The Presidency of the Council of the European Union is responsible for the functioning of the Council of the European Union, the upper house of the EU legislature. It rotates among the member states of the EU every six months. The presidency is not an individual, but rather the position is held by a national…
Short Operas in Public Places in Dublin
Noel speaks to FERGUS SHEIL, a conductor involved in a series of short operas in public places in Dublin called “Things We Throw Away”. He speaks about how it is the first of its kind in Ireland, how the RTE concert orchestra recorded soundtracks specially for the public operas, how the writers of the operas…
Funding the Big Brother Big Sister scheme
Mary Lynch of the Big Brother- Big sister scheme joins Ger Leddin to discuss the fact that without state funding they will need to significantly cut back their services. They suggest that without the funding 2500 people will lose those mentoring friendships. Mary explains what exactly the idea of the scheme is matching complimentary personalities…
Charter for Fair Conditions at Work & Building Plans for Oscar Traynor Road
John speaks to ALISON GILLILAND about the charter for fair conditions at work and the building plans for the Oscar Traynor Road. She talks about her background with Labour and the Dublin City Council, the work being up in nowadays by trade unions, the key principals to the charter, the value for both the employees…
Art on Dublin City Council Utility Boxes in Fairview
Pat speaks to ANNE & MARION who are involved in painting art on Dublin City Council utility boxes in Fairview. They talk about what they painted on the boxes, the stories behind some of the paintings, their involvement in their local art group in Marino, the enjoyment they got from the project, the time put into…
Active Retirement Art Exhibition
Mark speaks with PAT BYRNE, a member of the Raheny Branch of Active Retirement Ireland talks about an art exhibition on display in Raheny Library. She talks about how they meet once every week to paint and how the exhibition takes place on the free premises of the library, where the proceeds for the exhibitions go, the…
Dublin Fire Brigade Protest
Near FM volunteer STELLA GEBAUER reports from the protests that took place the 9th of April to defend the work of the Dublin Fire Brigade. The workers are worried that the ambulance service could be taken from them and given to the National Ambulance Service; all the firefighters in Dublin are trained as paramedics and they defend…
Community Fun Day at Darndale Park
TARA BLAYDS and JOHN BAKER from Sphere 17 talk to Noel about a great community day out in Darndale in which the hundreds of people attending didn’t let the poor weather spoil the fun and games…
Santry Art group exhibition at the Northside Civic Centre
JUAN O’PEREZ and NOREEN DELANEY joins Noel McGuinness to speak about the Art Exhibition created by the Art Group in the Resource Centre in Santry and showing at the Northside Civic Centre. Juan, who is the mentor for the group, speaks of the interesting idea of working as a group compared to painting alone. He…
An Overview Of The Irish Coastline
MICHAEL WALSH is the Regional Coordinator for North Dublin for Coastwatch Ireland. He tells Pat Meehan that Coastwatch aims for informed public participation in environmental protection and management, especially in the coastal zone. He says that the Coastwatch annual survey is now used in 23 European countries. The survey is designed to give an overview…
the Lord Mayor speaks
Lord Mayor CHRISTY BURKE talks to Noel McGuinnesss about his work. The subjects of homelessness, volunteering, grafitti, and funding are all covered. CHRISTY also speaks out about the need to put an elected mayoral position in place. A mayor with access to funding and the power to push projects forward independent of political parties is…
Twelve Points Jazz festival, Dublin 2013
AOIFE CONCANNON speaks to Barbara Jennings about the “Twelve points” jazz festival taking place in the Project Arts centre. Aoife explains the format of the festival and shares information on some of the artists performing…
Near FM’s Intercultural Project Reaches Out To The World
GRACE WILENTZ comes in to the studio to talk to Noel McGuinness about the latest group of students that has signed up with Near FM’s Intercultural Project. The students come from all over the world, from India to Canada, From Romania to Suriname. The students learn about radio production and presentation, as well sharing their…
Lir Perform a Nick Drake Tribute in Aid of Aware
Local singer songwriter and member of the band Lir DAVID McGUINNESS talks to Noel McGuinness about the forthcoming Nick Drake Tribute concert in aid of Aware Ireland. David says that Nick Drake, who died tragically young forty years ago, was a huge influence on many modern singer songwriters. His lyrics cover the whole gamut of…
EPIC Work With Children In Care
JENNIFER GARGAN of EPIC (Empowering People In Care) talks to John Healy about the work being done by EPIC in north Dublin. EPIC is an independent association that works throughout the Republic of Ireland, with and for children and young people who are currently living in care or who have had an experience of living…
