
Listen to podcasts of interviews about our programmes from Near FM

Social Enterprise: The Sustainable Life School
The Sustainable Life School is a local social enterprise supported by Northside Partnership, which educates people on sustainable living. Diane O’Connor from The Sustainable Life School, recently joined Donie Tarrant on Near FM to discuss the work done by The Sustainable Life School. Have a listen here:
(31st January 2023)

Communiversity: Learning for Love of Learning
Paul Hayes, our Education Coordinator, joins Donie Tarrant to discuss the latest phase of the Communiversity programme. The Communiversity programme is a gateway for people to enter higher education, but it’s much more than just another education project or programme.
Communiversity: Learning for the Love of Learning
(17th January 2023)

Money Made Sense: How One Woman Saved & Made Money
Ellen Ní Bheachain joined the Money Made Sense programme and learned how to shop smarter, negotiate utility bills and save money. She joins Angela Schafer from Money Made Sense and Donie Tarrant in studio to explain how she did this and how the programme helped.
Money Made Sense: How One Woman Saved & Made Money
(17th January 2023)

STAR Role Models
The Supporting Travellers and Roma (STAR) programme has produced a series of videos telling the stories of Travellers and Roma who have overcome challenges in education to achieve their goals. Here, Johnny McDonnell, Education Worker with Northside Partnership, talks to Donie about the experiences of many Travellers in school and the importance of getting an education.
You can watch the STAR Role Model videos here
(28th November 2022)

Financial Capabilities: A Framework for Integrated Delivery
Angela Shafer, Programme Manager of Money Made Sense, talks about the “Financial Capabilities: A Framework for Integrated Delivery” and “Money Made Sense Programme Evaluation” Reports which were recently launched by Senator Marie Sherlock.
Financial Capabilities & Programme Evaluation Reports
(24th October 2022)

Speech & Language Therapy
Katie Cluskey, Senior Speech & Language Therapist with Preparing for Life Early Years Education, talks about what a Speech & Language Therapist does, Developmental Language Disorder and how to get a referral.
(17th October 2022)

Infant Mental Health
Caroline Creagh, Home Visitor and Infant Mental Health Coordinator, talks about Infant Mental Health and the workshops that are available for parents and caregivers to learn more.
(11th October 2022)

Preparing for Life Celebrates National Breastfeeding Week
Niamh Lohan, Community Midwife with Preparing for Life, discusses National Breastfeeding Week, the benefits of breastfeeding, and how we are celebrating with our breastfeeding moms and babies.
(4th October 2022)

Tús & CE Schemes Support U.N. Sustainable Development Goals
Horticulture Team Lead, James Hill, discusses the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and how Northside Partnership’s Tús and Community Employment programmes are working towards some of the goals through education, tree planting, rewilding and supporting our local food bank.
(26th September 2022)

Lifelong Learning Hubs
Lifelong Learning Hubs, in conjunction with Dublin City University, supports people who are considering Teaching as a career. Elaine Davis, from our Education supports joins Professor Paul Downes, Director of the Educational Disadvantage Centre, DCU to talk to Donie about what the programme entails.
(19th September 2022)

Building Big Futures
Building Big Futures is a professional development programme to support high quality Early Years education and care. Jelena Simic, our Early Years Coordinator, spoke to Donie about what the programme entails and meeting the needs of our Early Years Educators.
(5th September 2022)

Did Donie Do It?
Near FM D.J. Donie Tarrant has been smoking since he was a teenager. Now he wants to see his grandchildren grown up. He recently joined a Northside Partnership Stop Smoking Start Living course but did he manage to quit?
(5th September 2022)

From Homeless to Parenting, Working, Studying & Advocating: One Woman’s Journey
Tamara Kearns spent her honeymoon in homeless acccommodation with her new husband and their two children. She is now a working mother of three who is studying for her B.A. and advocating for others experiencing homelessness. This is her story and how Northside Partnership was able to support her on her way.
(18th July 2022)
Homeless to Parenting, Working, Studying & Advocating: One Woman’s Journey

Tús Ecopockets Provide Produce to Foodbank
James Hill, Tús Horticulture Team Lead, updates Donie about our Ecopocket Project, the wildlife it’s attracting, the produce it supplies to a local food bank and the importance of being able to grow our own in the face of food poverty.
(11th July 2022)

