AIDEEN SCRINEY speaks to Noel McGuinness about their upcoming production of Les Miserables in Malahide Community School. We hear about their preparation for the show and Aideen discusses her portrayal of “Val Jean”. She speaks of her own background in drama and also discuss the music accompaniment for the production…
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…
Winner of the Comfort Keepers Carer of the Year
Noel McGuinness interviews EITHNE BYRNE from Coolock, who won the Comfort Keepers Carer of the Year award. She’s explaining the methods they’re using in the Comfort Keepers and talks about the work they do…

A New Journey For Irish Girl Guides
JILLIAN VAN TURNHOUT of the Irish Girl Guides organisation talks about the Journey Programme. The Journey Programme is designed to ensure that we achieve the Irish Girl Guides’ mission “to enable girls and young women to develop to their fullest potential as responsible citizens of the world.” The Journey Programme has three elements in each…
Live From The Adult Education Fair
In a special live broadcast from the Northside Civic Centre’s Adult Education Fair Noel McGuinness chats with visitors and presenters who are coming together to try and find new ways to gain employment in fresh fields. Upskilling, re-educating, and taking on new courses are all under discussion. The local employment service, Target and many other…
Teachers’ Experience of the PAX Good Behavior Game
Noel speaks with BREDA TOMKINS, a teacher from St. Joseph’s National School, Bonnybrook & CLAIR MCNICHOLAS, a teacher from Scoil Ide, Kilmore West about their experiences of the PAX Good Behavior Game in the classroom. They talk about their backgrounds in teaching, their first impressions of the game, their training on the programme, the details…
RASP Official Opening
Mark reports from the RASP (Laneview Learning Centre) official opening. Mark firstly speaks with KEVIN BEHAN, chairperson of the Board of Management. He talks about why they wanted to move to Laneview, the objections and work that is done by RASP and the alternative methods they use to help people in need. He also talks…
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…
Costumes Parisiens Exhibition at Chester Beatty Library
Barbara Jennings interviews JILL UNKEL, curator of the exhibiton “Costumes Parisiens”, which shows fashion plates from 1912-1914…

Uilleann Pipe making in Dublin 17
TERRY MOYLAN speaks about a new Uilleann Pipe workshop that has opened in Clonshaugh in Dublin 17. Terry explains how Dublin was always a centre for piping going back centuries. The workshop is a three year full time course in Uilleann Pipe making, and there are 10 trainees on the course. It is part funded by…
Graffiti in Dublin
BARBARA JENNINGS speaks to an ex graffiti artist in Dublin about why he does graffiti & does it have a meaning…
Last Ballymun Towerblock Begins To Tumble
Almost 50 years since it was built, demolition has started on Joseph Plunkett Tower, the last of the notorious Ballymun flats. BRIAN MONGEY, senior community officer with DCC talks to Mark Finnegan about this momentous occasion. Joseph Plunkett tower, completed in 1967, was one of seven 15-storey blocks, along with 19 of eight storeys and…

Rabble Magazine a self-titled “Underground Rag”
JAMES REDMOND of Rabble, an “Underground Rag”, joins Noel McGuinness to discuss the volunteer based newspaper. He explains that at the time they have begun using crowdfunding to fund the venture. The print costs for the magazine are covered by this fundraising so the magazine itself is free to the public. James speaks of the…
Ossia Youth Choir
CARMEL WHELAN joins Noel McGuinness to talk about the Ossia Youth Choir. They begin by discussing the beginnings of the choir, which Carmel set up. With participants aged between 9 and 16 years of age there are on average thirty members of the choir at any one time. With no previous experience needed the choir…
Legislation against FMG Required
GRACE WILENTZ, NEAR FM Cultural Coordinator, and PEG McMANUS from the Intercultural Group tell Pat Meehan what’s coming up on the Culture Shots programme. A major issue under the microscope is FGM (Female Genital Mutilation). It is estimated that some 3000 women in Ireland have undergone this ritual, many of them being abducted in order…
