Barbara Jennings interviews AOIFE CONCANNON from the Improvised Music Company, a non-profit resource for Jazz and Wold Music, and they organize two Jazz Festivals. One of them is coming soon, called Twelve Points, a festival for young European Jazz; it takes place in Dublin every second year and then in a random European in alternate years…
National Soup Week 2013
Eoin Drynan speaks to GARETH CROWE from Gorta Ireland about the upcoming Soup Week in March 2013. They discuss the purpose of the campaign and mention how 5c for each cup of soup you drink at home (bought from Erin soup) goes towards the campaign. Every organisation (restaurants, canteens etc) involved will donate 1euro for…

National Hair Dressing apprenticeship at Colaiste Dhulaigh, Kilbarrack
KEVIN CAHILL co-ordinator of the National Hair dressing apprenticeship in Colaiste Dhulaigh and ALEX DRUMGOOLE who is a participant join Donie Tarrant. Also speaking to Donie is Minister for Further and Higher Education Research Innovation and science SIMON HARRIS T.D…

Human Rights Activist Kieran Rose launches his campaign on improving affordable housing
Noel McGuinness speaks with human activist KIERAN ROSE about his campaign on improving the supply of affordable housing. Rose, a planner with more than 30 years’ experience, is standing for Seanad Éireann on the NUI panel. He has recently spoken out in national media, about attempts to silence when drawing attention to a major reduction…

National Potato day at Sonairte 2013
TREVOR SARGENT, former government minister of agriculture joins Noel McGuinness to discuss Potato day at Sonairte, Co. Meath. Trevor paints a picture of the importance of potatoes and the various types of potatoes in existence. They speak about Trevor’s novel, a handbook on growing food. All proceeds from the book are donated to SEED. Trevor…
The Real Cost Of Education In Ireland
JUNE TINSLEY from Barnardos speaks to John Healy about the real cost of education in Ireland. June talks about the average costs for parents with children returning to school according to a survey, how the introduction of book rental schemes could cut these costs, the issue of school books becoming out of date due to revised editions…

Save our Dunes campaign
MAIRE O’BRIEN from the Portmarnock Community Association makes an appeal to individuals and sports clubs not to use the dunes for sporting activities, as it is having an adverse effect on the dunes. By running up and down the dunes, people are breaking up the dunes and taking away the grasses. The sand then blows the…
Mother of Autistic Son Heading to Secondary School without SNA
John speaks to PAMELA MEATS who has an autistic son is about to attend secondary school and she feels that is a problem with special needs assistance. She discusses the process of appealing the refused application, the reasons why she feels the assistance is needed for her son and her frustrations about how the SNA description is constantly changing…
The effects of house re-possession in 2012
Ronnie O’Brien speaks to BOB JORDAN of national housing charity, “Threshold” about the effects of re-possession. Bob speaks of their work with people in the private rental sector, and problems with repossession in the Buy to Let market. Bob also speaks of the possibility of government intervention to solve the problem and also about a…
A New European Aid Fund for the Most Deprived.
EMER COSTELLO talks to Inaki Irigoen about the new fund for European Aid to the most deprived. They begin by explaining how the fund will enable NGOs to provide food and assistance to those most in need. Ireland will receive €3 million per year for the next seven years from the fund…
Poor Creche Care Concerns Working Parents
EMMA NOLAN, Organiser of the Maternity and Infant Awards joins Yvette Reid in studio to discuss recently released statistics that suggest some 80% of parents are concerned about the quality of care in creches. Emma says parents paying up to €1200 per month for creche care and many of them feel that too much time…
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…
Illegal Dumping Causing Problems For Finglas Residents
Sinn Fein councillor DESSIE ELLIS speaks to Yvette Reid about the problem of illegal dumping in the St. Margaret’s area of Finglas. Yvette speaks of her own experience of such problems and Dessie offers suggestions on some ways that the community may prevent such dumping. He says similar issues were addressed in the Dunsink Lane…
Guitar Festival of Ireland 2011
Noel interviews SIMON GROGAN, guitarist and co-organizer of the Guitar Festival of Ireland about the upcoming bands and various events in the National Concert Hall…

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…
