The Big Breakfast Blaa

In December, if there is sweat, cakes, a BBQ, and some fast feet- it can only mean Mark White is fundraising! To officially launch this year's WLR Be A Little Star Christmas Appeal, a mammoth undertaking is happening in Tramore AFC. This Saturday, from 5am until midday, everyone is invited to visit Tramore AFC. Members of the gym will be personally fundraising by spinning, cycling, undertaking HII...

Journi Credit Union are delighted to support the Only Fools on Scooters 2025 Toy Run in aid of the Children's Ward at University Hospital Waterford. They are inviting members to help put a smile on a child's face this Christmas with the gift of a book, a small toy or a game. Toy donations can be dropped into branches at Mooncoin, Parnell Street, Summerhill, Tramore or Upper Grange before December...

The son of a Waterford man, Samuel S. Brannan went on to establish the first newspaper in San Francisco. Many commentators suggested that Brannan was the first to publicise the California Gold Rush. Brannan membered the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. However he would come into conflict with church authorities as he went from being a Mormon millionaire to dying penniless in 1889. The...

Yesterday, Aiken Promotions announced four more dates as part of their Live at the Marquee summer lineup. Ollie and Dymphna popped down to Cork to chat with Peter Aiken, from Aiken Promotions. From Bell X1, Dec Pierce and his Block Rockin' Beats, James Taylor & his All-Star Band, and World Darts- they are all set to descend on the Marquee. These acts add to the already announced gigs from Davi...

Twin brothers Eli and Jack Hayson are the subject of a rather chilling tale this week with Cian Manning. On Christmas Eve, one brother was at home in Waterford. At the same time, another brother was aboard a ship which was docked in Cork. That night saw one brother experience a vision, while the other did not live to see Christmas Day. Only years later would further light be shed on the Hayson fam...

Waterford youth group St. Paul's Scout Group was honoured the Waterford PPN awards in Dungarvan. They were nominated in the Children and Youth category alongside Woodland Brownies, and Manor Street Youth Services. The judges ultimately named St. Paul's Scout Group as the overall category winners. Making their decision, they judges noted their 'long standing and meaningful contribution to society.'...

An athlete with Pat Rockett Martial Arts Academy & Waterford Fitness is celebrating a series of big kickboxing wins. Joni Hayes joined Ollie and Dymphna in studio with her coach, Clodagh Cullen. A student of St. Angela's Secondary School in Waterford, Joni is 14 years old. Medals spanning gold, silver and bronze adorned her neck as she entered the studio. These represent a small selection of h...

Ahead of the opening of Waterford's new sustainable transport bridge, a Waterford organisation is to increase its evening patrols. Re-A-Suir, Waterford's only face to face out-of-hours suicide prevention service spoke to WLR on this subject. They were well represented at this year's PPN Awards in Dungarvan. Last Thursday night, they won the Community Safety Award for their city-based service. Judg...

Waterford businesses are being supported and encouraged to hire staff with disabilities. That's according to Cathy Burns, Employment Services Co-Ordinator and WorkAbility Programme Support Worker with Buíon. She spoke with Ollie and Dymphna in The Park Hotel last week. During the interview, she referred to Dungarvan's Hannah O'Mahony as a 'shining star' in the programme. Workplaces are being encou...

Dungarvan's own Hannah O'Mahony has always, and continues to make the town of Dungarvan proud. Hailing from Ballinroad, Hannah is working in The Park Hotel, Dungarvan. Following her course in SETU, she engaged with Buíon under the WorkAbility programme. With their help, she secured her life-long ambition, to successfully gain employment in her chosen area. Hannah spoke with Dymphna about her work,...

Dungarvan Rugby Club's Kerrie Walsh was voted Junior Volunteer of the Year at the 21st annual PPN awards. The awards which took place in The Park Hotel, Dungarvan celebrate groups and individuals which positively impact communities. Kerrie was shortlisted in the category alongside Aaron Griffin (Waterford Inclusivity Network Youth Committee) and Lucy Batchelor (Woodlawn Grove Residents Association...

Grace McFly (aka Drohan) goes Back to the Future in this week's 'The Buzz with Grace.' With an retro-outfit to rival Marty McFly, Grace arrived in studio wearing denim on denim. Back to the cinema with her, in celebration of 40 years of Back to the Future. A treat for Grace who carried her mighty crush on actor Michael .J. Fox into the cinema with her. Hot on the heels of Halloween, Grace laments...

