The Big Breakfast Blaa

Grace is back regaling us with her tales of a brush with danger and a one-eyed cat.

This came right after she watched this season's blockbuster hit, 'I Know What You Did Last Summer.'

In her own words, she got more of a fright off the cat.

Click on the image to listen back to Grace in full on The Big Breakfast Blaa.

Cappoquin Health Centre is set to become a new GP training centre.

This means, on top on the newly established four GP practice, there will be doctors in training.

As part of the Tour de Blaa feature, Ollie and Dymphna visited Dr. Derek Casey.

He spoke candidly about the highs and lows of the job, the community, and the growth of the practice.

Click on the image to listen back in full.

Extensive works are ongoing to the collective tune of several million euro in Cappoquin.

This includes a significant extension to Cappoquin Community Centre.

This, Denis McCarthy says is self-financed in the region of €450,000.

He spoke regarding his roles within Cappoquin Community Development Company and Cappoquin Regeneration Company.

Additionally works are at an advanced stage on Main Street.

These works are geared towards reducing dereliction and vacancy within the community.

As part of the Tour de Blaa, Ollie and Dymphna visited the thriving community.

Click on the image to listen back to Denis in full.

John Noonan is reflecting on a lifetime of service in Cappoquin Fire Service.

As part of the Tour de Blaa in Cappoquin, Ollie and Dymphna spoke with members of the community.

With fond memories of the development of Cappoquin over 50 years was John Noonan.

He reflected on the challenges of the fire service, the many rewards, and the retirement date coming down the line.

A full week of coverage from Cappoquin runs on The Big Breakfast Blaa from Monday, July 21st.

Click on the image to listen back in full to John.

We all remember the abomination that was Sharknado, don't we?

Grace is back before the weekend to forewarn us of a new breed of fish.. specifically the dinosaur fish.

This fresh horror follows her recent trip to the cinema to see the brand new Jurassic World.

Aside from Scarlett Johanssen, Grace doesn't really have anything good to say.

Click on the image to listen back in full (it's pure rage bait)

At the heart of Woodhouse Estate in Stradbally, the work never stops keeping the estate looking beautiful.

Instrumental to that work is a man known to many as 'Ted.'

In reality, his name is Timothy O'Connell but in a very Irish way, he is known by all as Ted.

He has overseen the entire extensive renovation project in Woodhouse Estate.

As part of the Tour de Blaa, Ted drove Ollie and Dymphna around the estate in his jeep.

He detailed the work, the time, and the love required to restore the estate to its current grandeur.

Click on the image to listen back to the interview in full.

Waterford is awash with sporting talent, but today we are reflecting on the pre-eminent sportsman of Portlaw.

Tyrone-native Johnny Ryan came to the attention of Lord Waterford for his horsemanship aboard Black Dwarf.

The pair of horse and jockey made their way to Curraghmore as far back as the 1840s.

In his late-teens, Ryan carried the ‘blue’ of Lord Waterford.

He is even believed to have won at least 112 races out of 130 for his County Waterford patron.

Historian Cian Manning offers a fascinating look back at his amazing story, saved from the pages of history.

Keep up to date on all the latest from The Big Breakfast Blaa 

Stradbally has an ambitious future plan for community development.

That's according to local businessman Robert Gough, of the XL shop.

Included in those future plans being explored are a community gym, newly development walkways, and the reclaiming of idle buildings.

The An Rinn native proudly feeds the masses with his famous 99s.

He told Dymphna that the community uses its strengths to look ahead to future development opportunities.

To listen back to this edition of the Stradbally Tour de Blaa, click on the image.

Behind the scenes with Stradbally Tidy Towns is a special place to be.

Ollie and Dymphna went on the most recent Tour de Blaa to the award-winning village.

With the warmest of welcomes, they caught up with Margo Crowley and members of Stradbally Tidy Towns.

They detailed the countless hours of work, undertaken with a big community heart.

However, they also reflected on the lows, including the theft of their equipment, which shocked the community.

Pour a cuppa, sit back and listen in full.

Martine Rogers took a leap of faith two decades ago and made Stradbally her home.

If truth be told, it was home a long time before the big move, and Stradbally holds fond memories of strong family links in the village.

On a sunny day in Stradbally, Dymphna sat down in the square for the chats with Martine.

From Barron Hall, to driftwood, the community, and the joy of living there, Martine explained it all!

Click on the image to listen back to the first instalment of Tour de Blaa- the Stradbally edition!