Tipp FM Radio

For many of you, the Christmas season is into full swing.

Well, next week the season of advent begins in the Christian religion.

There can be some confusion over the period and the traditions of it, so to explain that now we’re joined on the line by Glenstal monk and lecturer at the college – as well as a former Junior doctor in Clonmel – Luke MacNamara:

The Garda Band will be in Tipp for a charity fundraiser next week.

Three charities will benefit from the event at the Hotel Minella in Clonmel next Thursday, where the band will be accompanied by Boherlahan soprano Eimear Lowth and Cahir-based Inspector Eddie Golden.

Superintendent William Leahy, Inspector Eddie Golden and Director of the Band of An Garda Siochana, Pat Kenny spoke to Fran on Monday's show.

Today is Black Friday and many of you will be looking for deals online in advance of Christmas.

To advise us on best practice for keeping yourself safe online when shopping, BSI Cyber-Security Expert, Stephen Scott spoke to Fran on Tipp Today:

Many of you are really beginning to get into the Christmas spirit, with little over a month to go until the special day.

Well, Waterford City has once again been transformed into a magical winter wonderland for the duration of 'Winterval' - running until December 23rd.

Tipp FM's Ben Sweeney spoke to Winterval's Tommie Ryan:

Now operating under Mary Immaculate College as the MIC Thurles Campus, the college on the site of the old St Patrick's College caters for 260 students.

However, it has ambitious plans to double that number in the next few years – while not long ago it was fighting to survive.

It's only one part of the College's interesting 180 year history in Thurles, and Tipp FM's Ben Sweeney visited the college yesterday as part of College Awareness Week to learn more.

Nenagh hospital is running an initiative which aims to get patients home quicker AND healthier.

The pilot project, undertaken as part of the international #EndPJParalysis campaign has been underway for a number of weeks, and Physiotherapist and Project Lead Aoife Synnott spoke to Fran on Wednesday's show.

International Men's Day was marked yesterday.

As part of their coverage, The Irish Times invited male readers to send in their own experiences of being a man in Ireland in 2018.

Their experiences were vast and sometimes surprising. Thrown in among the usual simple complaints of “men have to pay for everything” or “not being sporty is a curse” were more serious complaints.

For example, one man spoke about his stress and overthinking about how he could accidentally come across as intimidating to women.

However, the overriding theme was that the men of Ireland are really struggling with their mental health.

They're finding it difficult to put up with the pressures society cast on them – to be the supporter of the family. Some explained that they feel they will appear weak if they speak about their feelings and mental health issues. Others said they're expected to be the “strong, silent type”.

Well, that is something that didn't surprise Joe Leahy. Joe is the man behind C-SAW and the Tipperary Cycle Against Suicide and he joined Fran in studio on Tuesday.

We've just celebrated the 100th anniversary of the end of WWI.

We spoke to historian Thomas Burnell about the Tipperary involvement in the war, and indeed he even brought in an authentic WWI Lee Enfield rifle to show us!

Well, several of you have been in touch with the show since to tell us your own stories of family involvement in The Great War.

One such lady was Tina Hally from Ardfinnan – she says that her Great-Grandfather AND his FOUR brothers from Ardfinnan all served on the front lines of the war – and even walked in the gardens of Babylon. She spoke to Fran on Tuesday's show to tell her story.

Many of you will be familiar with the good work that SEMRA do.

The South East Mountain Rescue Association are often out in the worst conditions to rescue those who get into difficulty around the region – and all voluntarily.

Well, to help with the day-to-day running costs of the literally life-saving service, SEMRA are holding an event this weekend entitled Long Way Round.

To tell me more, Jimmy Barry from SEMRA joined Fran in studio.

In this week’s Extra time Junior Football Podcast, our host Jamie O'Flaherty is joined in studio by Barry Ryan and Noel Walsh from Old Bridge FC. We hear from Clonmel Town duo Paul Shanahan and Brandon O’Callaghan, Bansha Celtic manager Shane Ferris, Cashel Town manager Brian 'Boca' Glasheen, Cahir Park Youth manager Sean Coffey and we get a North Tipp round up from Padraig Ryan. We hope you like.....