Déise Today

This morning (Friday), 'Deise Today' featured a powerful interview with Lynda Shefflin. Lynda is from Ballyhale in Kilkenny and this week, out of desperation and frustration with the health services, posted a very personal and moving video to Instagram. It's about Lynda's experience with the health service and specifically, UHW, at the moment as she undergoes advanced testing for breast cancer. Yo...

Why do some young people engage in anti-social behaviour on estates? And what is the appeal of bonfires and fireworks if you are a young person?! Ahead of Hallowe'en in the coming weeks, we've been getting many reports on 'Deise Today' about the start of fireworks and bonfires in estates and communities around the city and county. In particular, there have been a lot of contacts to the show from t...

Waterford City and County Council is moving ahead with plans to examine the feasibility of a third crossing of the River Suir, with a consultant expected to be appointed within the next two months. The Council is currently tendering for a consultant to prepare a feasibility report examining the potential location, cost and viability of another river crossing for Waterford. The move was confirmed b...

In recent weeks on 'Dese Today' we've received many contacts from listeners in the Portlaw area. The issue is the 354 bus connecting Portlaw, and then Kilmeaden, with Waterford city (as well as Carrick-On-Suir and Dunmore East). Since the schools and colleges returned, there's been several mornings where the bus is at capacity before it even reaches all the stops in Portlaw - and school, college a...

A new play telling the story of the 2009 Waterford Crystal workers' occupation is taking to the stage in October! 'The Last Days of the Glass' is written by Derek Flynn and directed by James Power of Stagemad Theatre Company and will be performed in the Dr. Mary Strangman Large Room of City Hall, on Friday October 9, and Saturday October 10, at 7.30pm. The Theatre Vamps production featur...

Peter Power owns lands adjacent to Waterford Airport. At the moment, as people are aware, major work is ongoing at the airport site as the runway extension takes shape. However, Peter says the lack of adequate draining on the airport site is causing water to run onto his land. He spoke to Damien on 'Deise Today' this morning (Monday) and you can listen back to his chat with Damien by clicking on t...

Today (Thursday, Sept 10) is 'World Suicide Prevention Day'. Here in Waterford, a big event is taking place in The Tower Hotel this evening, organised by the Waterford and South East Samaritans. One of the guest speakers is the renowned and award-winning writer, podcaster and commentator, Michael Harding. This morning, Michael (who has spoken and written openly about his own mental health journey)...

The death occurred on Tuesday of Mona Manahan, late of Ballinamintra, Dunmore East. Mona was wife of the late Des Manahan, who died in 2021 and was regarded as one of the greatest musical theatre performers in Waterford, and of course, Mona was well-known in her own right and made huge contributions to the arts scene here in Waterford herself over the years. Des and Mona were married for nearly 60...

Dungarvan & West Waterford Chamber recently hosted its annual summer soiree at The Park Hotel. WLR's Kieran Foley and Kyle Butler went along and spoke to some of those in attendance.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Waterford has come alive with colour once again as Waterford Walls Festival 2026 , which kicked off on Friday, August 7 , brings ten days of spectacular street art, live events, workshops, music and family-friendly activities to the city until Sunday, August 16 . Lynn Ferrari, Marketing Operations Manager, joined Maria to outline more.    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy informati...

Rachel Keane from Dunhill, a past pupil of St. Declan's Community College, Kilmacthomas is this year's New Zealand Rose! She spoke with WLR's Kieran Foley ahead of this year's festival and outlined how the local community, including her mother Paula's fellow sea swimmers and local priest Fr Michael Enright, have rallied around her in support!   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy informat...

Yesterday (Thursday) in the Central Criminal Court in Waterford, a 35-year-old man was found guilty of murdering Tramore woman Gillian Curran. Ms Curran, who was 47 and originally from Sweetbriar in Tramore, was found unresponsive at her partner's house on the morning of 25 January 2025, and pronounced dead a short time later. Marcus O'Neill had denied murdering Ms Curran at his home on O'Brien St...

The Deise Today team were 'out and about' yesterday (Wednesday) in Kilmacthomas! This was another of our special programmes under our 'Waterford In Focus' series (in conjunction with Coimisiun Na Mean) celebrating  This time, we were just on the mid-way point of the Waterford Greenway, showcasing how infrastructure investment can revitalise and grow rural areas. Over the course of the program...

