A series of plays by women playwrights.

Made with the support of the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland with the Television licence Fee.

New Drama Hour - Series 2

New Drama Hour - Series 4

Jammie Dodgers by Ciara Gillan is a workplace comedy set in Berlin about a group of office temps from various countries (Ireland, France, Germany, Australia, the U.S.) who are determined to do as little work as possible, outsmart their manipulative boss, delay adult responsibility and not sleep with each other. They fail on all counts. Jammie Dodgers is a show that explores that time in your early twenties when, despite your best efforts, you start becoming an adult and making the choices that will determine your future.

Directed by Anna Nugent

Made with the support of the Coimisiún na Meán’s Sound and Vision scheme through the Television License Fee.

Jammie Dodgers

New Drama Hour Series 5

New Drama Hour - Series 1

Paddy Goes to Petra is written by Aine Ryan and directed by Anna Nugent. The play is the latest in Near FM’s New Drama Hour series of plays by women playwrights. The play follows the story of middle aged farmer Paddy who, dealing with profound grief following the unexpected loss of a loved one, decides to travel to the ancient city of Petra hoping to escape the heartache which consumes his life. Directed by Anna Nugent

Cast – Abdul Alshareef as Farajh, Imad, Morris, Farmer; Tim Casey as Paddy; Gina Costigan as Air Hostess, Attendant 2; Jessie Doyle as Ryanair Hostess, Attendant 4, Bereavement Counselor; Mo O’Connell as Joanna, Attendant 1; Eoin O’Sullivan as John Beag, Tom Murray, Dermot; Paul Nugent as Jack, Cillian, Radu, Captain and Fiana Toibin as Eilis.

Made with the support of the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland with the Television licence Fee.

Paddy Goes to Petra – Part 1

Series ‘Europe on Air’, Programme 1: Commercial & Community Media in Ireland and the EU.

Ciarán Murray, Near media coop coordinator speaking to Frank Connolly
Journalist / SIPTU, William Hederman freelance journalist and editor at The Irish Times (missing in picture) and Sally Galina Nearfm coordinator and president of AMARC Europe (World Association of Community Radio
Broadcasters)

Europe on Air is on every Thursday from 4.30-5pm

Europe on Air – Programme 1: Commercial & Community Media in Ireland and the EU

The second part of Feminist Heart traces the campaign to legalize contraception in Ireland in the 1970′s and we look at the key role the Irish Women’s Liberation Movement played in that campaign.

We remember the famous Contraception Train that left from Connolly to Belfast in May 1971, with women purchasing contraceptives and returning to Dublin to protest and challenge the law banning their importation at the time. Local woman Colette O’Neill, who traveled on the train, recalls the events of that day and her personal story that inspired her to take part.

We also talk to Trade Unionist Anne Speed and look at the development of  a socialist feminist movement in the late 70′s.  We see how their campaign to bring contraception to the working class communities of Dublin met with opposition from the local priests but eventually led to the repeal of the ban in the late 70′s.

Contributors: Mairin De Burca, Colette O’Neill, Anne Speed, Peig Connolly, Angela McLoughlin.

The Feminist Heart documentary series is produced by Debbie Hutchinson and is supported by the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland Sound & Vision fund.

Feminist Heart Programme 2

Near Drama Company present, Denis Byrne’s radio play,
"A Woman, A Dog & A Walnut Tree" a radio play performed LIVE on Near FM on the 15th of October 2014.

The play is set in the cooking area of a Refuge Centre for married women who have suffered at the hands of violent spouses. It is the present and past stories of three women from different backgrounds.

Marge, the oldest, has little or no education, and has sought asylum in the Centre together with her three children, who are referred to during the play, as she ferries food to them offstage. She is a feisty individual with a typical Dublin accent. Thelma is a doctor’s wife, well educated, and eventually having been driven to violence herself after years of enduring her husband’s jealous rages which inevitably led to physical violence on many occasions. But was what she carried out spontaneous, or had she deliberately provoked her spouse on the night she did the deed?

Amanda has sought refuge in the Centre after accidently discovering her controlling and violent husband had been sexually abusing her eight-year-old daughter since she was six while she was out of the house. He has never penetrated the child, but made her do things which no child should ever have to endure. Without proof, Amanda cannot have him charged. He discovers where she is and threatens in a letter that he is taking the matter to court to regain custody of his daughter. Amanda, against all advice, decides to go and plead with him not to go through with it. But he merely laughs and sneers at her, telling her that because of her past mental history, he’ll have no problem winning custody. Then he beats her up and throws her out.

What follows when Amanda returns to the Centre leads to a tragic conclusion after she’s come to her final decision to protect her daughter.

The play is followed up by a panel discussion on the topic of domestic abuse, with a number of experts.

