The Big Breakfast Blaa

Ben Dawson has been hailed as a community hero following an open call for extraordinary young people in our communities. Sixteen-year-old Ben Dawson has become a familiar and much-loved face among the older members of the Mooncoin community, thanks to his dedication, kindness and willingness to give his time to others. Over the past seven months, Ben has volunteered regularly with the Mooncoin Day...

At just 13 years of age, Tomas Beagáin has already made a remarkable impact on his local community in Tramore. Recognised by WLR listeners and the wider community for his kindness, generosity and dedication to helping others, Tomas joined The Big Breakfast Blaa to share his story. A passionate baker, Tomas has used his talents to support local causes, selling homemade treats at community ma...

Battling face sweat is a problem for people all around the world at the moment. Fear not...there may be a solution for the moistness that ails you! Grace with the Buzz never fails to expand our horizons on The Big Breakfast Blaa and this week was certainly no exception on that. who else could combine GAA World Games, face antiperspirant and liquid talc!!!!!!  All in the one conversation&helli...

30 years ago, Darren Ó Droma undertook 'a mad notion' to swim across the bay from Ballinacourty to Helvick head with his friends. This was despite him being admittedly 'not much of a swimmer' but following a tragedy at sea, they were determined to swim in a bid to fundraise for a lifesaving service at Helvick Head to replace one that had been decommissioned some years previously. The rest i...

A local Co. Waterford beekeeper has shared some of his unique approach to managing symptoms of arthritis. David Phillips is a beekeeper, who turned his hand to this pursuit after a chance visit to the Waterford Harvest Festival. Now the proud owner of two beekeeper suits and many, many bees, he produces honey and continues to develop the growing hives. Speaking with Ollie and Dymphna, Dave admitte...

2026 marks 220 years since the death of the Massachusetts-born engineer, Lemuel Cox (1736 – 1806), who was the mind behind the creation of the Suir Wooden Toll Bridge, more popularly referred to as ‘Timbertoes.’ Opened in 1794, Cox’s creation stood for well-over a century, till it was replaced by Redmond Bridge. A brief interaction recorded in a 19th century book may explai...

Monster trucks, motorbikes, daredevil stunts and a lifetime in the entertainment business, it's all part of the world of Dylan Courtney , who joined Ollie and Dymphna on The Big Breakfast Blaa ahead of this weekend's Adrenaline Stunt Circus in Tramore. For Dylan, performing isn't just a job, it's in his blood. A member of the legendary Courtney circus family, he has spent his entire life on the ro...

Grace investigates a murder in the farmyard, our own resident super sleuth. She was missing in action last week (rumours abound over her possible attendance at a certain wedding?!) However, this week she was back with a bang and in full murder mystery mode investigating the murder of George, the beloved farmer in The Sheep Detectives. She gave her tuppence on the importance of privacy, and the jou...

Comeragh Motor Club has gone through a revolution since its inception in 2022. Born out of the vision of Colm Drummy, the club started with 50 motor club enthusiasts. Since then, it has grown to in excess of 100 members. This Sunday, July 12th at 12 noon, as part of the Comeraghs Wild Festival, a gathering of Comeragh Motor Club will take place in the Coach House in Kilmacthomas. Teas, coffees and...

The Couple Corradi (1913 – 25): Ice Cream Cones & Court Cases 1926 Census Starting with the 1926 Census, Cian Manning joins   The Big Breakfast Blaa  to explore the lives of the couple, Ladovico and Mary Elizabeth Corradi, who lived at one time in Michael Street in Waterford city. Life and Times We learn of the professional life and marriage of Mary Elizabeth, whose second husb...

Tramore has taken centre stage on a national platform for the RTE Sport Summer Promotion. Young athletes from sporting clubs right across the town are featured in a new television promotion for sport across the summer. They can be seen playing hurling, camogie, football and many other sports against the stunning backdrop of Tramore beach. Local businesses also rowed in to help with chips, icecream...

The 30th year of the RNLI Helvick swim will take place this Sunday with festivities underway from 2pm. The all-important swim will take place at 2.45pm, with registration in Ballinacourty from 12.30pm. The Dungarvan Brass Band will be on site keeping spirits high and vibes good ahead of the swim. In Helvick, there will be a BBQ, family games, a wellie-throwing competition, music and much more. All...

