Producer and presenter DEBBIE HUTCHINSON talks to John Healy about ‘Novels, Plays, and Schooldays’. Novels, Plays and Schooldays is a new nine-part radio series produced by Near fm with financial support from The Broadcasting Authority of Ireland. The series looks at the novels and plays that form part of the Junior and Leaving Certificate English…
The Birthing of Near FM: Twenty Years Of Community Media
John Healy talks to JACK BYRNE about the setting up of the Near FM media co-op twenty years ago this year…

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…
International Ice Mile Swim
Noel Mc Guinness speaks to FERGAL SOMERVILLE who is a local swimmer & BRYN DYMOTT from Wales,they talk about the one mile circuit of Lough Dan swim called the ice mile. They had swimmers from Ireland, England, Wales & Italy. They talk about where & when the international ice swimming association started…
Dublin One City One Book: Strumpet City
JANE ALGER, director of the UNESCO City of Literature programme, speaks to John Healy about the purpose of the programme. Jane talks about what the programme encourages, the book that the programme are celebrating this year, the events that they put together that connect to the book, the plot of the book itself based on the…

Call to elimination of children’s eye care waiting list
Noel McGuinness is talking to LYNDA MCGIVNEY NOLAN about the call to eliminate children’s eye care waiting lists. Is highlighting the fact, that children can’t wait to go to an optometrist. If a child doesn’t go to an optometrist and correct for example lazy eyes until the age of seven, there job chances are going…
Ireland Canada Cricket Match
FERGUS CARROLL is live from Castle Avenue to broadcast the cricket match between Ireland and Canada…
Haven Doing Great Work in Haiti
ORLA DEMPSEY of Haven talks to Noel McGuinness about the voluntary work being done in the disaster-stricken island. Apart from the weather, says Orla, Haiti is very much like Ireland in the 1800s, an abandoned country with great poverty. George Hook is a well-known supporter of Haven’s work in Haiti and has travelled there on…
Dublin Bus Community Spirit Awards
GER LEDDIN from Dublin Bus talks to John about that organisation’s initiative ‘the Dublin Bus Community Spirit Awards’ that is designed to put the excess ticket payments that accumulate over the years to good use in the community…
‘Miss Ethnic’ Contest Highlights Horror of Female Genital Mutilation
IFRAH AHMED, organiser of the Miss Ethnic Ireland contest joins Noel McGuinness. The contest is now in its fifth year and Ifrah explains that its major aim is raising awareness of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM). Ifrah tells Noel that the practice is outlawed in Ireland, having been made illegal in 2012. The UK, France and…
Ireland’s Drinking Culture: Addiction or Genetics?
Doctor GARRETT MCGOVERN, a specialist in substance abuse, joins Sabrina Ryan to discuss the link between substance addiction and genetics. Dr McGovern believes there is a possible link between nature and nurture, suggesting that a family environment where drinking heavily is prevalent can have a knock-on effect on the next generation of the household. Dr…
Alaskan Epi Rogan Wins Dublin Cookery School Scholarship
EPI ROGAN, who is originally from Alaska and has been living in Ballincollig, Co Cork for the past 12 years, is the Dublin Cookery School scholar 2015. Rogan tells Pat Meehan how she won a place, worth €8,500, on the cookery school’s 2015 12-week intensive course, beginning in September. Rogan was one of 13 amateur…

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…
The Listen Project – A Place For Youths To Chat
HEIDI BEDELL of the Target Adult Education Centre speaks to John Healy about the launch of the Listen Project. Heidi talks about the history of the centre, the services and courses that they provide, the objection of the project, how people can get involved with the project and the current funding models for community services. Listen Project…
Pearse House Photography Exhibition: Council Flats in the 1930s
Photographer JEANETTE LOWE joins Noel McGuinness to discuss the launch of her latest photo exhibition, which is being opened by the Lord Mayor of Dublin in Meeting House Square in Temple Bar. The exhibition is connected to a project revolving around the restoration of a dwelling in the Pearse House flats to its original 1930s…