DAVE O’CONNOR Secretary of NEAR Media Co-op talks to Noel McGuinness about Near FM’s 17th birthday celebrations and reflects back on the station’s history. Near FM first went on air in 1995. Then, it was only on three days a week, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The first voice on Near FM was Chairman, Vincent Teeling…
Homeless crisis increase in Dublin 2013
Deputy DESSIE ELLIS joins Noel McGuinness to discuss the rising figures of homeless people in Dublin in 2013, with 8 new people becoming homeless each day. They discuss the possible causes for such a large increase, including home repossesion and talk of possible solutions including using NAMA owned properties to house the homeless. Dessie makes…
The Chalk Garden @ Sean O’Casey Theatre
DAN McCORMACK, Director of the Chalk Garden talks to Noel McGuinness about this new play and the newly refurbished Sean O’Casey Theatre in which it is being presented. Dan and Noel also discuss the differences between going to the cinema and to the theatre for audiences. Further details on the theatre at: www.nodrama.com …
A Visit To Bloom 2015 Blows The Cobwebs Away
PAT MEEHAN takes a trip round the Bloom 2015 Festival site interviewing exhibitors and visitors. Bloom in the Park is not only one of Ireland’s biggest annual tourist attractions, it is also one of the leading horticulture and food festivals which takes place each year over the June Bank Holiday. Bloom, which is organised by…
A New Dimension For Irish Storytelling
The theatre company Guthanna Binne Síoraí announced that their bilingual show Guthanna Síoraí/Everlasting Voices, would be staged in Dublin. The show takes its inspiration from the poetry of three Nobel prize-winning writers: Seamus Heaney, W.B. Yeats and Samuel Beckett. Music, song and dance are used to present their work in both Irish and English. Guthanna…
Dublin Toy Fair – RDS 2013: A Preview
PATRICK O’SULLIVAN, organiser of the forthcoming Christmas 2013 Toy Fair at the RDS, joins John Healy to discuss some of the event’s highlights. Patrick says all the top toy manufacturers will be represented but says that it’s about much more than just the toys. It will be a fun day out where visitors can take…
Halloween at Glasnevin Museum
Noel interviews SHANE MAC THOMAIS, local historian working at Glasnevin Museum, about the Halloween events at the Museum…
Lir Perform a Nick Drake Tribute in Aid of Aware
Local singer songwriter and member of the band Lir DAVID McGUINNESS talks to Noel McGuinness about the forthcoming Nick Drake Tribute concert in aid of Aware Ireland. David says that Nick Drake, who died tragically young forty years ago, was a huge influence on many modern singer songwriters. His lyrics cover the whole gamut of…

Digital TV Switchover
MICHAEL QUILLIGAN talks to Pat Meehan about the TV switch-over. The switch is being made from analogue to digital TV. Michael is helping older people especially with the digital switch-over and is asking others in the various communities to help individuals and groups to get involved with helping with the switch-over. They discuss the cost of…
Car boot sale at the Artane Market
CATHERINE O’CONNER speaks to John Healy. At the time she is trying to revamp the Artane Market, based opposite Artane Castle shopping centre. They discuss how people can clear out their bric-a-brac and bring it to the upcoming car boot sale to earn a few euro and get to know the local traders. It is…

Local Hardware Shops Boom Even In The Bust
Local Hardware entrepreneur JOHNNY McLOUGHLIN talks to Noel McGuinness about the hardware business he opened despite the ongoing recession. After a year in business, Johnny says that he is surprised at how well things have been working out. Because people are short of cash, he says, I’m guessing that they’re doing home repairs themselves to…
Learning about the Medical research council
MIKE CLARKE, Professor at Queens University joins Eoin Drinan, Mike explains his role in the MRC (Medical research council), a methodology review group which explores research that has been carried out around the world and brings it together to supply this research to people in the health and social care sector. Mike speaks of the…

North Dublin Carer of the Year 2012
Pat Meehan speaks to North Dublin Carer of the Year 2012, SHARON SALEM. This award is given by the Carers Association. Sharon’s mother nominated her for the award after she came home from Australia to look after her when she was diagnosed with cancer…

Cluid Housing Association
SIMON BROOKE, Head of Policy with Cluid Housing Association chats with Ronnie O’Brien. Simon explains that Housing Association’s are independent, not for profit charities that provide social housing for people on housing waiting lists. Simon also discusses the ‘mortgage to rent’ scheme which targets people who are experiencing mortgage difficulties. In order to qualify for the scheme you…
Housing Emergency and Rights Conference
Flavia interviews several people from the Housing Emergency and Rights Conference that took place on Saturday 3rd October. She firstly chats with JOHN BISSETT from Housing Action. He talks about the reasons for the conference to be called, the problems with housing from all over the country and how the conference was a working progress…
