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…

Active Parents service
ODREN REID talks about the closure of the Active Parents service in Finglas. The service is facing major funding cuts. He tells Pat Meehan about what the service provides for parents, including teaching young adults parenting skills, linking back into families, a drug and alcohol awareness programme and various activities for service users. Child charity…
Bram Stoker historical walk and museum
Local historian DENIS MCINTYRE joins Pat Meehan in the Near FM studios to discuss the upcoming Bram Stoker historical walk, St Stephens Day 2012. The walk concludes in the Bram Stoker museum in Clontarf where there will be a discussion on the book of Dracula focusing on the links between the story and the area of Clontarf. They…
Mink Fur Farming in Ireland
JOHN CARMODY speaks to Ronnie O’Brien about the Animal Rights Network and footage taken from a mink farm in Ireland. John talks about conditions seen in the video and the negligence which the animals are experiencing. They discuss how the Animal Rights Network is lobbying government to prevent fur farming. John says up to 200,000 mink and a…
Exhibition about the 1913 Lockout
Noel McGuinness interviews EOGHAN O’NEILL from R.A.D.E. (Recovery through Art, Drama and Education) about the Exhibition on the 1913 Lockout at Axis…
The YAP Programme: Mentoring for Youths
JOHNNY MEEHA and JENNY NULTY speak to John Healy about the YAP programme, a young programme in Dublin. They talk about the amount of families that the YAP programme works, their work with youths who suffer from mental health, the issue of cyber bullying and how it can be addressed, the positive reports that have…

Donnycarney Tradfest 2013
AIDAN O’TOOLE joins Noel McGuinness to discuss the Donnycarney Tradfest and what it aims to be. Aidan explains how the initiative came about through a committee and Aodhan O Riodhans suggestions. With the area having historical roots in the tradition of Irish music with many notable players the idea grew legs and became a festival…
Sean FM O’Donoghue: Writer, poet and playwright
SEAN FM O’DONOGHUE, playwright and poet joins John Healy to speak about his life and work. He begins by telling how he became a diver and has had a multitude of jobs throughout his life. He speaks of being an actor, producer and director. He speaks of a large fire that he witnessed and the…
Malahide Castle and Model Railway
MICHAEL GILL from Malahide Community Forum speaks to John Healy about the refurbishment and re-opening of Malahide Castle. They talk about what it has to offer and also discuss the relocation of the well known Fry’s model Railway, which had recently moved to a temporary location within Malahide. Michael tells us how Avoca are opening a shop…
Peter Toohey, Author On His Book “Boredom: A Lively History”
Author PETER TOOHEY speaks to Eoin Drinan about exploring boredom in his new book “Boredom: A Lively History”. They talk of the difference between simple boredom and an existential boredom, his work as a classics lecturer which inspired his interest in the subject, literary reference to boredom in Russian novels, the idea of religion and art…
Winning the Local Legend Award for the Dublin area
Noel McGuinness interviews ORLA CROWE, Co-founder of Blossom Ireland, who won the Local Legend Award for the Dublin area, and she explains the work they do at Blossom Ireland and about the importance of the award for her…
“The Bruising of the Clouds”: Theatre at the Axis Centre, Ballymun
RYAN ANDREWS, cast member of the play “The Bruising of Clouds”, speaks to Noel McGuinness about the production which is being performed at the Axis Theatre in Ballymun. Ryan gives a synopsis of the play itself and speaks of being very happy to be performing it in a local theatre. Ryan talks about the differences…

Tir na nÓg Caife Opening
John speaks to TONY HEGARTY, a local entrepreneur opening Tir na nÓg Caife in the Northside Civic Centre, Coolock. He talks about the opening taking place, how it can be a huge benefit to the community, the reason for the cafe’s name, the other operations that have moved on in locations like St. Anne’s Park and…
Easter Rising Emergency Services Logbook on Public Display
Dublin City Archivist Dr MARY CLARKE, based at the Archive Library on Pearse Street, tells Pat Meehan about an exciting new artifact that has been discovered – with great timing – in time to be exhibited at the library’s 2016 Easter Rising commemorative exhibition. The artifact is the Ambulance & Fire Services Daily Log Book…
New path proposal between Malahide Castle and Newbridge House
Noel McGuinness interviews Counselor ANTHONY LAVIN (Fine Gael) from the Fingal County Council. Noel and Counselor Lavin are talking about the proposal to build a path linking Malahide Castle and Newbridge House. They were hosting a public consultation in Malahide Library, so everyone could have a look at the proposal…