This morning (Tues) on 'Deise Today', Damien spoke to Vicki and Shannon. Both are residents of Spring Garden Alley in Waterford city and have nightmare stories to tell of anti-social behaviour which is literally happening on their doorsteps on a regular basis. The street/laneway is only a stone's throw from the city's nightlife and the residents say they've had to deal with all kinds of situations...

What will Waterford look like in 2050? And what new opportunities will have presented from the north quays, the Greenway and more?! This morning (Friday), we had a special programme on 'Waterford 2050' as part of our Waterford In Focus series of programming on air, thanks to the Coimisiun na Mean news fund. The WLR news team of Kieran, Kyle and Seamus, along with 'Deise Today's Damien and Jennifer...

On 'Deise Today' this morning (Thursday) we had a special focus on anti-social behaviour in Waterford city centre. It followed an alleged incident in fast-food restaurant Hillybilly's in recent days - where a staff member was allegedly assaulted by teenagers. Damien spoke to both the manager of Hillbilly's, and the alleged victim, on the show this morning. You can listen back to the piece by click...

Catherine, from Beary's Cross in Touraneena, was on 'Deise Today' with Damien this morning (Monday). One of her family pets, an African Grey Parrot called 'Derby' is missing since Friday night. The beloved pet is so intelligent she even knows the names of Catherine's dogs. Since Friday, lots of people in the locality have been searching for Derby who escaped out Catherine's front door on Friday ni...

A new play telling the story of the copper mining era in Bonmahon is about to take to the stage! The play, called 'The Man Who Sank Beneath the Sea' (written by Tom O'Brien) is being staged by the brilliant Gaelach Gorm Theatre Group in Kill, Co Waterford. The dates are Friday, July 24, and Saturday, July 25, with tickets available on Powertik. This morning (Thursday), Angela Mulcahy and James Bar...

Yesterday afternoon (Tuesday), the Taoiseach delivered an unreserved State apology in the Dáil to the victims of convicted child sex abuser Bill Kenneally. This followed the recent publication of the report of the South-East Commission of Investigation, chaired by Mr Justice Michael White. Kenneally, a former basketball coach here in Waterford city, was convicted of a string of sexual offen...

As we've been highlighting on air this week, GAA clubs throughout Waterford having been playing host to teams from around the globe as part of events for the GAA World Games this week. One of these is Portlaw GAA club who welcomed the 'Wisconsin Dairy Girls' camogie and LGFA teams to Pairc de Hinbengerg last night (Tuesday) for an evening of (light) training, fun, food, music and Irish dancing! Je...

A special plaque to remember the Waterford and Tramore Railway (1853-1960) will be unveiled this Friday (July 17). The Heritage Blue Plaque will be unveiled - at Tramore Railway Station on the Lower Branch Road - by the Mayor of Waterford city and county, Cllr Liam Brazil. The event is being organised by the Waterford Civic Trust. This morning (Tuesday) on 'Deise Today', Damien was joined by Eugen...

Is there an e-scooter in your house? And if so, do you realise the extent of the danger posed, especially for child users?! E-scooters, according to clinicians cited by the Road Safety Authority, have become the single biggest cause of traumatic brain injuries among children admitted under neurosurgery and rehabilitation services at Temple Street. The stark warning has prompted renewed calls for s...

Waterford City and County Council is set to pay a substantial legal bill after withdrawing its High Court judicial review over planning permission granted for the Ferrybank Shopping Centre. While the final figure has yet to be determined, Chief Executive Sean McKeown confirmed this week that Waterford will be responsible for paying the legal costs of both Kilkenny County Council and Dunnes Stores...

On 'Deise Today' this morning (Thursday), we had a special focus on jellyfish! In recent days, we've been flooded with images and videos from listeners across the county showing us jellyfish, of all varieties and fabulous colours, in our coastal waters and washed up on beaches. Listeners Eoin and Brendan were on air with us at the top of the show at 10 regarding their own encounters with jellyfish...

IT'S been a long time coming and the culmination of a campaign that was hard-fought but this morning (Monday) saw the start of 24/7 cardiac care at UHW! Since March of last year, the hospital has been providing a seven day, 8am-8pm on-call primary Percutaneous Coronary Intervention and emergency cardiac care service. However, as of this morning (Monday, July 6), this is being extended to a 24-hour...