Noel speaks to MARY LOUISE O’DONNELL, harpist, researcher and author where she talks about her book on the harp and its place in the shape of Irish identity. She talks about the history of the harp with its possibilities of originating from Africa or Middle East, how Ireland made the harp its own and produced…
NYPD Green Author Comes Home to Roost
Retired policeman LUKE GREEN talks to Noel McGuinness about his memoir of service in the New York Police Department ‘NYPD Green’. In this gritty, sometimes hilarious, but always brutally honest memoir, Irish immigrant and retired NYPD homicide detective Luke Waters shares the darker and harder side of the police force that “will make you sit…
Drama Power in Dollymount, Dublin
NESSA POWER speaks to Pat Meehan about her drama group “Drama Power”. They talk of what the group does, when classes take place and the cost of attendance. They also speak of the self benefits of taking part in Drama and the impact it can have on your overall life. They talk of the gender…
Bohemians’ ‘Walking Football’ Makes Getting Fit A Social Activity For Over 50s
CHRIS BRYAN of Bohemians’ Foundation talks to Mark Finnegan about Walking Football. The Bohemian Foundation is starting a new walking football initiative in Ballymun. If successful, it will be extended to other areas of Dublin. The aim of the project is to encourage people over the age of 50 to get active. There are big…

Story Telling Steam Train Journey
Pat Meehan speaks to PAULA WISEMAN & MARK FINNEGAN who are on a steam train from Connolly station, an event which is being run by Fingal county council libraries,the railway preservation society of Ireland, Irish rail & children’s books of Ireland. The event is called “Once upon a place on the Fingal express”. Three hundred…

Communiversities Programme in Coolock Library
John speaks to PAUL HAYES from the Northside Partnership about the Communiversities Programme in Coolock Library. He talks about his role in the Northside Partnership, the locations in Ireland where the programme is taking place, the details and the idea of the programme, the various courses available as part of the programme and the requirements…

Kilbarrack Coast Community Programme
Pat Mehan talks with DECLAN BYRNE about cuts to the Kilbarrack Coast Community Programme…
“Higgstruments” performance at Hugh Lane using recycled instruments
GEORGE HIGGS, Composer, speaks to Noel McGuinness about the process of creating sounds and music using “Lost and Found” objects. They begin by speaking of a concert taking place at the Hugh Lane where George will perform his music using these “Found” objects, such as bicycle pumps, pipes and many vibrating instruments. Some of the…
Turning Kilbarrack DART into a ‘Ghost Station’
Wheelchair user BRENDAN CREAN talks to Noel McGuinness about the protests against the Iarnród Éireann/Irish Rail plan to remove staff from Kilbarrack train station. Brian believes it could bring big problems for disabled DART users. Sinn Féin Councillor Mícheál Mac Donncha has called on Iarnród Éireann/Irish Rail to reverse its decision to remove staff from…
Katie Taylor Brings Olympic Gold to Dublin
Noel McGuinness talks to Head of Near FM’s sports department, FERGUS CARROLL after Katie Taylor winning her Olympic Gold. Two weeks after the event, Bray is still covered in posters and flags celebrating Taylor’s victory. She is no stranger to the Northside, having taken part in Colaiste Dulaigh’s ‘Skipathon’ event the previous year. The boys…
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…

North channel swim from Ireland to Scotland
FERGAL SOMERVILLE joins Noel McGuinness in studio to discuss his successful swim of the North Channel from Co.Down to Scotland. Fergal begins by sharing information of the various causes he has donated to as part of charity swims. On 16th of June he swam the channel and talks about being successful in only getting stung…
Car boot sale at the Artane Market
CATHERINE O’CONNER speaks to John Healy. At the time she is trying to revamp the Artane Market, based opposite Artane Castle shopping centre. They discuss how people can clear out their bric-a-brac and bring it to the upcoming car boot sale to earn a few euro and get to know the local traders. It is…
Intercultural Media Project Update
RONNIE O’BRIEN talks to GRACE WILENTZ, Coordinator of Near FM’s Intercultural Dialogue through Community Media initiative, and EOIN DRINAN on updates on the second round of the Intercultural Media Projects and the issue of migrants and the media. The Intercultural Dialogue through Community Media project is co-financed by the European Commission under the European Integration Fund…

3 Person Exhibition Fragments, Metaphors, Smithereens representing aspects of Irish History
Barbara Jennings is talking to GERALDINE O’REILLY from the Graphic Studio Gallery about the 3 Person Exhibition Fragments, Metaphors, Smithereens explores a number of aspects of Irish History. The Easter Rising of 1916 in the work of Merijean Morrissey. References to the history of the Irish College, Centre Cultural Irlandais in the work of Geraldine…