Last night at the 21st PPN Awards, members of Tallow Men's Shed spoke of their love for cake, new adventures, and staying young. In the Park Hotel, the group won the Social Inclusion and Community Support award. Competition was strong- with the group shortlisted alongside Cnoc Buí Active Retirement Association, and KGK Community Council. In making their decision, judges noted that the group 'enric...

A case of truth being stranger than fiction, and reality being more terrifying than frightful fireside tales. Waterford’s Mary Ann Walshe spent 4 years trying to find her daughter Emily. She had been sent to the Caragh Orphanage in Co. Kildare. This sad and chaotic case has been further compounded by the revelations of notorious mismanagement and murder which took place at Caragh. Another fascinat...

In the event of life-saving intervention, how many defibrillators are in your area? Councillor Adam Wyse, Mayor of the Waterford Metropolitan District joined Ollie and Dymphna in studio. For the first year, councillors have a funding pot to draw from, with €8,000 per councillor available. This must be used within the community adhering to certain criteria. Adam decided to use his to fund the insta...

A group of young surfers are preparing to represent Ireland on the World stage in December in Peru. Giorgi Herterich, Keelan Maloney, Ella Dooly, Ruby Fanning are currently fundraising for their trip to the World Junior Surfing Championships. The athletes popped into studio to speak with the Breakfast crew about the nerves, the competition, and the planning behind it all. Collectively, between €12...

Grace has given us her top picks for FREE Halloween events in Waterford this weekend. From boat trips on the River Suir to spooky events in Waterford's Cultural Quarter- she has got you covered. It wouldn't be Halloween in the Deise without a drop of rain, but we have umbrellas for a reason! Events are running in the city for the younger Waterfordians, the older teens, and the adults. Grace has sc...

Alpacas, chickens, scabs, and foam hair... it can only mean that Waterford Panto is back with a bang. Jane Kennedy has been behind the scenes for many years, transforming the heads and hair of the cast on stage. However this year, she steps into the limelight as 'Scabriella' (Scabs to her close friends) in Cinderella. Alongside Tony Corcoran, she will bring beauty to the Ugly Sisters and a fine me...

Levitating beds and spooky surgeons in Waterford... strange, but true! Historian Cian Manning joined us for another week on air of spooky tales from Waterford on the approach to Halloween. He bring us a tale connected to the fate of a Waterford 1798 Rebel named Bowen. To his detriment, he failed to heed the warnings of a surgeon named George Alexander Waters. The latter’s dwelling on Peter Street...

25 bonus points in the CAO are granted to students who earn at least a H6 in Higher Level Maths. This is a tale as old as time in a very controversial system. No additional points are given to students who score highly at Ordinary level for Maths. The bonus points are not added to your overall CAO points, however they are added to the points awarded for Maths. This allows students to then consider...

Waterford Council are seeking land along the Copper Coast for use as an off-road campervan facility. This comes as the Council recently limited campervan parking at Kilmurrin Cove to designated places only. Citing road safety issues, as well as fair-use policy, the sea-facing spaces have been designated for cars only. That's according to local Independent councillor, Declan Clune. Following the er...

A Waterford man has spoken of his decision to regularly donate platelets. Speaking with Ollie and Dymphna on The Big Breakfast Blaa, Shane O'Neill from Tramore explained the ease of the process. His commute to donate takes him from Tramore to Cork, where he spends a number of hours. This follows an initial eligibility assessment on his suitability as a donor. The test can be completed in the same...

Coffee House Lane have been riding the wave of success in the last few days nationally. The Waterford coffee company has been awarded Gold at the Blas na hEireann Irish Food Awards. Additionally, they earned Origin Green Gold Membership. This award recognises outstanding commitment to sustainability and green busienss practices. Owner and Founded, Mark Bergin joined Ollie and Dymphna live on air t...

Unexplainable disturbances in Costelloe's Lane and Carriglea in Waterford City are Cian Manning's subject this week. In 1892, a man tried his hardest to protect his family from these disturbances. The Kinlough family home was visited by the Roman Catholic clergy, and the Royal Irish Constabulary. This story tells the story of a headless figure and a ghoulish greyhound. Peter Kinlough has become fa...

Grace joined Ollie and Dymphna in studio for an in-depth talk on furniture made from people. She is, of course, referring to Ryan Murphy's newest instalment in the Monsters series. From box-office hits to utter flops, she has STRONG opinions this week. With Hallowe'en on the horizon, Grace is taking herself off to the cinema to look at the haunting of a family. Plot twist: it is from the perspecti...