John Healy interviews BERNARD GAFFNEY from Santry Shotokan Club and LEANNE ROYLE, Irelands First Shotokan World Champion. He explains the origin of Shotokan and how it’s arrived to Ireland. They have 16 Clubs in the Federation, most of them around Dublin and it’s getting bigger over the 12 years it has existed. Leanne explains the kata, which…
Dublin Toy Fair – RDS 2013: A Preview
PATRICK O’SULLIVAN, organiser of the forthcoming Christmas 2013 Toy Fair at the RDS, joins John Healy to discuss some of the event’s highlights. Patrick says all the top toy manufacturers will be represented but says that it’s about much more than just the toys. It will be a fun day out where visitors can take…
Dublin Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (DSPCA) Smithfield Horse Clampdown
Pat Meehan talks to MIRIAM KERINS of Dublin Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (DSPCA) about the clampdown on the horse markets in Smithfield. The problem as Miriam elaborates is that people are bringing unlicensed animals into the country and then selling them to children as markets like Smithfield. The DSPCA is clamping down…
Try Anything Twice With Grange Woodbine Drama Group
Following its sell-out night-night run in April in Chicago, William Rocke’s hilarious, laugh-a-line comedy ‘ Try Anything Twice!; is being directed by Phil Monaghan, who acted in its recent run for Grange Woodbine Drama Group in Raheny, and in the original 11 week run at at the Regency. Group Director THERESA CASHEN and author WILLIAM…
“The Importance of Being Earnest” As Contemporary Opera
FERGUS SHIEL, founder and artistic director of Wide Open Opera, joins Eoin Drinan to discuss their upcoming opera style production of “The Importance of being Ernest”. The Crash Ensemble are providing the music for this production. With a running time of 90 minutes, the play is quick, witty and very well paced. Director Ger Barry…
Sports with Fergus Carroll
Noel Mc Guinness speaks with Near Fm’s head of sports department FERGUS CARROLL about what’s happening in the sports world at home & abroad…
Astronomy Ireland discuss the Mars Probe and advertise an upcoming lecture
Noel McGuinness speaks to DAVID MOORE about an upcoming lecture on the Mars Probe. They begin by speaking about a recent “near miss” with an asteroid. They then speak of the Young Scientist exhibition campaign and it’s success in Ireland, including talking about how it seems many teenagers seem to lose interest in Science after…
Raheny Residents Find Lead in the Waterworks
A HOME ON the street where the the first Dublin Says No protest took place has the highest level of lead contamination of drinking water in Dublin. Local resident TONY MacHALE gives Noel McGuinness the background to the findings. Results of random testing showed that the house on Watermill Drive in Raheny had lead contamination…
Religion in schools creating faith formation
Ronnie O’Brien speaks to MICHAEL MORIARTY, the General secretary of the Irish Vocational Education Authority. They discuss an article which reports that 67% of parents want religious instruction for their children during the school day. Michael spoke of the pilot programme being run by the organisation, which involves faith formation…
Outside Broadcast in St. David’s BNS
In a special edition of Northside Today, Noel talks to the teachers and students of St. David BNS in Artane. Noel firstly speaks to DECLAN CAHILL who is the coordinator of the Bookworms Programme. He talks about the origins and objectives of the programme and his admiration for the staff to encourage students to read and how…

Launch of 1916 Cufflinks to Barack Obama for St. Patrick’s Day
John Healy is chatting with DECLAN KILLEN, Goldsmith and Jewellery designer makes his own collections of contemporary and Celtic jewellery. The 1916 themed Cufflinks were presented to Barack Obama for St. Patrick’s day. The design is available from the National Museum of Ireland…
Intercultural Project – Season #2
PAT GUERIN talks to GRACE WILENTZ, Intercultural Dialogue through Community Media Coordinator at Near Media Co-op, about the upcoming start of the second round of the Intercultural Project as well as updates about the production and broadcasting of new programmes on storytelling…
Explaining the Value and Need For Community Media
MARY LENNON, manager of Athlone Community Radio and chairperson of CRAOL chats to Noel McGuinness. Athlone Community Radio was formed in 2006 as a steering group comprised of individuals from a number of community organisations who saw that a community radio station would serve the interests of their clients and the general public of Athlone…
Volunteer Of The Year
John speaks to NINA ARWITZ from Volunteer Ireland and MATT CULLEN who recently won the Volunteer Of The Year award. Nina talks about the background of Volunteer Ireland, the hard work that is put in volunteers, how thanking the volunteers for their hard work makes it worthwhile to be involved, the wide range and diversity…
‘Neither Either’ Dance and music show comes to Project Arts Centre
Noel talks to dancer PHILIP CONNAUGHTON of the Liz Roche company about the forthcoming production of Neither Either – a blend of poetry, dance, and music. The show has toured all over Ireland and its arrival in Dublin is much anticipated…