Sound supervision:  Gavin Byrne
Broadcasting assistant: Deborah Gaffney
Announcer: Carol Dempsey
Narrator: Niamh Murphy
Producer…. Declan Cahill
Facilitator …. Debbie McMahon

Marge …..  Francis Keogh
Joe……….. Joe Murphy
Thelma….. Ann Loughney
Michael….. Peter Prior
Amanda…. Mary McNamara
Paul……….. Michael Sharp

'A Woman, a Dog & a Walnut Tree' + Panel Discussion on Domestic Abuse

Audio Dramedy  series “Rivitin’ History” by Pat Meehan returns to Near FM.

Henri DuFornicate has disappeared, and TCP Crawley’ s new theatre venture keeps him occupied. With the Incredible String Bandits unavailable and DuDornicate missing, Marion Monroe has to act alone in her ques​t to track the rogue professor down. Until she receives an urgent phone call. Meanwhile, TCP’s group receives an invitation to perform at Halloween on the magical Hill of Uisneach. A time when the portal briefly opens to the Netherworld. Marion’s disquiet grows on hearing this news.

Directed by Declan Cahill. 

Cast

Marion – Mary McNamara

Luain – Carol Dempsey

TCP – Tom Blake

Chill – Ian Shipley

Iris – Mary Neylon

TCP’s mother – Niamh Murphy

Henri – Michael Sharp

Dzebra – Declan Cahill

Paidi- Ian Shipley

Petra – Rebecca Blomfield

Cuchulainn – Mary Neylon

Announcer – Rebecca Blomfield

Garda – Michael Sharp

Dinah – Carol Dempsey

Duck de Bullets – Declan Cahill

Made with the support of the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland Sound and Vision scheme.

Rivitin’ History episode 9

Audio Dramedy  series “Rivitin’ History” by Pat Meehan returns to Near FM.

On receiving information from Luain O Leary, Marion and TCP make their way to Rush, County Dublin, where they’re duped into entering a derelict Martello tower, and barely escape with their lives. Later, TCP tells Marion of the strange cries and chants he hears at night coming from the basement of his home, and when his mother says that she gave the key to ‘’Harry’’ the ratcatcher, he and Marion freeze in horror. The performance on the Hill of Uisneach predictably ends in mayhem.

Directed by Declan Cahill. 

Cast

Marion – Mary McNamara

Luain – Carol Dempsey

TCP – Tom Blake

Chill – Ian Shipley

Iris – Mary Neylon

TCP’s mother – Niamh Murphy

Henri – Michael Sharp

Dzebra – Declan Cahill

Paidi- Ian Shipley

Petra – Rebecca Blomfield

Cuchulainn – Mary Neylon

Announcer – Rebecca Blomfield

Garda – Michael Sharp

Dinah – Carol Dempsey

Duck de Bullets – Declan Cahill

Made with the support of the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland Sound and Vision scheme.

Rivitin’ History episode 10

Jammie Dodgers by Ciara Gillan is a workplace comedy set in Berlin about a group of office temps from various countries (Ireland, France, Germany, Australia, the U.S.) who are determined to do as little work as possible, outsmart their manipulative boss, delay adult responsibility and not sleep with each other. They fail on all counts. Jammie Dodgers is a show that explores that time in your early twenties when, despite your best efforts, you start becoming an adult and making the choices that will determine your future.

Directed by Anna Nugent

Cast

Hannah O’Brien as Zoe
Jessica Okakpu as Yasmine
Mike Walsh as Luke
Paul Nugent as Mike
Gbolahan ‘Salamay’ Salami as Ned
Seán Mc Manus as Peter and George
Tim Casey as Ivor

Made with the support of the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland with the Television License Fee.

Jammie Dodgers Episode 1

Near FM presents new audio drama ‘Heartburn’, written by Caitlin Magnall-Kearns; directed by Anna Nugent.

Heartburn is a modern take on the rom-com that looks at fatness and friendship. Set over one night in Belfast it follows Chris, a writer, and Lou, a “dinner-lady man” by day and pint puller at night. The two met at university and quickly became friends with benefits. Chris moved back to Belfast, and now, two years later, Lou turns up on her doorstep on New Years Eve with a bottle of prosecco and some questions that need to be answered. Over the night the two reminisce, drink, laugh, eat and try to reckon with their relationship. Can they be mates, should they get together, or should they just call it a day?

Blathnaid McCahilly as Chris

Colm McCready as Lou

Please be advised that the programme contains strong language and sexual content.

Heartburn

Mairead (50s) is thinking of applying for promotion whenever her manager Helen retires. She asks for Helen’s opinion on the matter, confiding in her boss that she’s autistic. Mairead is taken aback when Helen calls her ‘brave’ and ponders why disclosing her neurology should be seen that way.

