DARRAGH O’CONNOR, campaign coordinator with SIPTU, joins Pat Meehan to discuss the union’s lobbying of Minister Phil Hogan over plans to align development companies with local authorities. Darragh says SIPTU is concerned about potential job losses and loss of power for community groups if the plans become a reality. They also discuss Minster Joan Burton’s…
Live from the Origin Gallery
Barbara Jennings reports from the Origin Gallery where she speaks to NOELLE CAMPBELL SHARPE about the hotels exhibition tour taking place all around Dublin. Some of the city’s top hotels have great art collections which are being opened to the public. There are works by artists as diverse as Yeat and O’Connor to more contemporary…
Ossia Youth Choir
CARMEL WHELAN joins Noel McGuinness to talk about the Ossia Youth Choir. They begin by discussing the beginnings of the choir, which Carmel set up. With participants aged between 9 and 16 years of age there are on average thirty members of the choir at any one time. With no previous experience needed the choir…
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…

NCBI Friendship Garden Plays Pivotal Social & Employment Roles
Declan Meehan talks to SHARON LYONS of the National Council for the Blind in Ireland (NCBI) about the newly-launched Friendship Garden. The garden is designed to teach people who have become recently blind, or simply wish to learn new skills, how to grow flowers and vegetables. It also plays a pivotal social role for participants…

Dublin’s Top Dog Chosen the Doggie Do in Merrion Square
SIOBHAN O’DONOVAN, organiser of ‘Doggie Do’ talks to Noel McGuinness about the forthcoming event. The Doggie Do is an upcoming dog festival that will take place this September 12 in Merrion Square and it needs your help. Inspired by New York’s annual Tompkins Square Halloween Dog Parade, the festival’s organisers want dog lovers to bring…
The Extraordinary Experience of the Ballymun Lullaby
Music teacher RON COONEY has been working in the Republic of Ireland’s only high-rise housing estate for fifteen years. During this time he has seen the area undergo a dramatic transformation, including the demolition of six of its seven tower blocks. The young people of Ballymun have had an extraordinary experience, and Ron sets out…
Africa Week 2012
Minister for Trade & Development JOE COSTELLO joins Ronnie O’Brien to discuss Africa week 2012. Joe explains that a number of official events will be taking place over the weekend. Africa Week is celebrated across Ireland and is organised by both the local government and the local authorities. Joe explains how some of the events happening include a…
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…

Great Selection of Evening Courses at Killester College
GER WHELAN of Killester College joins Yvette Reid to talk about the evening courses which the college offers. From Computers and guitar lessons to jewellery making and a geneaology and family history course. Ger highlights the FETAC accredited courses that are available and the forthcoming Open Evening. http://killestercollege.ie…

Bram Stoker Festival
John speaks with RÓISE GOAN, D.C.C. Festival Director. She talks about the Bram Stoker Festival in celebration of the Clontarf born writer, the details of the festival during the day and night, some of the biggest events of the festival and the guests that will be present. She also talks about Stoker Land, a gothic…
Frances Black and the Rise Foundation
Well known singer FRANCES BLACK speaks to Noel McGuinness about her own recovery from addiction and the overwhelming response she has received from the public: “I was inundated with calls from family members, who wanted to know how to cope with someone they love who could possibly be in addiction. People would come up to…
Education fair
RONNIE O’ BRIEN speaks with CLIONA NI`LUAGHNDA, who is Education Programme manager with Ballymun /Whitehall Partnership. They talk about an education fair which is taking place on the 8/9/2011 in the Civic Centre in Ballymun. They talk about courses that are on offer, including ‘improving your spelling’ to ‘furniture restoration’ & lots more…
Dublin Flamenco Festival 2011
Noel interviews NATALIE MOYANO GONZALEZ, who explains the reasons behind organising the first Flamenco Festival in Ireland…
Cuts in Community Employments
Noel McGuinness interviews CIARAN MURRAY about the effect the cuts in Community Employment could have in the local community…