SICAP Receives Prestigious UN Award
Paul Rogers, CEO of Northside Partnership, speaks to Donie Tarrant about the Social Inclusion & Community Activation Programme (SICAP). SICAP recently won the 2022 UN Public Services Award, in the category ‘Institutional Resilience and Innovative Responses to the COVID-19 Pandemic’. Northside Partnership is the body responsible for implementing SICAP in the North East area of Dublin City.
(4th July 2022)

STEPS to Excellence for Personal Success
Shannon Baker joins Donie Tarrant to chat about the STEPS programme and her experience with Northside Partnership. Shannon is from Belcamp, did the Challenger programme in school, had a lot of career guidance with Paul Hayes, joined the Young Community Leaders programme and is now a youth worker with Sphere 17 as well as working with the Get The Message Out campaign.
(27th June 2022)

Stop Smoking Start Living
Michael Malone, Stop Smoking Advisor convinces Donie to give up the cigarettes after more than 40 years of smoking. Donie wants to see his grandchildren grow up and has noticed he’s more breathless. He’s also had to take antibiotics and steroids to clear chest infections over the past few years. Michael explains how the courses are run and what Donie will need to do to become a non-smoker.
(20th June 2022)

Prevention & Early Intervention Network
Maria O’Dwyer of PEIN joins Donie Tarrant to explain explain what the Prevention & Early Intervention Network does and why investment in Prevention & Early Intervention is a great investment.
(13th June 2022)

Social Enterprise Procurement Campaign
Pearse O’Reilly of Speedpak joins Donie Tarrant to explain the ‘WISE Ireland’ social enterprise procurement campaign: A campaign to encourage businesses to purchase from – and engage with – local Work Integration Social Enterprises [WISEs].
(30th May 2022)
WISE Ireland Social Enterprise Procurement Campaign
Visit https://wiseireland.ie/ for more information

Career Guidance & Educational Supports
Paul Hayes, Guidance Councellor with Northside Partnership talks to Donie Tarrant about Career Guidance, Educational Supports and navigating the SUSI grant application process.
(23rd May 2022)

Young Community Leaders
Dearbhail Butler, Community Development Project Officer with Northside Partnership and Kerri Stout, a participant in the Young Community Leaders programme join Donie Tarrant in studio to discuss the Young Community Leaders programme. YCL helps young people to develop the following skills: communication and organisation; critical thinking and problem-solving; personal effectiveness and goal setting; restorative practice and conflict resolution.
(16th May 2022)

Small Talkers: Speech & Language Development Workshop from Preparing for Life Eyear Years Education
Katie Cluskey, Senior Speech & Language Therapist with Preparing for Life Early Years Education, joins Donie Tarrant to discuss Small Talkers. This is a fun and interactive workshop to explore how parents can support their children’s communication development, providing practical strategies, ideas and tips that they can use during play and everyday routines.
(9th May 2022)

SICAP Funding Education in Northeast Dublin
Donnacha McSorley, Development Coordinator, Social Inclusion and Equality Team, speaks about the work that POBAL do as an organisation and the way they help many different Programmes with funding which comes from the EU.
Paul Hayes, Education Co-ordinator, speaks about all the different ways that EU funding, in particular SICAP (Social Inclusion & Community Activation Programme) has allowed Northside Partnership to help people further themselves in education. This programme is part of the Europen in My Backyard series which reports on EU Cohesion Policy.
(2nd May 2022)

Get The Message Out (G.T.M.O) “Another Way 5K” in Darndale
Ger Redmond, pro-athlete, talks about a new event to spread the Message of Change, bringing some positive vibes to our communities.
This event is for all the community, irregardless of age or ability. There is something for everyone to participate in from our 1km fun run/roll/walk to our 5km Run/Roll/Walk with the added bonus of activities and entertainment for all in Darndale Park.
(25th April 2022)

Introducing Social Prescribing
Many of us are feeling a little isolated, lonely or at a loss as to what to do with ourselves. Social Prescribing Link Worker, Karen O’Neill, talks to Donie about Social Prescribing, how it focuses not on what’s the matter WITH someone, but what matters TO them and how a prescription for a little social activity goes a long way.
(11th April 2022)