Through Mairead’s story, our author Maura Campbell explores “why it might be seen as ‘brave’ to apply a word that’s generally represented as something very different in popular culture – usually a young, white guy with savant skills. Autism often looks very different in women and girls, which is why historically we’ve flown under the radar. A lost generation of autistic women are only now discovering their true selves, either because they’ve reached a crisis point in their lives or, like me, their kids have been through the assessment process. Autism tends to be viewed solely as a list of deficits to be ‘treated’, or even as an ‘illness’ to be ‘cured’. Ableist attitudes and the stigmatisation of disability cause people to think it odd that you wouldn’t just want to keep your head down and continue trying to blend in (no matter the cost to your mental health). The story also highlights how there could be real-life consequences as a result of being openly autistic. People do see you differently. It could affect your career progression or mean your opinions are taken less seriously when you speak up at that important meeting. Many autistics choose not to disclose, or in some cases decide not to seek professional identification at all, for this reason. Although the story seeks to make a serious point, it does so with splashes of comedy since the autism myth I most want to smash is the one about us being humourless automatons! We also get a flavour of the little routines and rituals that get Mairead through the day. And there’s a cat.’

Written by Maura Campbell

Mairead played by Mary McNamara

Directed by Declan Cahill

Sound recording and design by Neil Farrelly

Script consultancy by Clare Monnelly

Made with the support of the Coimisiún na Meán’s Sound and Vision scheme through the Television License Fee. The author wishes to thank Hot Coals Productions for their development support.

Brave

‘Togetherness’ tells the story of the narcissistic Dervla who on her agony aunt style podcast ‘Wagon Wheel’ with her long suffering co-host Fidelma recounts the onesided story of a recent breakup with girlfriend Megan while a confused call in listener tries to make sense of the meandering tale.

Written and Directed by Jonathan Hughes

Dervla – Sorcha Curley
Fidelma – Andrea Kelly
Megan – Juliette Crosby
Keven/Deco/Server – Finbarr Doyle

Jonathan Hughes is an award-winning screenwriter and filmmaker based in Limerick City. His scripts have received backing from Screen Ireland, RTE, Galway Film Centre, Clones Film Festival and Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council among others. He holds an MA in Script Writing from Goldsmiths University of London where he received a scholarship to study. In 2019, he was nominated for the prestigious Discovery Award at the Virgin Media Dublin Film Festival. In 2022, he was offered a place on the Channel 4 Screenwriting mentorship scheme when his script finished in the top 1% of applications.

Made with the support of the Coimisiún na Meán’s Sound and Vision scheme through the Television License Fee.

Togetherness

A new audio drama by Colette Cullen.

Two very different couples meet in the waiting room of a fertility clinic – Adam and Sera for their fifth IVF cycle, Jess and Jessicafor their first. As they pass the time chit chatting there are some surprising revelations.

Cast:

Emma Dargan-Reid as Jessica
Siobhan Callaghan as Jess
Lesley Conroy as Sera
Jed Murray as Adam
Directed by Colette Cullen

Made with the support of the Coimisiún na Meán’s Sound and Vision scheme through the Television License Fee.

Fingers Crossed

Konstantin by Ultan Pringle

Konstantin follows the entwined lives of lifelong partners Nina and Allie. Beginning when they’re 18 and setting out to explore the world and finishing when they’re in their late 80s and preparing to leave it, Konstantin is a story of two lives lived and loved side by side. The play jumps through the span of 60 years to explore the relationship and romantic partnership between Allie and Nina. We meet them at 18, arguing in an old decrepit lighthouse about what the future holds. We see them in their early thirties, realising that they’d like to make their lives together and they buy that old lighthouse. We see them at forty, deciding to adopt. Fifty raising two children who turn out to be handfuls. We see them at 60 when they experience a loss which shakes them to their core. We see them at 70, navigating a grief that has to come define them and then finally we see them at 80, failing to make sense of it all but accepting that their lives were worth it and their love was valid. And finally we see them at the very end of their lives, together, waiting for the old lighthouse light to shine. 

Konstantin is an unashamedly queer story which sets out to tell a story radical in its simplicity: the love between two women told delicately over the course of their lives and how their simple act of loving one another is made radical because of its queerness. 

Written and directed by Ultan Pringle

Derbhle Crotty as Allie
Marion O’Dwyer as Nina

Made with the support of the Coimisiún na Meán’s Sound and Vision scheme through the Television License Fee.

Konstantin

Don’t B 2 Keen Mr. Matchmaker by Conrad JB

Ethan, a young Dublin gay man, disillusioned with his prospects of ever owning a house in the capital, sets off to deep rural Ireland in search of a Sugar Daddy. Written as a reaction to John B Keane’s ‘The Matchmaker’, Don’t B 2 Keen Mister Matchmaker explores the transactional feeling of modern day Grindr culture and how that can interact with rural isolation. Queer men’s hook-up apps can show you every man in Dublin who is willing to sleep with you, but if each of those men is still living in their parent’s gaff, what is one to do? Rural isolation is a real problem for countryside communities and LGBTQ+ people suffer heightened levels of loneliness when they feel unable to come out. Can we meet in the middle? Can we be our own Matchmakers?

