Near 90 fm - Podcast

ABSOLUT Fringe 2011 - Bairbre Ni Chaoimh seeks to Hand Me down the Moon.

Michael Fitzgerald — Mon, 05 Sep 2011 23:45:55 +0100

“An immersive theatrical adventure inspired by two women’s enduring childhood fascination with space and lunar exploration”, but such mundane words barely touch the surface of the aspirations of the creators of Hand Me down the Moon.

Joining Michael FitzGerald on Northside2Day, Bairbre Ní Chaoimh actor, director and playwright outlines how this collaboration with visual artist Aideen Barry and Fringe award winner Louise Lowe, to bring audiences on a journey to rediscover the magic of childhood.

Set in a suitably atmospheric Georgian terrace in Temple Bar, the dynamic narrative, spread over three levels includes animation, music, actors and of course the moon. Because of the restricted access of the venue, Bairbre advises audiences it would be wisest to book, in advance as there is an upper limit of 60 who can see the show on any single night, and will be pleased if they can recapture even a smidgen of the sense of awe and wonder we took so much for granted as children.

File Download (15:30 min / 36 MB)

Frank Kelly - a North Strander revisits he 'hood.

Michael Fitzgerald — Mon, 05 Sep 2011 18:05:21 +0100

After almost 50 years living in Canada native Northsider Frank Kelly returns to his home turf where he drops in on Mick FitzGerald to guest on, appropriately enough, Northside2Night.

As befits two experienced members of the Irish Diaspora, Frank and Mick embark on a whirlwind reminisce of growing up Northside. Frank guides us on a tour of local landmarks, some familiar, others long since disappeared. but taking in corporal punishment at Canice’s, studying at Bolton Street, navigating the “badlands” of Summerhill, before guiding Cadbury’s safely from the North Wall to Coolock.

Frank candidly shares with listeners the reasons behind his leaving Ireland and the positives the flowed from that, particularly meeting his beautiful wife and life partner Phyllis. Despite the passing years, Frank shows he has lost neither his Dublin values, sensibilities or even his accent. He agrees his life would have been different had he remained in Dublin, but acknowledges that the Canadian goldmine he was luck to discover – is friends and family, which will be a lasting tribute to a humble Northsider. Frank Kelly is simply one of nature’s gentlemen.

File Download (27:00 min / 25 MB)

The Right2Work and the Dignity of Labour.

Michael Fitzgerald — Mon, 05 Sep 2011 09:36:51 +0100

John Lyons of Peopleb4Profit joined Michael FitzGerald on Northside2Day to bring listeners up-to-speed on The Right to Work campaign. John unreservedly condemns the policies of successive Governments which are seeking to place the burden of responsibility for gross economic mismanagement on the shoulders of working men and women.

When Michael offers the analogy of the Titanic with the Irish economy, with class and gender being the determining factors whether one was either rescued or perished, John was quick to see the comparisons.

John is particularly critical of Ministers who descried the unwaged as exercising a “life-style” choice by claiming social welfare payments, as being too cynical for words. He offers many examples of how and where the state is abandoning its obligations to its citizens, and by default leaving them vulnerable to the ravages of laissez-faire economics.

John calls on all workers and the unwaged to convey the feelings to their public representatives, in a massive protest when An Dáil resumes on 14.September/2011.

Titanic Casualty Figures. ::
Socialist Workers' Party ::
IndyMedia ::
Irish Left Review ::
ESRI - these figures will not win any beauty contest. ::

File Download (22:12 min / 20 MB)

Jim Roche of Irish AntiWar Movement (IAWM) discusses NATO interventiom in Libya

Michael Fitzgerald — Sun, 04 Sep 2011 18:58:13 +0100

While welcoming the demise of the repressive Gadaffi regime, Jim Roche of the Irish AntiWar Movement cautions against any premature celebrations for its imminent replacement with a democratic alternative. Jim joins Michael FitzGerald on Global Solidarity where the morality of the NATO intervention is subject to the type of critical analysis often missing in mainstream media reports.

While being slow to draw comparisons with the overthrow of the Baath regime in Iraq, they nonetheless identify large oil reserves as providing a certain commonality of incentive. They also illustrate that replacing an democratic secular Arab regime has often been replaced by an Islamic one that was less that gracious to its liberators, as happened previously in Iran.

Sounding a note of general alarm, Jim observes that the post 911 justifications for such interventions are often proving unsustainable at best, and destructively counter-productive at worst.

File Download (22:31 min / 21 MB)

Justin Moran of Amnesty Ireland reports on deaths in custody in Syria.

Michael Fitzgerald — Sat, 03 Sep 2011 22:39:49 +0100

Since the beginning of protests in Syria several months back, the regime’s response has been characterised by relentless repression, Justin Moran of Amnesty Ireland relates to Michael FitzGerald when they catch up on Global Solidarity. In a report just published by Amnesty, details are given regarding scores of people – believed to have been detained for their actual or suspected involvement in the protests – who are alleged to have died in custody.

Justin confirms the veracity of their sources and maintains the information contained in the report, is accurate, current and was provided at great personal risk to the providers. They discuss the potential of what began as a internal Syrian issue, broadening into a regional conflict – particularly if the major regional powers – Turkey and Iran get more nvolved. Amnesty are calling on the UN and other international bodies to bring diplomatic pressure to bear on the Assad regime to enact the required reforms and investigate the substantive allegations produced in it report.

File Download (17:27 min / 16 MB)

ABSOLUT Fringe 2011 - In my Bed with Veronica Dyas.