Preparing for Life Home Visiting in Chicago
Niall Sexton, Programme Manager with Preparing for Life, joins Donie Tarrant to discuss the very exciting announcement that the Darndale-based Home Visiting programme has been selected to be implemented in Chicago by the University of Chicago’s Centre for the Economics of Human Development (CEHD), founded by Nobel Laureate, James Heckman.
(21st March 2022)

Place-Based Leadership Development Programme
Northside Partnership CEO, Paul Rogers, and Dr. Rob Worrell explain the Place-Based Leadership Development programme and their hopes for how it will affect the community in Darndale.
(14th March 2022)

Money Made Sense
Angela Shafer speaks to Near FM about Money Made Sense and how to cope with the rising cost of living.
(7th March 2022)

Dads-Only Baby Massage
Preparing For Life’s Certified Infant Massage Instructor, Melanie Murphy, talks to Donie about the benefits of baby massage and the new Dads-only baby massage group she is starting.
(28th February 2022)

Creative Places Darndale
Muirne Bloomer from Creative Places Darndale speaks to Donie Tarrant about the Creative Places project. Muirne explains why was it set up, who is involved, how members of the community can get involved and where events happen.
(21st February 2022)

We Can Quit
Karen O’Neill talks to Donie about the We Can Quit programme, a free, friendly programme which supports women who want to quit smoking for good.
(24th January 2022)

Communiversities
Communiversity provides participants with an educational and social opportunity that they would never have had before. Run in partnership with Maynooth University and Coolock Library, there are no exams or essays and the programme is free. Have a listen to how it put one woman on the road to studying for her degree in Trinity College.
(17th January 2022)

Careers in Mind
Ger Nolan talks to Donie about how Careers in Mind supports women who want to return to or join the workforce, who is elegible to apply and how past participants are getting on.
(10th January 2022)

Apprenticeships in Logistics
Following our Apprenticeship Fair, Donie spoke with Anna Gorecka, Apprenticeship Project Manager with the freight Transport Association of Ireland, to discuss the very wide and varied apprenticeships available within the Logistics industry in Ireland.
(22th November 2021)

Darndale Apprenticeship Fair
The Apprenticeship Fair in the Darndale Belcamp Village Centre brought together employers, trainers, apprentices and students to explore what apprenticeship options are available in the area.
Donie Tarrant spoke to Paul Hayes, Education Coordinator with Northside Partnership who coordinated the event; Conor Grey of Mercury Engineering; Dermot McCrudden from The Discovery Centre; Caroline Kinsella from ESB Networks along with one of their 2nd year apprentices, Cameron Murphy; and Guidance Counsellor with Colaiste Dhulaigh, Brian Comerford
(16th November 2021)

Local Employment Service – Why Proposed Changes Don’t Make Sense
Pay-per-placement turns people into commodities. Employment staff then try to find people who are closer to employment in order to reach targets. It is not a successful model for long term unemployment.
Here’s a fascinating panel discussion about the Local Employment Service scheme and the proposed changes to it, featuring Paul Rogers, CEO, Northside Partnership; Dr. Michael McGann, Marie Sklodowska-Curie Research Fellow in the Department of Sociology and Social Sciences Institute, Maynooth University; and Lisa Bornemann, LES Coordinator on Near FM. The panel is chaired by Declan Cahill. (20th October 2021)

Developing Community
Dearbhail Butler from the Developing Community team at the Northside Partnership joins Donie Tarrant to explain the idea behind the programme, how it looks at ways of creating community, connecting with others and contributing.. (27th September 2021)

Careers in Mind Builds Confidence in Women Who Want to Go Back to Work
Ger Nolan from the Northside Partnership’s Careers in Mind programme and Denise Smith, past participant, join Donie Tarrant to discuss the Careers in Mind project and how it built one woman’s confidence to get a job. The women on the programme have gone on to engage in training courses/Further Education or secured part-time or full time employment. (6th September 2021)
Careers in Mind Builds Confidence in Women Who Want to Go Back to Work

Advantaged Thinking in Northside Partnership
Niamh McTiernan, Director of Services in Northside Partnership speaks to Adrianne Murphy about how the Advantaged Thinking philosophy is at the centre of everything we do. (27th July 2021)

Preparing for Life Home Visiting Programme
Caroline Creagh, Preparing For Life Home Visiting Mentor with The Northside Partnership and Niamh O’Shaughnessy, mother & PFL Home Visiting Programme Participant join Donie to discuss the massive benefits of the Preparing For Life program on families with new babies. (10th May 2021)
Preparing For Life Home Visiting – Caroline Creagh & Niamh O’Shaughnessy