The play was directed by Anna Nugent

Ethan was played by Robert Downes

Sean, Casper, Daniel, Padraig was played by Emmanuel Okoye

Sharon, Bride to Be, Sive was Maureen O’Connell

Caoimhe, Jackie was played by Biaina Ryan

Made with the support of the Coimisiún na Meán’s Sound and Vision scheme through the Television License Fee.

Don’t B 2 Keen Mr. Matchmaker

Jammie Dodgers Episode 2

Jammie Dodgers Episode 3

This one-off documentary is a tribute to the work and legacy of the much missed and revered animator and director, Jimmy Murakami.  Often called the ‘Godfather of the Irish Animation Industry’, he is probably best known for his work animating the iconic ‘The Snowman’ and ‘When The Wind Blows’ animations.

Paula Wiseman chatted with the people who knew Jimmy best and we hear incredible stories from;

*Se Merry Doyle (Film maker & Director)

*Ethna Murakami

*Howard Blake OBE (Composer)

*Steve Woods (animator & director)

*Kevin Lynch (Head of Animation @ Colaiste Dhulaigh CFE)

…and of course we hear extracts from interviews with Jimmy himself..

Thank you to all of the contributors for their time.

Documentary produced by Paula Wiseman.
 
Sources;
Jimmy Murakami interviews;
Interview Date: June 29, 2012 Location: Los Angeles, CA Interviewers: Chris Komai, John Esaki
‘Jimmy Murakami – Non Alien’ Trailer – Loopline Film – Sé Merry Doyle

Jimmy Murakami – The Legacy

A hilarious 4 part satirical drama by Pat Meehan.

Meet ‘Marrion Monroe’ and ‘Duck the Bullets’ as they are taken in by Professor Henri DuFornicate’s ability to travel back through time to ancient Ireland.

Rivitin' History Part 4

The fourth programme is about Nithy Kasa a law student at Griffith College Dublin born in the Democratic Republic of Congo but has lived in Ireland for 10 years. She started writing poetry at school, with her first poem “Teacher” published in the school magazine. She won best chairperson at the B.P.W public speaking competition and has also won many other poetry competitions.

Poetic Lives Part 4 Nithy Kasa

Gavin,  Sera and Stephen discuss the Mother series of games, known as Earthbound outside of Japan. 

We also talk about Satoru Iwata, who died tragically recently, and how instrumental he was in the development of Mother 2 and the important roll he played in Nintendo and gaming in general. 

Arcade and Retro  Episode 22 - The "Mother" Series

On the 400th anniversary of William Shakespeare’s death, Near FM presents a modern retelling of his iconic work Romeo & Juliet, written by local playwright Denis Byrne.

The lovers, Ronnie & Julia, are members of feuding families, who live across from each other in Moncap Drive, Northside Dublin. Both families are involved in drug-pushing, but are subservient to the major drug lord of the district, whose word is law and, as in the original story, must be obeyed under pain of death. The drug lord’s son is anxious to marry Julia, something her father is determined should come to pass to give him more power to enable him to rid ‘the Drive’ of his enemies. When he discovers Julia’s love for Ronnie, he arranges for her, without her consent, to marry the drug lord’s son. Julia refuses to countenance this, Her father then tells her that as they speak, it has been arranged by himself and the drug lord that a hitman will kill Ronnie as he makes his way home this very night after his meeting with Julia.. All of which inevitably ends in tragedy.

Cast
Julia Carey… ………Megan Daly
Ronnie Moloney….Shane Regan
Mr. Carey……………Peter Prior
Narrator……………..Niamh Toolin

Director: Declan Cahill
Writer: Denis Byrne

Ronnie and Julia

Gavin, Sera and Stephen look back at some of the video game mascots who tried to make a go of it over the years but never quite reached the dizzying heights of Sonic and Mario.

Arcade and Retro Podcast Episode 23 - Misfit Mascots

Home by Carol Rooney
Directed by Anna Nugent

‘Home’ is a monologue play following three generations of a Dublin family during the first half of 2020.

Eileen a Clontarf native is enjoying every moment of retirement and all the social activity she can, her niece Niamh is heading into her 50’s and feels overwhelmed with her familial and work commitments and is concerned with her son Adam’s disinterest in the impending leaving certificate.

Eileen falls and is admitted to hospital, due to her injuries she is sent to convalesce in a nursing home and lockdown then ensues, her positive outlook dwindles over the months as she unable to leave. Niamh
is still mourning the loss of her own parents from recent years and is unable to realise the reality of the struggles facing her aunt and son. Adam has recovered from childhood cancer and the loss of freedom and opportunity through lockdown impact heavily on his mental health.

Adam and Eileen share a bond not defined by age and in a time of intolerable anguish he assists her to make her own decision about her care.

Eileen - Helen Roache

Niamh - Fiona Browne

Adam - Adam Galagher

Home

Tenterhooks by John Morton
Directed by Sarah Baxter

Tenterhooks is a darkly comic drama about two strangers, adrift in their lives who keep meeting in various suicide black spots over the course of a summer. Brid is a self-styled damsel in distress looking for a knight in shining armour to rescue her. She lives alone in a big house in the country and is searching for someone to take an interest in her life and connect with. Jimmy is a recently unemployed taxi driver who stakes out suicide spots looking for souls to rescue. He lives at home with his uncaring mother and abusive stepfather and is struggling to get a foothold on his life.