Michael Fitzgerald — Sat, 03 Sep 2011 15:28:20 +0100

In my Bed with Veronica Dyas, is what the ABSOLUT Fringe festival, and by extension Dublin, is all about. Though played out in “a desolate car park which is transformed into an intimate sanctuary”, Veronica Dyas has managed to create a personal narrative which interweaves environments, characters, relationships, identity and experiences into a seamless dramatic continuum.

The two forms that loom largest in this drama are – The Liberties, which is central to the narrative, and Veronica’s grandmother who supply’s the required dynamic. Veronica Dyas has rightly been identified as one of the emerging theatre talents that Ireland needs to support, before she is poached from us and In my Bed shows why she is held in such high regard by her peers.

2011 ABSOLUT Fringe festival website ::
2011 ABSOLUT Fringe festival programme ::
In my Bed ::
Veronica Dyas CV ::
Help me Help me ::

File Download (15:14 min / 14 MB)

Frank Berry discusses his award winning documentary Ballymun Lullaby

Michael Fitzgerald — Sat, 03 Sep 2011 13:31:59 +0100

Ballymun Lullaby documents Music Director, Ron Cooney and children from the Ballymun Music Programme as they prepared for the recording of the ‘Ballymun Lullaby’ CD. It has been described as a hybrid of the multi-awarding winning French film The Chorus and Alan Parker’s homage to Dublin’s Soulside – The Commitments.

Director Frank Berry, recently announced as The Screen Directors Guild of Ireland, in association with the Directors Guild of America, winner of the   Directors Finders Series 2011 joins Michael FitzGerald on Northside2Day. Frank, a native Northsider himself, shares with listeners the reasons he was attracted to the subject, while paying lavish tribute to music supremo Ron Cooney and zll children, parents and community who’s support of the Ballymun Music Programme has been crucial in its success. Frank highlights them as the real starts of the very uplifting documentary.

Frank indicates that the significant lesson he took from the project is the significant return of social capital that can be generated from very small capital investment.

Ballymun Lullaby is highly recommended by Michael FitzGerald.

Ballymun Lullaby website ::
Ballymun Lullaby wins directors Guild award! ::
Film Ireland ::
Ron Cooney ::
Ballymun Music Programme ::
Follow Frank Berry on Twitter. ::
Glen Hansard ::
Frank Berry scoops the pool. ::
Ballymun Lullaby the film ::

File Download (19:43 min / 18 MB)

ABSOLUT Fringe 2011 - Shane O'Reilly in Follow.

Michael Fitzgerald — Sat, 03 Sep 2011 01:34:00 +0100

DEAF is not a disability, DEAF is a community. Shane O’Reilly, who joins Michael FitzGerald on Northside2Day shares with listeners some of his feelings of being reared by two hearing impaired parents. Some of those experiences he has channelled into Follow, which is being presented by Willfredd Theatre at the 2011 ABSOLUT Fringe festival.

While conceding some trepidation due to his Fringe virgin status, Shane communicates a confidence that the work will engage and enthuse deaf and hearing audiences alike. Shane pays generous tributes to his collaborators, particularly director Sophie Motley and highlights the significant contribution public support makes to nurturing emerging creative talents.

Listening to Shane speak with such passion about bridging the cultures between the two interconnected communities he grew up, it is easy to see why word-of-mouth suggests FOLLOW, will be one of the most talked about entries at the 2011 ABSOLUT Fringe festival.

FOLLOW will be captioned by Arts and Disabilities Ireland.

2011 ABSOLUT Fringe festival. ::
FOLLOW ::
2011 ABSOLUT Fringe festival programme ::
The Lir building ::
Arts and Disabilities Ireland ::
WillFredd Theatre ::

File Download (25:43 min / 24 MB)

"AR MUIN NA MUICE"- Near90fm 02 Meán Fómhair 2011

Darren Prior — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 16:30:34 +0100

Beidh pobal na Gaeilge ag fás go suntasach leis Gaelscoil na Mí oscailte anois; Gaelscoil an Chuilinn i Mullach Eadrad le hoscailt i 2012 agus trí gaelcholáistí nua le hoscailt i 2014 ceann i nDún Droma, Baile Brigín agus Carraig Uí Leighin!
Ach can faoi ceist na feachtas do gaelscoileanna eile i Maigh Nuad agus i nDroichead Átha mar shampla? Labhair Darren Mac an Phríora le Clare Spáinneach an tOifigeach Forbartha ó Ghaelscoileanna Teo.
Sheol Breandan Gleeson sceideal nua an Fhómhair TG4 ar an Chéadaoin. Labhair Darren le Mícheál Ó Meallaigh Stiúrthóir Coimisiúnaithe an stáisiún faoin seasúr nua ar TG4!

Gaelscoileanna Teo. ::
TG4 ::

File Download (21:34 min / 7 MB)

ABSOLUT Fringe -2011 You Can’t Just Leave — There’s Always Something!

Michael Fitzgerald — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 23:07:00 +0100

Our reports from the 2011 ABSOLUT Fringe festival on NEAR90-fm, continue apace when Michael FitzGerald catches up with writer/actor/producer/director Dan Colley of Split Gin Theatre Company. Dan shares with Northside2Night listeners that their production You Can’t Just Leave — There’s Always Something, brings together four of Dublin’s most exciting young writers and who a play about what it is to have a home.

He relates how the environment play a very significant role in this production, and that the venue will not be known to audiences in advanced is likely to add an extra frisson to the experience. He oultines to Michael that either way audiences are promised “houses full of drafts and hums, of late night cliques and early showers, of mugs and chips and old wounds”.

“You Can’t Just Leave — There’s Always Something” previews at the Players Theatre in TCD on 13/Sept/2011, runs until 23/September/2011 and will definitely appeal to theatre-goers who favour dynamic viewing.

File Download (19:26 min / 18 MB)