JANE ALGER, director of the UNESCO City of Literature programme, speaks to John Healy about the purpose of the programme. Jane talks about what the programme encourages, the book that the programme are celebrating this year, the events that they put together that connect to the book, the plot of the book itself based on the…
Darndale Arts Week – Something For Everyone
DARINA SHOULDICE of Our Lady Immaculate School in Darndale talks to Noel McGuinness about the wide range of activities taking place during Darndale Arts Week. She also talks about the development of Darndale over the past 30 years into the vibrant community it is today, with the Darndale Belcamp Village Centre, Sphere 17 youth group,…
Killester Arts and Crafts fair at Christmas 2012
Barbara Jennings speaks to HARRIE MCMANUS to discuss the St. Brigids resource centre arts fair taking place the following week in Killester. Harrie tells of the history of the event and how it has grown over the years. They talk of the great work done at the resource centre year round and tell of how…
Short Operas in Public Places in Dublin
Noel speaks to FERGUS SHEIL, a conductor involved in a series of short operas in public places in Dublin called “Things We Throw Away”. He speaks about how it is the first of its kind in Ireland, how the RTE concert orchestra recorded soundtracks specially for the public operas, how the writers of the operas…
Fingal Women in Business Network showcase
John Healy speaks to EVE BULMAN of the Fingal Women in Business Network. They discuss how the network aims to support small business owners by sharing information within the network on a number of issues that small business owners face, such as learning to properly make tax returns etc. They speak about some case studies…
Easter Rising Emergency Services Logbook on Public Display
Dublin City Archivist Dr MARY CLARKE, based at the Archive Library on Pearse Street, tells Pat Meehan about an exciting new artifact that has been discovered – with great timing – in time to be exhibited at the library’s 2016 Easter Rising commemorative exhibition. The artifact is the Ambulance & Fire Services Daily Log Book…
Dublin Celebrates Bram Stoker Centenary, 2012
Councillor ANDREW MONTAGUE talks to Noel McGuinness about how he came up with the idea of a Bram Stoker Halloween Festival. Stoker, who died in 1912, was a true Dubliner. He lived in Marino, studied at Trinity, and married one of Oscar Wilde’s ex-girlfriends (who knew?). Oh, and he also wrote Dracula…
Culture night 2013
RAY YATES, City Arts officer in Temple Bar, joins Noel McGuinness to discuss the upcoming plans for Culture Night 2013, whilst at an event celebrating the work of Seamus Heaney. Ray speaks of there being over 600 events throughout the country and more than 200 in Dublin. He tells that many places not usually open…
TASC discuss adjustments in tax announced in Budget 2012
Ronnie O’Brien speaks to NAT O’CONNOR, Director of TASC (Think Tank for Action on Social Change) and they begin by discussing recent taxes brought in by the government, soon after the release of the yearly financial budget for 2012. They look at the pros and cons of these taxes (property tax etc.) and the difference…
The High Tea Hop
EIMEAR CHAOMHÁNACH, programmes manager with Temple Bar Trust talks to Noel McGuinness about activities happening in Temple Bar, including the dance event ‘High Tea Hop’. Get active all year round and other events. The ‘High Tea Hop’ is one of the cultural activities designed for older people (55 and older). It involves dancing of the…
Education Programmes and Culture Night Events in St. Patrick’s Catheral
ANDREW SMITH Education Officer with St. Patrick’s Cathedral talks to NOEL MC GUINNESS about education programmes and Culture Night events in the Cathedral. ANDREW tells us about the Evensong programme in the Cathedral which features the oldest choir in Ireland. There are also some very interesting tours available. Some 400,000 people a year visit St…
Lir Free To Make Music Again
Noel McGuinness talks to RO BYRNE, lead guitarist with Lir, the band which is only now celebrating release from an onerous contract obligation that has dragged on for years. Ro says it is hard for young bands who only think about rock and roll to keep an eye on the business end of things. However,…

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…
Dublin’s First Festival of History: Presenting the Past, Looking to the Future
BRENDAN TEELING, Deputy City Librarian of Dublin City Libraries, joins Pat Meehan to discuss the upcoming Dublin Festival of History. Brendan says 70,000 history books were borrowed from Dublin libraries in the previous year. This number suggested that there is a huge amount of interest in our nation’s past and that a history festival, tied…
Autumn At Axis: Cultural Highlights for Ballymun 2013
Barbara Jennings talks to Axis Centre director PHILLIP KEOGH in Ballymun to discuss their forthcoming autumn programme. Philip syas he is delighted at the huge demand for Axis event tickets, with audiences coming from near and far. They discuss “Positive Aging Week” which is being launched with live music and a movie screening. On the…