Lifelong Learning Hubs
Elaine Davis, of our Education team, and Ryan Ó Murchú join Donie to talk about the supports available to students who are thinking about becoming Primary School Teachers through our Lifelong Learning Hubs. (1st November 2021)

Eco Pockets in Northside Partnership’s Coolock Garden
James Hill, who has developed a project called Eco Pockets, joins Donie Tarrant to explain how they have created a garden in Coolock focused on biodiversity. There will be planting to support bees, butterflies, fungi and insects, sod seats and a gazebo where people can gather. In the long run they will be able to deliver classes to schools on biodiversity. (12th July 2021)

Preparing For Life’s Parenting Programmes
Linda Pickett discusses Preparing for Life’s Parenting Programmes, in particular Triple P Positive Parenting Programme (5th July 2021)

Coolock Student Wins Award at Challenger Graduation
Paul Hayes, Education Coordinator at Northside Partnership & Chloe Kennedy, Challenger Graduate and winner of the Lorcan Ó hÓbáin Award join Donie to talk about the Challenger Programme and the effect it has had on one student’s life. (21st June 2021)

Story Massage Best Practice Award
Melanie Murphy, Winner Best Practice Award from The Story Massage Programme in association with the Northside Partnership, joins Donie to chat about the programme and what the award means. (15th June 2021)
Melanie Murphy on Winning a Story Massage Best Practice Award

Ecopocket Update with Community Employment and Tús Participants
Gerald Durney and Keith Burn from our Tús and Community Employment schemes join Donie Tarrant to talk about working in horticulture and an update on our Ecopocket project. (18th October 2021)

National Childcare Scheme
Leah Russell, Early Years Programme Coordinator with Preparing For Life, joins Donie Tarrant to speak the National Childcare Scheme and how it disadvantages parents who are not working. (4th October 2021)

Get The Message Out – There is Another Way Launch
Deborah Morgans of EDIT (Edenmore Drug Intervention Team) and Ger Redmond, Professional Athlete join Donie Tarrant at the launch of GTMO.
Following a rise in crime and drug-related activity in north east Dublin, local community
groups have come together to launch a new initiative called Get The Message Out – There is Another Way.
The aim of the initiative is to inform young people and their families that there are
alternatives to drugs and crime and that supports are available to them to avoid or exit this lifestyle. (13th September 2021)

