kids to respect on the buses. Dublin Bus has produced a new DVD as part of an initiative for highlighting how to use buses and to respect public transport. Bus drivers and school coordinators are visiting schools…
Santry Art group exhibition at the Northside Civic Centre
JUAN O’PEREZ and NOREEN DELANEY joins Noel McGuinness to speak about the Art Exhibition created by the Art Group in the Resource Centre in Santry and showing at the Northside Civic Centre. Juan, who is the mentor for the group, speaks of the interesting idea of working as a group compared to painting alone. He…
A New Star of Circus Ring and Burlesque Stage
FIFI LA ROUX is an Irish based Aerialist, Artist and Circus performer that has recently turned her interests to the sparkly world of Burlesque. Having made her burlesque debut at 2015’s Miss Burlesque Ireland finals Fifi has since worked on combining her circus skills and knowledge to the wonderful world of rhinestones to create new…
Ayrfield Parish Christmas Mission
Noel McGuinness interviews JOHN FAHY from the Ayrfield Parish about the Christmas Mission…