Both consistently bump into each other by chance but due to miscommunication, they struggle to create a bond. Eventually both of their lives take drastic turns for the worse as they both court death and their plights become more dire. With no help in sight, they are forced to cling to each other. But how long can either of them hang on for?

Pattie Maguire as Brid
Darragh Feehely as Jimmy

Tenterhooks

Class of 2025 by Diandra Xavier
Directed by Anna Nugent

Anisa Kapoor is on the brink of adulthood, juggling school pressure, family expectations, and the endless chatter of her virtual assistant. When she’s asked to give a graduation speech, she must choose between perfection and honesty.

Vivian Birungi as Anisa

Brigid Leahy as Alexa

Brian Robinson as Barista

Rebecca Rose Flynn as Eimear

Shruti Shandilya as Mum

Fiana Toibin as Redwood Principal

Made with the support of the Coimisiún na Meán’s Sound and Vision scheme through the Television License Fee.

Class of 2025

To The Bone by David Donavan
Directed by Anna Nugent

To The Bone is a rural drama exploring the relationship between generations and changing attitudes. Jack is helping his father Bob on the family farm but longs for something more. He faces a crossroad as decisions need to be made and friendships are tested in his journey of self-discovery.

Laurence Lowry as Bob

Paul Nugent as Jack

Aoife Commons as Jess

Patrick de Monfort as Tom

Fiana Toibin as Mary

Made with the support of the Coimisiún na Meán’s Sound and Vision scheme through the Television License Fee.

To the Bone

Still We Sing by Martina Collender
Directed by Anna Nugent

Ghent, 1956, autumn. The play opens to find a small group of actors in rehearsals for Romeo and Juliet. We discover these play-actors are being led Nickolas Locke and they are rehearsing the play in brutal conditions, against all odds.

We discover this group of people have been torn from their homes, their lives, the livelihood, the identity, there dignity has been torn from them. Everything they have ever known has been ripped from them. The reason for this is the colour of the skin, there accents, where they come from, who they are, crimes they are accused of committing, none of the reasons make sense. None of these reasons are good enough. They are deeply distressed and confused by the way they are treated by the soldiers, who have come and are forcing them to live in a segregated area. The area they are living is very small, there is three building with no toilet facilities and is expected to be the home for over 1,000 people. If they were to leave they would shot. If they were to escape there is nowhere to go. There is limited food and is rationed out. Every morning they must attend a meeting led by the Commander, a man who has been chosen by the soldiers to deliver news, at these meetings they are told of news about rations, of new people arriving, of certain people expected to leave. This a source of constant worry as they never know what they will be told or not.

The soldiers who man the area, carry guns, and have fists as strong as steel, they aren’t afraid to use.

They characters in the play range from a few weeks old to 50 years old, each passing moment is ticking clock on their lives, each breath they take is bated with fear, each day is a new treat and still, they insist on rehearsing the play, still, the battle on against all odds.

CAST:

Paul Nugent as NICKOLAS LOCKE

Fiana Toibin as KATHERINE LOCKE and NEWSREADER

Iva Kevra as GRACE LOCK and NEWSREADER

Mark Anthony O’Rielly as SAMUEL LOCKE

Tim Casey as JONATHAN ILIC and GENERAL JODI

Ryan Roy as STEPHEN PETROVIC and TOMMY LOCKE

Emmanuel Okoye as ANDREW PETROVIC

John J. O’Hagan as JACK VENEZIA

Made with the support of the Coimisiún na Meán’s Sound and Vision scheme through the Television License Fee.

Still We Sing

At the time of the 1916 executions, social historian, Richard Maxwell, a nephew of General Sir John Maxwell, Commander in Chief of British Forces in Ireland, obtained permission to bring his early Edison recorder into Kilmainham jail to record interviews with the seven Proclamation signatories shortly before their capital punishment. During the turbulent weeks that followed the executions, Richard Maxwell returned to England with his recordings. Eventually, in ill health, he moved to Estuarios in Spain to live with relatives. Apparently, these unique recordings have lain in an attic in Spain for one hundred years. Now a great-granddaughter of Richard Maxwell, Senora Maxwell-Hogan, has returned to Ireland with these historic recordings and has offered to donate them to the National Archive. But first, she has permitted Near FM to digitise and clean these unique recordings and the community station now presents them as part of the centenary commemorations. Each programme will be followed by a panel discussion expanding on the topics raised by the rebels. The entire production was handled by the Near Drama company. Are these authentic recording? Are these the final words of such iconic figures? Listen and make up your own mind. The series will be broadcast Monday 21st March to Sunday 27th March each day at 1 o‘clock.