Chair of Northside Partnership Discusses Recent Social Housing Report
Nessan Vaughan, Chair of Northside Partnership, recently spoke at the launch of a report from Cluid Housing “Financial Inclusion Among Social Housing Tenants” in his role as Chair of North Dublin MABS. Here, he talks to Donie about the report, social housing and financial capabilities. (28th June 2021)
Nessan Vaughan on “Financial Inclusion Among Social Housing Tenants” report from Clúid Housing
Young Community Leaders
Kathleen Murphy, Young Community Leaders Co-ordinator and Rachel O’Kelly, Young Community Leaders graduate and co-facilitator from the Young Community Leaders at the Northside Partnership join Donie Tarrant to discuss the project. (17th May 2021)
Young Community Leaders with Kathleen Murphy and Rachel O’Kelly
Money Made Sense
Angela Shafer from the Northside Partnership and Margaret Deegan, MABS Financial Coach join Donie to explain all about Money Made Sense at a time when we are being told that there is €14 billion on deposit in the countries financial institutions. (29th March 2021)
Money Made Sense with Angela Shafer and Margaret Deegan – Listen Again
Communiversities
Paul Hayes from the Northside Partnership joins Donie to discuss Communiversities we are also joined by Catherine Murphy who has been a participant on the Communiversities programme and share’s her experience of it. (22nd March 2021)
Communiversities with Paul Hayes and participant Catherine Murphy
Tús
James Hill, Tús Team Leader, with The Northside Partnership & William Hackett, participant on Tús join Donie to explain how Tús works and they also explain how participants can benefit from the Tús program. (24th February 2021)
How Tús Works With James Hill and William Hackett – Near FM – Listen Again
Education
Paul Hayes from the education team at the Northside Partnership joins Donie with some very timely advise to deal with all the confusion around the Leaving Cert. (11th February 2021)
Paul Hayes on Confusion Surrounding the Leaving Cert – Near FM – Listen Again
Preparing for Life Perinatal Services
Public health nurse and lactation consultant, with Preparing for Life at the Northside Partnership, Niamh Lohan, speaks to Donie about Preparing for Life’s perinatal services i.e. Antenatal Care & Education, Breastfeeding Support and Baby Massage. (3rd February 2021)
Perinatal Services with Niamh Lohan – Near FM – Listen Again
Social Enterprise
Angela Shafer from the Northside Partnership tells Donie about the Social Enterprise program and explains what Social Enterprise is, who can get involved and what supports are available. Of course, Near FM itself is a great example of social enterprise. (27th January 2021)
Angela Shafer from the Northside Partnership – Near FM – Listen Again
Local Employment Service
Audrey McGill from the Northside Partnership talks to Donie Tarrant about the Local Employment Services she explains How our Local Employment Service is adapting to Covid 19 changes, the services they provide, the Job preparation pack, Future Job trends and skills required. (22nd January 2021)
Northside Partnership’ Local Employment Services During the Pandemic – Near FM – Listen Again
Careers in Mind
Ger Nolan from Careers in Mind with the Northside Partnership tells Donie Tarrant about how they are conducting the program and talks about the success of the 2020, despite all the issues they had to overcome. (11th January 2021)
Smoking Cessation
Interview with Michael Malone, Smoking Cessation Officer, Northside Partnership about the Free Stop Smoking Support Service courses. (4th January 2021)
Challenger Resource Manual Launch
Donie Speaks with Niamh McTiernan, Director of Services, Northside Partnership Challenger Resource Manual Launch. (19th October 2020)
Money Made Sense
Angela Shafer from “Money Made Sense” a new program from the Northside Partnership joins Donie to explain this new development to help people develop their money management skills. (21st September 2020)
Jobsclub
Simon Yeates discusses Northside Partnership’s Jobs Club programme for those who are ready to find a job. (14/9/2020)
Northside Partnership in Lockdown
Paul Rogers from The Northside Partnership joins Donie to give us an update on how Northside Partnership has coped with Covid19, how both participants and staff have been kept engaged. (15th July 2020)
Local Enterprise Services
On this edition of Northside Today, Maureen Downey, Northside Partnership joins John Healy to talk about “Enterprise Week 2020”. (26th February 2020)
National Traveller and Roma Inclusion Service
Donie talks to Kathleen Lawrence from the National Traveller & Roma Inclusion Service about the Traveller Culture & History in Education Bill, which was sponsored by Sen. Colette Kelleher. (27th January 2020)
Donie discusses the Traveller Culture & History in Education bill with Kathleen Lawrence.
Preparing for Life Research at 9 Years
Niall Sexton P.F.L. from the Northside Partnership and Dr. Orla Doyle UCD Geary institute for Public policy are in studio with Donie Tarrant to discuss the research carried out into the early years learning and looks forward to some of their project for 2020. (16/12/2019)
Healthy Food Made Easy
Linda Scanlan of the Northside Partnership joins Donie Tarrant to talk about Healthy food made easy in the run up to Christmas and how shops turn a bit mad at this time of the year. (09/12/2019)
Smoking Cessation
Debbie McMahon talks to Michael Malone in the studio about the “Stop Smoking” campaign. (5th November 2019)
Smoking Cessation
Education Fair
Donie Tarrant interviews reporting from Education Fair at Parnell’s GAA Club. (17th October 2019)
Preparing for Life – Supporting Homeless Children & Families
Donie Tarrant is joined by Niall Sexton, Programme Manager and Sue Cullen, Preparing for Life. They talk to Donie about a new program they have rolled out to help young children who find themselves in emergency accommodation. (30th September 2019)
Enterprise
Joyce Topham with Northside Partnership’s Enterprise Section joins Donie Tarrant to discuss the work of the enterprise unit and the opportunities they can open up for people. (19th September 2019)
Northside Partnership Strategy Statement Launch
Paul Rogers, CEO & Niamh McTiernan, Director of Services at the Northside Partnership join Adrianne to discuss the advantaged thinking at the heart of their new strategy. (10th September 2019)
Communiversities
Donie speaks to Paul Hayes from the Northside Partnership about Communiversities. (6th January 2019)