Fleadh Mór in 1993 was a two-day open-air festival in Tramore Racecourse. It was a roaring success, never to be repeated, and destined to go down in history as a shining example of one of Waterford's finest achievements. The racecourse played host to extraordinary acts such as Bob Dylan, Christy Moore, Ray Charles, The Pogues, Shane McGown, Jerry Lee Lewis, Maria McKee and many, many more....

A hosepipe ban is likely to be made as the high temperatures are expected to continue into next week. At least 10 days of little to no rain, accompanied by temperatures in the high 20s are forecasted. Alan O'Reilly from Carlow Weather joined Ollie and Dymphna on air this morning, July 6th. Looking ahead to the coming days, he advised humidity levels will be very high. This means the night-time tem...

A woman has been praised for coming to the assistance of a cyclist near the Mahon Falls region last Saturday evening. Anne was driving home having dropped her husband to a pub in Kilrossanty. She spotted a girl walking on the side of a rural road and stopped to offer assistance at close to 10.30pm. The girl, she realised was trying to make her way to the Mahon Falls carpark to retrieve her bicycle...

A local delivery driver for DPD has outlined the true cost of deliveries to Ireland from outside of the EU. Following the introduction of the EU Parcel Tax on July 1, it was reported that a €3 tax on each item posted from outside the EU would be applied. Since then, it has emerged that VAT applies to that tax, bringing the total to €3.70. This morning, Daithi Phelan from DPD in Waterford...

Dean O'Halloran found his purpose at a time when it seemed like hope was a long way away. From just 15 years of age, Dean played football at a high level for Waterford FC before signing cross-channel for Fulham F.C. Speaking on The Big Breakfast Blaa, he said 'he fell out of love with football,' shook hands in a small office, packed his bags and moved back home. This came following enormous sacrif...

JOHN ELMES (1916 – 67):1926 Census: Timber Merchant & Caricaturist. Graves & Co Cian Manning paid his weekly visit to the    The Big Breakfast Blaa   studio for another look at one of the lives recorded by the 1926 Census. This time we look at a youth named John Elmes, who would go on to become a company director of Graves & Co. like his father, Robert Samuel, befo...

St. Joseph's AFC Waterford is gearing up for what promises to be one of the biggest underage football events of the summer with the Michael Grant International Memorial Tournament taking place on Saturday, July 25th. Pierre Fetat and Billy Flynn joined Ollie and Dymphna on The Big Breakfast Blaa to chat about the incredible work going into the tournament. It has already attracted 24 Under-10 teams...

Grace drinks matcha, definitely does not drink ketchup juice, and absolutely regrets the lot. That was the takeaway from her visit to The Big Breakfast Blaa studio this morning for Friday, June 26th. Following a delicious string of hot days, Grace has been to the beach (she met some nice new friends!) Staving off the heat, she ordered a matcha and discussed the components of sweat, live on air. Al...

Fenor's Scott Murray has just returned from representing Ireland at the European Transplant Games in the Netherlands. In 2022, Scott received a bone marrow transplant from his sister, Zola, following a diagnosis of Acute Myeloid Leukaemia. After his intital treatment via chemotherapy was unsuccessful, it was necessary to look towards the possibility of a bone marrow transplant. New Chapter for Sco...

When Olivia was 3 she was diagnosed with severe Scoliosis and she underwent her first spinal surgery. She had a rod placed in her back and every 6 months has had to have more surgeries to lenghten the rod. Olivia's Spinal Surgery Olivia in the coming months has another big spinal surgery and will continue to need more. Olivia has had many stays in hospital and is the bravest girl who continues to...

Again building on the details recorded by the 1926 Census, we look at the life of Ballybricken fish and chip shop owner, Philomena Gater, as we learn about her marriage to Edward Gater and their business endeavours in the city. A time of great technological changes and advancements, which the fledgling Irish Free State was trying to get to grips with, we learn of the family’s brush with the...

Daithí Phelan, 'the Pride of Tramore' is in the running to become Ireland's No. 1 DPD driver. Tomorrow, June 23rd, he switches up his delivery route and heads for the roaring curves of Mondello Park instead. There, he will represent Waterford in the DPD Superdriver 2026 Championship. Daithí Not Phased by Competition Daithí faces competition as 32 drivers in the country are all...

Anthony Keyes will run an ultra-marathon on seven consecutive days from August 10th as a thank you to Waterford Hospice. The 'angels' in Waterford Hospice cared for Anthony's brother-in-law Shane McCarthy during his time in the Oak Ward, University Hospital Waterford. Shane died on December 27th, knowing he was loved beyond belief by his wife, his children and his extended family and friends. When...