Made with the support of the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland Sound and Vision scheme.

Lost Easter Voices Part 1 - Padraig Pearse

Port Out Starboard Home (P.O.S.H) is a new 4 part documentary series which looks at the lives of the people who work in, and live around Dublin Port. It gives an in-sight into a major Irish transport hub and explores the social commitment of the Dublin Port Company and its service users by focusing on the interaction of these corporate bodies with the wider Dockland’s community. Historical, architectural, bio-diversity, heritage and cultural aspects of life in and around the Port area will also be discussed.  With contributions from local historians, local people living in the area, community activists,  school children and business owners, tune in to be entertained and educated by a glimpse into everyday life of this major resource in the heart of the country’s capital.

Part 1

Assistant Harbor master Fergus Britton outlines the meaning of POSH ­­— port out, starboard home.

Eamonn O’Reilly Chief Executive Dublin Port Company speaks on the history of the port and gives a insight into the corporate governance of the Dublin Port Company along with an introduction to social initiatives which the company is involved in.

Botanist and conservationist Tom Cooney takes us on an aural tour of Bull Island describing this Dublin’s foremost nature reserve in detail.

Pat Meehan worked for part of his teenage years in Dublin Port. Here he reminisces on working condition in the port during the eighties. This episode ends with the voices of primary school children from St Patrick’s School Ringsend telling us about their own particular views on the Docklands.

Credits

Produced by Ger Leddin with additional recording and editing done by Alan Weldon, and voxpops by Una Eskelinen and Antonio Espinola Coll.

Series made with the support of the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland

Port Out Starboard Home – Part 1

Follow the continuing adventures of Marrion Monroe and Duck the Bullets as they are taken in by Professor Henri DuFornicate’s ability to travel back through time to ancient Ireland.

Rivitin History Episode 6

The Hugh Lane Concert series will showcase contemporary, traditional, classical and jazz music concerts recorded at Dublin City Gallery The Hugh Lane, as part of the Sundays @ Noon concerts.

Starting on Tuesday March 14th @ 3pm, this radio series captures the best in Irish and international based composers and musicians performing in front of a live audience.

As well as the performances, Near FM have recorded in-depth interviews with the musicians, and reactions from members of the public.

Programme one features jazz music duo Lars Jansson and Ronan Guilfoyle. They have been performing together for many years and in this programme they are collaborating on Lars own compositions.
Made with the support of the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland with the television licence fee.

Credits

Produced & edited by Paul Loughran. Sound supervision by Gay Graham. Interviews and presented by Ken Tuohy. Production support and voxpops by Dorothee Meyer Holtkamp. Production support by Gary Kirwin.

The Hugh Lane Concert Series Programme 1 - Lars Jansson and Ronan Guilfoyle

This week we explore the Irish ancestry of polar bears, hear about a new maths meet-up, and have some fun with the basics of chemistry. 

In this episode:

Dan Bradley of Trinity College Dublin tells us about the connection between Irish brown bears and the polar bears of the Arctic Circle.

What do you get when you combine maths and beer? MathsJam! We hear about a new monthly meet-up in the pub for chic maths geeks.

And in our Culture Corner, Scibernauts Marie ‘Boron’ Boran, Sylvia ‘Lithium’ Leatham and Gavin ‘Helium’ Byrne talk about the basic elements of chemistry, from ‘green dragons’ to ‘black diamonds’.

Scibernia Episode 12: Polar bears, maths and elementary fun

Scibernia Episode 3

Presented as part of our season of new audio drama from women writers, Buckle by Christine Madden.

Lily Albright’s teenage son is dead. The man who pleaded guilty to his murder is in prison. What compels Lily to visit her son’s killer in prison? Yet she does, repeatedly, searching for answers to questions she can’t articulate, questions she dreads.

Shane, who is responsible for Billy’s death, does not welcome Lily’s visits, nor does he oblige her with any information. What he withholds, though, is more than the specifics of a kill: it’s a life laced with fear and anger, pain and guilt.  Bit by bit, Lily draws him out, and they form an unlikely bond over a tragic death that devastated them both.

Written and Directed by Christine Madden
Featuring Ali White, Lloyd Cooney, Darragh Kelly and Sarah O’Rourke
Script Consultant Lisa Tierney-Keogh

First broadcast: 31st May 2019

Buckle is supported by the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland Sound and Vision scheme with the television licence fee.

Buckle

The second audio drama in our series of plays by women writers.

Petals is the story of one girl and her journey towards the night of a lifetime along with the trail of lust, longing and loss she finds on the way. Written entirely in verse, Petals takes a vibrant look at what it means to be sexually awakened in a city where school nuns shame, school boys leer; where less is more, no means yes and the beer-soaked nightclub is sanctuary.

Broadcasting at 6pm on Friday the 26th of April

Written by Gillian Greer
Directed by Jeda de Brí
Featuring Kate Gilmore
Script Consultant Lisa Tierney-Keogh

Music:
Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Please be advised that the this audio drama contains strong language and scenes of sexual assault. 

