John speaks to BARRY DOUGLAS from Hidden Hearing and GERRY COOLEY from the Near FM Business Partnership Initiative. They both talk about the reaction to the initiative, the importance of hearing checkups, the grants and benefits that may be available for people needing hearing aids, the possible variations and causes of tinnitus and how Hidden…
Picturing The Tattooist’s Art
Photographer AIDAN KELLY chats with Noel McGuinness about his latest exhibition ‘INK’ which features photographs of tattoos, and most specifically, tattoos on older people. In the past 20 years or so, tattoos have become very popular, but they were not always regarded as ‘cool’. A tattoo used to mark a person’s difference or separation from…
Cystic Fibrosis Research at Beaumont Hospital
As a follow up to the interview with Fergal Sommerville, who did the Channel Swim to raise money for the Cystic Fibrosis, Noel interviews PROF. McELVANNEY to find out about the work they do in the Cystic Fibrosis Unit at Beaumont Hospital…
The role of an Air Traffic Controller and a preview of Flightfest 2013
PAUL MCCANN, Dublin Air Traffic Control Operations Manager speaks to Noel McGuinness about his work as part of the Irish Aviation Authority. On this occasion he joins Noel to speak specifically about the upcoming Flightfest 2013. Paul explains about his job, operating air traffic throughout Dublin airspace, controlling roughly 60 miles around Dublin airport. They…

Guitar Festival of Ireland 2012
ALEC O’LEARY, Director of the annual Guitar Festival of Ireland 2012 talks to Noel McGuinness about why he chose to take the route of classical guitar playing rather than the rock’n’roll approach. A graduate of the DIT Conservatory of Music, Alec says he does love rock’n’roll, he just likes to play classical as well. This…
What is the Offbeat Ensemble?
CIARA CAVANAGH joins Noel McGuiness to discuss the Offbeat Ensemble, a new community string orchestra. Ciara explains the genesis of the group. She tells how the main aim of the group is to encourage people who have never played an instrument before can join up and “give it a go”. Ciara explains that there will…
Senior Alert Scheme – follow up report
LINDA HAYDEN from the Darndale Belcamp Village Centre follows up with Pat Meehan on the success of the call out for the Senior Alert Scheme and offers contact details for anyone who would like to have the equipment installed in their home. Linda encourages listeners who already have the system installed to check it every week…
East Wall Community Honoured in 2012
East Wall was honoured that they are the winners of the national Pride Of Place competition 2012. It was an important recognition of the great community they share, and a tribute to the hard work and commitment of those who work tirelessly to make it so great. Each local authority in the 32 counties chooses…

Men’s Shed about their work
CIARAN MAHONY speaks to Noel McGuinness in relation to the work of Men’s sheds and the benefits. A Men’s Shed is any community-based, non-commercial organisation which is open to all men where the primary activity is the provision of a safe, friendly and inclusive environment where the men are able to gather and/or work on…
Sean FM O’Donoghue: Writer, poet and playwright
SEAN FM O’DONOGHUE, playwright and poet joins John Healy to speak about his life and work. He begins by telling how he became a diver and has had a multitude of jobs throughout his life. He speaks of being an actor, producer and director. He speaks of a large fire that he witnessed and the…
Ballymun Tidy Towns 2012
John Healy speaks to MARY COUCH about Tidy Towns. They discuss the different categories available to enter, appeal for volunteers, and how they manage to receive funding and dealing with graffiti. Mary spoke about the problems they have with dumping and also offered up some clever ideas for other tidy town organisations. Mary also talks about the…
Coastal Erosion at Portrane and Alternative Plans for Metro North
Noel McGuinness interviews Counselor DARRAGH BUTLER from the Fingal County Council about the factors influencing coastal erosion at Portrane and the alternative plans for Metro North…
Axis in Ballymun Celebrate 10 Years With High Hopes Gig
Sound engineer JOE CLEAR and some of the musicians and technicians from Axis Theatre, Ballymun chat to Noel McGuinness about the forthcoming ‘High Hopes’ gig that will celebrate ten years of the Axis in Ballymun. This special gig will feature some of the finest young musicians from the Northside of the city who have been…
Discussing the impact of growing class numbers at Primary school level
CATHERINE JOYCE of Barnardos speaks to Yvette Reid about the rising number of students per class at primary level combined with the lowering number of Special Needs assistant positions available at the time. Catherine tells of how while in some schools this is not currently a problem there are many schools were the numbers have…

Active Parents service
ODREN REID talks about the closure of the Active Parents service in Finglas. The service is facing major funding cuts. He tells Pat Meehan about what the service provides for parents, including teaching young adults parenting skills, linking back into families, a drug and alcohol awareness programme and various activities for service users. Child charity…
