ORLA O’CONNOR is Director of National Women’s Council of Ireland. She holds a Masters degree in European Social Policy from NUIM and a degree in Social Science from UCD. Orla has worked in senior management in non-governmental organisations in Ireland for over 15 year. She was previously the Head of Policy of NWCI, and has…
2012: Another Year at Near – News Round-Up
Near Media Co-Op is a not-for-profit community media project. The project consists of Near FM and Near TV and works in platforms as diverse as computer training, drama production, assisting unsigned musicians and educational programming. Near FM broadcasts 24 hours a day over 365 days per year. We operate an open access policy and run…
Learning about the “Musical Youth Foundation”
CHRIS MAHER speaks to John Healy about the Musical Youth Foundations aims and mission. He begins by explaining how the foundation came about as part of his involvement in the Dublin Soul festival. He tells of their involvement in enabling children to play musical instruments in schools and group centres. They also talk of using…
Ayrfield Voices Released on CD
JOHN FAHY from the Voices of Ayrfield choir chats with Noel McGuinness about the group’s CD which has been released in time for Christmas. ‘The Voices of Ayrfield’ CD contains carols and popular hymns with a seasonal feel. Two songs from the disc are played, from the opening of the recording to 1.49 and from…

Youth Advocate Programmes Recruitment Day
John Healy talks to AMT WALSH, team leader with YAP Ireland, Dublin North about the latest recruitment drive and the work of YAP Ireland (Youth Advocacy Programme) on Near FM’s Northside Today. Youth Advocate Programmes (YAP) Ireland is a leading provider of intensive support programmes for young people and families. YAP Ireland uses a strengths based, family…
Walmer College Holistic Centre 25th anniversary
Barbara speaks to LAURA at Walmer College and Holistic Centre, who teaches a number of holistic disciplines. She explains her understanding of the mind body connection and how Humans manifest the mental stresses of life in their physical body. She spoke of the products which they produce and sell on site…

Traditional Music from the EU concerts in Dublin
Noel McGuinness is joined in studio by PAUL LOUGHRAN and a number of musicians from the EU. It begins with a performance from the Hartz Mountain Yodellers. The musicians are in Dublin to perform a series of concerts which Paul gives all of the details for including a live broadcast on Near FM and subsequent…
Halloween at Glasnevin Museum
Noel interviews SHANE MAC THOMAIS, local historian working at Glasnevin Museum, about the Halloween events at the Museum…
Photography: “Working Lives 1893-1913” Exhibition
MARY JONES, a social scientist with Archive Productions, speaks to Noel McGuinness about a new exhibition of photographs from 1893-1913. The exhibition documents the working lives of the population during this period. Mary tells Noel about the impact of industrialisation and urbanisation on working people in this period. She also discusses the increase in numbers…
Photowalks in Glasnevin Cemetery
PAUL FREENEY, photographer, talks to Noel McGuinness about his Photowalk through Glasnevin Cemetery and the Botanic Gardens. “Our first Photowalk happened way back in 2009 with a small group of just five people. Since then we have led groups, big and small, at dawn, in the snow, at night and in locations not just in…
Upcoming events organized by the Improvised Music Company
Barbara Jennings interviews AOIFE CONCANNON from the Improvised Music Company, a non-profit resource for Jazz and Wold Music, and they organize two Jazz Festivals. One of them is coming soon, called Twelve Points, a festival for young European Jazz; it takes place in Dublin every second year and then in a random European in alternate years…
Intercultural Media Project Update
RONNIE O’BRIEN talks to GRACE WILENTZ, Coordinator of Near FM’s Intercultural Dialogue through Community Media initiative, and EOIN DRINAN on updates on the second round of the Intercultural Media Projects and the issue of migrants and the media. The Intercultural Dialogue through Community Media project is co-financed by the European Commission under the European Integration Fund…
Ayrfield Parish Christmas Mission
Noel McGuinness interviews JOHN FAHY from the Ayrfield Parish about the Christmas Mission…
Near FM & MediaCorp Intercultural Project Goes On
GRACE WILENTZ pops in to update Noel McGuinness on the progress of the Near FM & MediaCorp Intercultural Project. With her she has two members of the latest group to come together: Louise, from Brazil, and Claire, from Drogheda. At this point there are 17 participants in the project. They are learning a wide range…

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…