Petals is supported by the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland Sound and Vision scheme with the television licence fee.

Petals

The first in a monthly anthology of new radio drama, is These Lights, written and performed by Jessie Doyle. Broadcasting on International Women’s Day, March 8th at 1pm on Near FM 90.3

Set in the not so far future and taking place in a very different but at the same time very familiar Dublin where the entire population are implanted with computer chips that control our information, control our emotions, regulate how we behave and control how we feel. The Government takes responsibility for our security. They isolate threats to keep us safe. The important decisions are made by people who know better than us.

The story follows two sisters. One who rejects the controls put in place and craves freedom, the other finds comfort and security within these systems that she feels she can trust and depend on.

But Strange Lights are appearing over Dublin and these two sisters are about to experience the end of the world through an explosion of spoken word, sci-fi drama featuring futuristic music and audioscapes.

These Lights was broadcast on International Women’s Day, March 8th at 1pm

These Lights is supported by the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland Sound and Vision scheme with the television licence fee.

These Lights

An audio drama set in an apartment of the near future, owned by Sive Chand, a futurist working in Galway. Sive is in a relationship with Jahzara Dunne, who is a chocolatier in the city.  Sive’s home AI (Artificial Intelligence), Tara, offers organisation support for Sive, and monitors all the devices attached to her network, including Mary, the opinionated fridge and Ita the slow-witted vacuum cleaner. When Tara, Mary, and Ita discover that Sive is considering a job offer in London, the three end up involving themselves in the relationship between the two women (and even Jahzara’s fridge), in order to keep the couple together, and ensure that they don’t end up on the scrap heap.

Cast
Siobhan Callaghan: TARA
Ashleigh Dorrell: MARY
Julie Maguire: ITA
Donna Nikolaisen: JAHZARA
Suzie Seweify: SIVE

Production
Director – Nicola Murphy
Series and script advisor – Lisa Tierney-Keogh

Made with the support of the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland with the television licence fee.

[First broadcast 28 June 2019]

The Love of Small Appliances

Near FM present JJ's a radio documentary about the revered Jazz and Blues music venue JJ Smyths which operated on Dublin’s Aungier Street for over 30 years. Listen in to hear the story of how JJ Smyth’s transformed from a function room above a pub into the most authentic Jazz and Blues club in Ireland. Featuring contributions from some of the many musicians, staff and promoters who knew JJ's best.

Broadcast at 2pm on Thursday April 25th as part of Pat Farrell’s Behind the Groove blues programme.

Produced, narrated and edited by Paul Loughran. JJ's is supported by the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland Sound and Vision scheme with the television licence fee.

JJ's - The Story of JJ Smyths

New audio drama from Dorothy Cotter.

It’s a Saturday night in Soho and Siobhán and Danny are on a doomed first date. Tinder virgin Danny has a serious case of foot in mouth while Siobhán, weary of the London dating scene, already has one foot out the door.Awkward turns to tense, tense becomes outrage and common decency makes a run for the exit. With their mischievous, mouthy Inner Voices constantly berating them, it’s hard for the pair to think straight. It’s only when they decide to give up that there is a glimmer of hope.

Plain Speak is a short romcom about modern dating and miscommunication – First Dates meets Peep Show with a nod to Brian Friel.

Cast:
Siobhán – Emma Moohan
Shivvers – Dorothy Cotter
Danny – Stephen Bradley
Bez – Cillian O’Donnchadha

Production:
Director: Nicola Murphy
Series and script adviser : Lisa Tierney-Keogh
Originally Broadcast 26/7/2019

Made with the support of the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland with the television licence fee.

Plain Speak

Karen, a young homeless woman down and out on her luck meets Isabelle, a student from Oxford on a park bench in Dublin. When two women from polar opposite worlds collide in search of the same thing they find they have more in common than they think.

Director: Olivia Songer

Isabelle: Niamh Mcallister
Karen: Siobhan Callaghan

New Drama Hour is made with the support of the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland with the television licence fee.

Benched

All honey is a dark, modern day farce about a group of friends forced to face each other’s deadly sins. The play takes place in the apartment of Ru and Luke, a couple in their early 30’s, who are throwing a housewarming party. However, their guests seem more interested in whispering in the box room than joining the festivities.  Infidelities, secrets and an uninvited guest mean that Ru & Luke will have to clean up more than red wine stains and glitter. This piece is strongly concerned with people indulging in their sexual desires and letting their egos take over. All honey is about seeing your closest friends for the depraved individuals they really are.

Starring Finbarr Doyle, Clodagh Mooney Duggan, Maeve O Mahoney, Keith Jordan and Ashleigh Dorrel

Directed by Jeda de Brí

Script advisor is Clare Monnelly

Written by Ciara Elizabeth Smyth

Made with the support of the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland with the television licence fee.

All Honey

Comedy audio drama series “Rivitin’ History” by Pat Meehan returns to Near FM.

