JIM CARROLL, journalist with the Irish Times, speaks to Eoin Drinan about his series of live talks and discussions entitled “This is Banter”. The series is a live spin-off from a radio series in which people are involved in freewheeling conversations on topics of the day. The events are taking place all round Ireland…
Astronomy Ireland Classes – An Introduction To The Night Sky
DAVID MOORE from Astronomy Ireland joins Noel to discuss some events that the group has coming up. David says that their regular classes act as an introduction to astronomy. David discusses the comet Ison which will come relatively close to earth in late 2013 and early 2014. David says Ison may have a very large…
New Badminton Premier League Starting
Conor speaks with DAVID MURPHY from Leinster Badminton about a new premier league starting. He talks about the idea behind the league, the reasons for changing the league and game formats, the idea behind the power play in the badminton league and the invitational players to come into some of the teams. He also talks…

The Big Bang Festival 2013
BRIAN FLEMING, co-director of The Big Bang Festival of Rhythm joins Noel McGuinness on the phone to discuss the 2013 festival. Having started in 1994 they have ran it continuously since 2007. Brian tells all about what is in store for this years festival including group drumming and a workshop with world famous Djembe drummer:…
Aramu Muru exhibition at the Graphic Studio Gallery
Barbara interviews swedish graphic artist LARS WIKSTROM about his latest exhibition at the Graphic Studio Gallery, called “Aramu Muru”. They are 18 woodcuts inspired by Aramu Muru in Haya Marca, near Lake Titicaca in Peru; it reflects the Inca culture and the spiritual world attached to it…
Protest against Corrib Gas Project
Mark Finnegan chats with RUARI MCKIERAN a social campaigner about the Corrib gas project. The Corrib gas project cuts to the core of this republic and asks big questions about how the country is run. For more than 10 years now, campaigners have attempted to highlight the project’s many flaws. It had been one of…
Intercultural Media Project Update 28th November
Pat Meehan is joined by GRACE WILENTZ, Coordinator of Near FM’s Intercultural Dialogue through Community Media initiative. She updates everyone on the Intercultural Media Projects that she is working on and what is coming up in the following weeks. The Intercultural Dialogue through Community Media Project is co-financed by the European Commission, under the European Integration…

Launch of Irish Feminists Judgement Project
Mark Finnegan talks to Dr AOIFE O’DONOGHUE , Snr Lecturer at Durham Law School. Aoife is Co- Director of The Northern/Irish Feminists Judgement Project, and chats about the idea behind the project and its findings to date. The project aims to bring a new critical methodology to bear on Irish and Northern Irish legal studies…
Riverdance – The Gathering
ÁINE KAVANAGH joins John Healy to talk about the upcoming event, Riverdance – The Gathering. Áine talks about how the event is a part of a tourism initiative in Ireland, the details of the event itself, the other events that will take place as part of the Gathering festival, their hope to break the world record…
United in Adversity: International Representation at EU Parliament
SIMON McKEAGNEY, Irish spokesperson for ‘United in Adversity’ explains the project to Eoin Drinan. United in Adversity began as a five month internship in the European Parliament, looking at how the EU was reacting to the European financial crisis with particular emphasis on youth unemployment. Simon says there is a disconnect between what the general…
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…
Active Retirement Art Exhibition
Mark speaks with PAT BYRNE, a member of the Raheny Branch of Active Retirement Ireland talks about an art exhibition on display in Raheny Library. She talks about how they meet once every week to paint and how the exhibition takes place on the free premises of the library, where the proceeds for the exhibitions go, the…
Setting up a web design business in Dublin
SHEAMUS DIAMOND talks to MARK FINNEGAN about moving to Ireland from the USA and establishing a successful, family-run web design business (Freeman Contingent)…
Local Singer Record Songs in Aid of St. Francis Hospice
Noel McGuinness interviews CATHERINE O’DONOVAN and MARY O’CALLAGHAN, who recorded a CD in aid of St. Francis Hospice, one of the songs played is called “Touched by Love”…
The Importance of Press Freedom – RTE Newsreader Eileen Dunne
RTE news reader EILEEN DUNNE speaks to Eoin Drinan on the eve of World Press Freedom day 2013. Eileen shares her thoughts as President of the Association of European Journalists and gives an outline of the major themes in the 2013 event. She says that in Ireland we are lucky with the level freedom given…
