Local Voices

#20: Professor Brendan Kelly, Consultant Psychiatrist in Tallaght University Hospital, shares some tips about how to mind our mental health during a pandemic following the release of his book Coping with Coronavirus. With no Tallaght Health Fair this year, Catherine Mooney from South Dublin County Partnership details what services are available in and around Tallaght. Catherine Heaney of Fettercairn Community Health Project talks about how they have co-ordinated the event each year and more.

#19: Former Thomas Davis and Dublin football legend Paul Curran joins host Hayden Moore to take a step back 25 years in time, to when The Boys in Blue finally won their long-overdue All-Ireland Senior Football Championship title.

#18: Someone is diagnosed with cancer in Ireland every three-minutes. Just over five-years-ago Sean Crowe TD was one of those people. He was diagnosed with Prostate Cancer, the most common form of cancer in men in Ireland. With September being #BlueSeptember, Sean Crowe shares his story of living with the prostate cancer with host Hayden Moore while Consultant Urologist in Tallaght University Hospital, Mr Robert Flynn, details the complexity of the prostate, how the disease can be treated and more.

#17: Terri Harrison gave birth to her son Niall at St Patrick's Mother and Child Institution in 1973, there he was taken from her and adopted without her consent. David Kinsella was born in St Patrick's and adopted, but his longing to meet his biological mother never disappeared. They share their stories with host Hayden Moore while journalist Alison O'Reilly, who has covered Mother and Baby Homes extensively, gives some background.

#16: While COVID-19 still exists, is it possible for us to live the lives we want? With a recent surge in the number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Ireland, Consultant Clinical Microbiologist in Tallaght University Hospital Anna-Rose Prior and Clinical Nurse Manager in TUH's Intensive Care Unit Lisa Dunne discuss the disease. Also, a man who contracted the novel coronavirus while working as a bus driver shares his story.

#15: With the news that Green Party Cllr William Priestley was to resign from his position because of the low salary, we take a closer look. Is the €17,060 a year and expenses enough considering the work load? William Priestley speaks about why he left while Fianna Fáil Cllr Deirdre O'Donovan speaks about the role of the councillor, the lack of maternity leave for elected representatives and more.

#14: As of June 2020, there are 557 people on South Dublin County Council's homeless register. With the homeless emergency continuing in Ireland along with the COVID-19 pandemic, host Hayden Moore speaks to somebody who has been sleeping on the streets of Tallaght in recent months. Also, Karen McEvoy from homeless service, VISIT, talks about what they do and the challenges they have faced.

#13: Following months of restrictions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and phased reopenings, schools are set to reopen with children expected to return to classrooms at the end of August. But what exactly does that mean in a world where COVID-19 exists? Host Hayden Moore talks to local principals and a teacher about the challenges that lie ahead.

#12: Some 1500 people woke up on the morning of April 9 having suddenly lost their jobs. Debenhams Retail Ireland announced that it was closing all 11 of its stores in the Republic of Ireland, notifying their staff via email. June 18 was a significant day for the workers as it marked 100 days since they found out they were being made redundant. To mark the occasion, they held a nationwide rally as part of their protest for what they believe to be a fair redundancy. Host Hayden Moore met some of the people on the picket line in Tallaght to hear their stories.

#11: Ireland's first ever team to qualify for the Winter Olympics was the Irish Bobsleigh Team, at Calgary '88. But 10 days before they were set to take centre stage, their entry to the games was withdrawn. Clondalkin filmmaker Jason Branagan charts their spectacular journey in the feature length documentary Breaking Ice. Jason joins host Hayden Moore alongside Garry Power, two-time Olympic bobsledder with Ireland.