Meet ‘Marrion Monroe’  as she is taken in by Professor Henri DuFornicate’s ability to travel back through time to ancient Ireland.

made with the support of the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland with the television licence fee.

Rivitin' History episode 7

Comedy audio drama series “Rivitin’ History” by Pat Meehan returns to Near FM.

Meet ‘Marrion Monroe’ as she is taken in by Professor Henri DuFornicate’s ability to travel back through time to ancient Ireland.

made with the support of the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland with the television licence fee.

Rivitin' History Episode 8

Near FM presents another in our New Drama Hour series, audio dramas exclusively by women writers. This month Kipper by Gemma Doorly.

Tormented by an unjust past and reeling from past experiences Kerry seduces drunken Sam at a wedding. It seems like an innocent one night stand but Kerry has other ideas which will implicate Sam in a serious allegation. Will the police believe her story?

Written by Gemma Doorly, Directed by Nicola Murphy, Script Advisor is Clare Monnelly, Series producer is Paul Loughran.

Cast – Ciara O’Callaghan, Mike Sheehan, Fiana Toibin,  Kwaku Fortune

Made with the support of the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland with the television licence fee.

Kipper

A group of young adults with disabilities from the Central Remedial Clinic’s (CRC) Rehabilitative Training centre will launch a third series of CRC Talks 3 on 6th March on NEAR 90.3 fm

CRC Talks 3 comprises of five 30 minute shows featuring the themes of youth; arts, culture, transport, access and employment from the perspectives and experiences of young adults with disabilities.

CRC Talks 3 Programme 2: Transport and Access

Sabrina Ryan talks with Gillian Greer and Kate Gilmore about the Near FM audio drama ‘Petals’ which has just won best radio drama at the Celtic Media Festival Torc awards.

Petals is the story of one girl and her journey towards the night of a lifetime along with the trail of lust, longing and loss she finds on the way. Written entirely in verse, Petals takes a vibrant look at what it means to be sexually awakened in a city where school nuns shame, school boys leer; where less is more, no means yes and the beer-soaked nightclub is sanctuary.

Last year it was featured as part of our series of new audio drama from women writers. It was written by Gillian Greer with script consultancy by Lisa Tierney-Keogh. It was directed by Jeda de Brí and starred Kate Gilmore.

Petals was supported by the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland Sound and Vision scheme with the television licence fee.

Off The Shelf – Interview with Gillian Greer and Kate Gilmore about the audio drama ‘Petals’

Episode fourteen of the History Show on Near FM presented by Cathal Brennan and John Dorney.  On this episode of the History Show, John Dorney interviews Fionnula Walsh of Trinity College Dublin about Irish Women and the First World War.

<a title="Irish Women and World War 1" href="http://www.theirishstory.com/2013/02/20/irish-women-and-world-war-i/#.UVBjHzez80k">http://www.theirishstory.com/2013/02/20/irish-women-and-world-war-i/#.UVBjHzez80k</a>

The History Show Episode 14

A group of young adults with disabilities from the Central Remedial Clinic’s (CRC) Rehabilitative Training centre together with Nearfm have produced a third series of CRC Talks.

CRC Talks 3 comprises of five 30 minute shows featuring the themes of youth; art’s, culture, transport, access and employment from the perspectives and experiences of young adults with disabilities. The series is produced between Near FM and CRC. Producers Aoife Nic Cana, Andrew Reid & Tommy Crampton.

Programme 3:

Employment & Disability

CRC Talks 3 Programme 3: Employment & Disability

A group of young adults with disabilities from the Central Remedial Clinic’s (CRC) Rehabilitative Training centre together with Nearfm have produced a third series of CRC Talks.

CRC Talks 3 comprises of five 30 minute shows featuring the themes of youth; art’s, culture, transport, access and employment from the perspectives and experiences of young adults with disabilities. The series is produced between Near FM and CRC. Producers Aoife Nic Cana, Andrew Reid & Tommy Crampton.

Programme 4: 

Culture & Arts part 1

CRC Talks 3 Programme 4: Culture & Arts part 1

Near FM presents another in our New Drama Hour series, audio dramas exclusively by women writers.

“Allie Down the Boghole” by Megan McDonnell.

The story follows Allie, a young girl in rural Ireland who is something of a latch-key child. She is, more often than not, left alone by her noticeably absent Mam and joined by her one friend, Jo, who keeps her company and tries to get Allie out of her comfort zone. Through Allie and Jo we meet the sometimes strange characters of the village and we discover the darker undertones of this isolated life. Mam’s presence is always looming in the background and there is a growing sense of unease which turns quite sinister as Allie grows closer to finding out certain truths about her life.

NOTE: Contains scenes some listeners may find distressing.

Written by Megan McDonnel,
Directed by Jeda de Brí
Script Advisor is Clare Monnelly

Cast: Megan McDonnel & Bláithín Mac Gabhann

Made with the support of the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland with the television licence fee.

nearfm

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