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…
Love & War @ Bewley’s Cafe Theatre
Director MICHAEL JAMES FORD talks to Pat Meehan about the play ‘Love & War’ at Bewley’s Cafe Lunchtime Theatre. The play is 45 minutes long and is based on the love letters sent by an English artillery officer based in Flanders during WW1 and his sweetheart, an Athlone girl whom he met whilst doing his…
What is the Washington Ireland Programme?
RAY MORAN, Student and member of the Washington Ireland Programme speaks to Eoin Drinan and explains the purpose of the programme. Having applied for it in his final year in college, he shares with listeners that his interest was sparked by “having a passion for something and doing something about proactively changing things” – a…

Bealtaine Fest’s 20th Birthday Celebrations
MICHAEL FOLEY, Head of Evaluation & Public Affairs, Age & Opportunity talks to Noel McGuinness about this year’s Bealtaine Festival events on Dublin’s north side. An estimated 120,000 people now take part in the Bealtaine festival, making it one of Ireland’s biggest arts festivals. From dance to cinema, painting to theatre, Bealtaine showcases the talents…
New shows and projects at Near FM
Noel McGuinness interviews DAVE O’CONNOR from Near Media Co-op about the new shows coming up at Near FM and the different projects both Near Fm and Near TV are taking part in at the moment…

Bohemians Doing Great Charity Work In The Community
Bohemians FC PR manager THOMAS HYNES talks to Noel McGuinness about the club’s charity projects. These include a St Vincent de Paul Christmas appeal, and coaching prisoners in Dublin Prisons…
“Dublin You Are” Poem & Dublin Capital of Culture 2020 Campaign
Mark speaks to ISEULT BYRNE, deputy director of Dublin 2020 about the “Dublin You Are” poem and the Dublin Capital of Culture 2020 campaign. She talks about the idea behind the poem, the honesty of the poem, what the capital of culture campaign entails and the scale of what’s to be planned. She also talks…
The Howth, Sutton and Baldoyle chamber of commerce
PAUL BRADY, president of the Howth Sutton Baldoyle chamber of commerce, speaks to Barbara Jennings about the ongoing work in the area. They begin by discussing the walking trails around Howth. They discuss the beauty of the area and how the walking trails are a safe place to visit. They move on to discuss the…
Aramu Muru exhibition at the Graphic Studio Gallery
Barbara interviews swedish graphic artist LARS WIKSTROM about his latest exhibition at the Graphic Studio Gallery, called “Aramu Muru”. They are 18 woodcuts inspired by Aramu Muru in Haya Marca, near Lake Titicaca in Peru; it reflects the Inca culture and the spiritual world attached to it…
Children’s Minecraft Convention in Baldoyle
Pat speaks to HEIDI BODELL from the Baldoyle Forum about the Children’s Minecraft Convention in Baldoyle, Dublin 13. She talks about the idea behind the convention, the hooks they managed to get for the convention, the type of video game that Minecraft is like, the similarities of Minecraft to Lego, the details of the convention…
Oral History project on the Magdalene Laundries
SINEAD PEMBROKE speaks to Ronnie O’Brien who is seeking interviewees for a history project based on the Irish Magdalene Laundries. Sinead speaks a little about the known history of the Laundries and the ladies who became involved with them over the course of their lifetime. She then explains both the purpose of the project and…
A Visit To Bloom 2015 Blows The Cobwebs Away
PAT MEEHAN takes a trip round the Bloom 2015 Festival site interviewing exhibitors and visitors. Bloom in the Park is not only one of Ireland’s biggest annual tourist attractions, it is also one of the leading horticulture and food festivals which takes place each year over the June Bank Holiday. Bloom, which is organised by…
Irish National Teachers’ Organisation Protests Larger Class Sizes
INAKI IRIGOEN presents a series of recordings from the INTO protest covering proposed increases in class sizes. First we hear a round up of class size statistics from around Europe with Ireland having the second highest rate. Parent Shane Kelly steps up to give an account of his child’s experience at school in Termonfeckin. He…
INMO Support Call For Industrial Action at Beaumont
LORRAINE MONAGHAN, Industrial Relations Officer of the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation, talks to Mark Finnegan about industrial action being taken at Beaumont Hospital. The action is being taken by INMO members in an attempt to end severe and unsafe overcrowding within the Emergency Department. INMO members have been left with no other choice but…
Dublin Innovation Festival
RONNIE O’ BRIEN speaks to MICHAEL STUBBS from about Dublin Innovation Festival, which will take place all over Dublin for four weeks this year…