School of Cosmic Physics at Dunsink Observatory

SENIOR PROFESSOR LUKE DRURY, HEAD OF ASTROPHYSICS AND ASTRONOMY SECTION, talks to Mark Finnegan about National Science Week and the international significance of Dunsink in terms of research into outer space. It is rocket science! The Irish Astronomy Trail, taking in Cork, Galway and Newgrange is also discussed. Over 4,000 people a year visit Dunsink…

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Howth Coast Guard report

PAUL COOPER, Deputy Officer with the Howth Coast Guard, warns against people lighting Chinese lanterns, as they are being mistaken for distress flares. Paul asks members of the public to call the Coast Guard if they are about to light Chinese lanterns. Presenter Pat Meehan also asks Paul about the Coast Guard units in Ireland. Paul…

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Great Aunt Does A Great Channel Swim For A Great Charity

SHEILA FLEMING talks to Conor Doyle about MAURA TWOMEY’s great swimming achievement. Maura, a brave great-aunt, swam the English Channel to raise funds for her grandnephew who suffers from cystic fibrosis. Maura Twomey was 59 when she took on the epic challenge for the CF children’s unit at Cork University Hospital between July 9 and…

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Pensioners Receive Pension Tax Bills by Post

MAIREAD HAYES of the Senior Citizens’ parliament discusses the taxing of state pensions with NOEL McGuinness. Under new rules under Section 261, the Department of Social Protection has started taxing State Pensions regardless of the marital status or health status of those in receipt of the pensions. In some cases the sums are as low…

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Grace O’Malley Brings The Music To Near FM

Local singer GRACE O’MALLEY comes into the Near FM studios (along with back up from Jimmy Sheerin and John Colbert) and plays a few tunes for Noel McGuinness. Grace tells Noel about her career has gone so far and where she gets her inspirations from. Three songs are performed live in studio: ‘Time Is Right…

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Introduction of “Free Wifi hotspots” in Dublin city centre

ANDREW SMYTH joins Pat Meehan to discuss “Free Wifi” spots being introduced to the main shopping thoroughfares in Dublin city centre and the positive implications of this. They talk of how sustainable keeping the hotspots as a “free service” might be and also discuss the benefits to wifi providers,through advertisement etc, being used to create…

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The work of Spunout.ie in educating about Online Bullying

IAN POWER joins Ronnie O’Brien to discuss Online Bullying. He begins by sharing details of the website “Spun-out.ie” and the primary care health service which they provide online. They speak of some of the shortfalls of popular online websites in terms of reporting inappropriate posts or posts of a serious nature using a “three click…

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On Bolus Head: talking to the illustrator

BRIAN GORMLEY, artist joins Barbara Jennings to discuss a book he has been involved in which looks at the culture of Ireland and focuses on County Kerry. The book is called “On Bolus HEad” and is written with Michael Carter. Brian tells of how the literary tradition is so very alive in Ireland and talks…

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Irish Records Fair

Noel speaks to BRIAN O’KELLY about the Irish Records Fair taking place in Smithfield, Dublin. He talks about the resurgence of vinyl records, the accessibility of vinyl record players nowadays, how this fair will be the biggest of its kind that they will put together, the price range of different records and the different types…

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Phoenix Park Celebrates 350th Birthday

MAURICE CLEARY, Service Manager at the Phoenix Park, talks to Noel McGuinness about the planned celebrations for this year’s 350th anniversary of the Phoenix Park’s establishment. The park was created by the Duke of Ormond in 1662 as a hunting ground for the aristocratic classes. King Charles II hunted here. There are now 500 fallow…

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2012: Another Year at Near – News Round-Up

Near Media Co-Op is a not-for-profit community media project. The project consists of Near FM and Near TV and works in platforms as diverse as computer training, drama production, assisting unsigned musicians and educational programming. Near FM broadcasts 24 hours a day over 365 days per year. We operate an open access policy and run…

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