Noel Mc Guinness speaks to EMMA CONNORS about lift youth arts festival which are celebrating their 10th year anniversary. They will kick off with workshops & events in the Axis in Ballymun which will include rap, drama workshops, & showcases…
Special needs assistants cut backs
PAT MEEHAN speaks with PAMELA MEATES who is a parent of a special needs child in Holy trinity school in Donaghmeade. They are talking about losing a special needs assistant due to cut backs…
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…
“Under My Bed” Show in Aid of Barnardos
AMY DAWSON speaks to John Healy about the “Under my bed” project. Over the past year they asked well known celebrities to write short stories set in their childhood bedrooms. Using this material they created a series of short plays, songs and stories for the stage. All funds raised go to Barnardos. Amongst the contributors…
Live Cricket match: Ireland – Scotland
FERGUS CARROLL reports live from Scotland the cricket match between Ireland and Scotland (Part of the emission)…
The Frank O’Farrell Memorial Cricket Cup 2013 – a preview
LOUISE O’FARRELL is the organizer of the Frank O’Farrell Memorial “Cricket for Cancer” cup that inaugurated in 2011. She talks to John Healy about the upcoming event held in aid of St. Francis Hospice in Blanchardstown, Dublin. In 2013 it takes place on the 6th of July in the Civil Service Cricket grounds at Phoenix Park. We hear…
Financial Cutbacks to Traveller Education
HILLARY HARMEN from Pavee Point speaks to Ronnie O’Brien about cutbacks to traveller education. They discuss how there had been improvements to facilities for Travellers in education, however this has changed coming into 2013. They discuss some details of reports carried out. They talk of cuts to outreach services and also speak to travellers attending…
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…
Sounds Good Summer Camp 2011
MICHAEL DAWSON came into the studios of Near FM with some kids to talk to NOEL MCGUINNESS about the experience in the Summer camp organised by Sound Good School of Music…
National Academy of Dramatic Art at the Lir Theatre, Dublin
RACHEL O’BYRNE of the Lir Theatre speaks to Noel McGuinness about the theatre’s graduate programme and their new production of “Mary Stewart” – a very modern adaptation of an old play, covering the last few days of the Queen of Scots at the Lir Theatre until December 4. Rachel tells Noel about the history of…
“Where the streets have two names” book
Barbara Jennings interviews PATRICK BROCKLEBANK photographer and author of the book “Where the streets have two names”. This book is documenting U2’s early days, as well as the rise of other groups who were part of Dublin’s music scene at that time, such as: the Virgin Prunes, The Blades, The Black Catholics, The Undertones and The Buzzcocks…
Should slapping children be made illegal in Ireland?
Doctor ANNE MARIE HALPENNY of DIT’s Early Childhood education programme, joins Ger Leddin to discuss a recent call on the government, made by the Children Rights Alliance, to ban violence against children within the home, aimed at discouraging slapping or physical punishment in the disciplining of children in the home. Anne Marie speaks of a…

Communiversities Programme in Coolock Library
John speaks to PAUL HAYES from the Northside Partnership about the Communiversities Programme in Coolock Library. He talks about his role in the Northside Partnership, the locations in Ireland where the programme is taking place, the details and the idea of the programme, the various courses available as part of the programme and the requirements…
Debra Ireland operates Charity shop on Camden Street, Dublin
Barbara Jennings joins Carmel to discuss Debra Ireland in their charity shop on Camden street and the work that it does. Carmel explains the skin condition and the hardships associated with it. They talk of the slogan “Imagine a world without hugs” and tell how it is inspired by the fact that many people dealing…
Discussing the impact of growing class numbers at Primary school level
CATHERINE JOYCE of Barnardos speaks to Yvette Reid about the rising number of students per class at primary level combined with the lowering number of Special Needs assistant positions available at the time. Catherine tells of how while in some schools this is not currently a problem there are many schools were the numbers have…
