The Big Breakfast Blaa

Get ready to run through history! The Waterford Viking Marathon Running Festival returns this  Saturday and Sunday June 20th & 21st, 2026 , and it’s set to be our biggest and boldest event yet. Whether you’re taking on the  Full Marathon ,   Full Marathon Relay ,  Half Marathon ,  10K , our  Children’s Run , or the  Disability Friendly...

Grace talks about her whistle stop tour to Birmingham, the discovery of Disco toilets and a tour of all the known and not so known sights. She also gives us the lowdown on Dutton Ranch the spin-off  from the T.V. series Yellowstone. Who else could bring all these subjects together in the one five minute conversation !!!!!!   Keep up to date on all the latest from The Big Breakfast Blaa w...

William Eleroy Curtis (1850–1911), a prominent figure in promoting Pan-Americanism, would see a bounty placed on his head by the Ku Klux Klan. Some would later criticise Curtis's diplomatic career as being characterised by corruption and the pursuit of American imperialism. A prolific travel writer, Curtis wrote about his time in Ireland in the 1909 book One Irish Summer . Inevitably, he wou...

Dive Into Adventure : There will be plenty of adventure and magical stories for children Saturday 13 June, when Richard Shore, a Co. Waterford based children's author, will hold a book reading in Tramore. Held in the garden storytelling area 11.00 am - 12.00 at the Tramore Coastguard Cultural Centre, Richard will bring to life his two children's series - Hurrahtum Adventures! and Will's Wild Adven...

'Our Voices Our Culture' was a special feature programe which ran today, May 29th on The Big Breakfast Blaa.  It featured a variety of voices, all very proud members of the travelling community here in Waterford. 'Our Voices Our Culture' These included students from St. Saviours National School, education support workers working with young traveller children in Waterford, families, strong wom...

Supercars for a Cause, Alan Bannon Chats to Ollie and Dymphna About Cannonball’s Return to Waterford Alan Bannon, founder of the hugely successful Cannonball supercar run, joined Ollie and Dymphna on WLR’s Big Breakfast Blaa to discuss the exciting charity event arriving in Waterford on Saturday, June 6th. During the interview, Alan spoke about the incredible success of Cannonball over...

Daffodil King, Joseph Lionel Richardson, commonly known as Lionel lived from 1890 to 1961. The Tramore-born man pursued a profession and a passion in cultivating daffodils from his home in Prospect House, Kilcohan. From there, Lionel maintained daffodils, tomato plants for sale, a Victorian garden, and even jersey cattle. Accolades for Richardson's Daffodil Richardson, for whom Richardson's meadow...

The Anne Valley 5 Mile Challenge is back for its 19th year this Saturday, May 30th with all proceeds raised in aid of Juniors for Juniors Children's Charity. A new route has been unveiled this year with the dreaded hill on mile 4 removed from the route. Organisers promise a flat run through scenic countryside including ducks, rivers, greenery and all manner of picturesque vistas. A walking option,...

Eunice Power, award-winning chef in Dungarvan, is reflecting on her extraordinary success at this year's Irish Restaurant Awards.  On the night, she was named All-Ireland Local Food Hero for her contributions to regional tourism, the developing food industry locally, and her work as CEO of Waterford Festival of Food. Eunice, who owns AndChips in Dungarvan has long been a champion of the local...

Here with a debate for the ages is Grace who is genuinely trying to make 'Bounce House' happen. In Waterford, if you were lucky enough, you had an inflatable castle built to bounce on, in the back garden for the birthday parties. These were called 'Bouncy Castles' once we are all in agreement? With the evolution of bouncy castles away from castles, houses, and general residential outlets... Grace...

Tramore schools united to help #TeamAnn over the line in their quest to walk 50K in the month of May. Earlier this month, The Big Breakfast Blaa popped out to Tramore Nursing Home to cheer along #TeamAnn in their efforts. All monies raised are going directly to MS Ireland, to find research and supports for those diagnosed with MS and their families. We spoke with pupils from Holy Cross National Sc...

Somehow, in the blink of an eye, it has been 80 years of Dungarvan Harbour Sailing Club. Across those 8 decades, the club has evolved and grown to become a stronghold of the sailing industry locally. Commodore Austin Flynn joined Ollie and Dymphna on air to reflect on those years. From the building of the first boats and the links to hurling- to the inclusion of a young sailing fleet, the club is...

Laurence Olivier came to Ireland in 1943 to star in and direct an adaptation of Henry V. There was the added pressure at the time of instructions from Churchill to use the film as a morale-booster for British troops in World War II. Following this, hundreds of extras were needed, taking into account the issue of shooting a propaganda film in a neutral state. Several key figures from Waterford took...

WLR FM ’s Big Breakfast Blaa , Oliver Carroll spoke with the larger-than-life Digital Dinny for a lively and entertaining chat about the fast-moving digital world and how it affects ordinary people in Ireland today. Digital Dinny brings energy and humour to subjects that can often sound confusing or intimidating. Instead of using technical jargon, he explains things in plain language with lo...

This Sunday, the Waterford Greenway plays host to the East Meets West Greenway cycle. Now in its 10th year, the cycle is organised by Waterford and Dungarvan Lions Club. All monies raised will be donated in their entirety to Waterford Hospice to support carers and those being cared for at home. There is no entry fee to partake in this weekend's 20km cycle, although participants are asked to consid...

Yesterday, May 13th, an Irish record was set when a 9ft tall clock was sold for €16,500. The historic John Donegan Harp Clock is just one for 8 items ever made. Bidding took place through Keighery's City Auction Rooms online, on the phone, and in person. The sale was confirmed online with the understanding that the clock will remain in the country. The auction saw 400 clocks sell, including a...

It was a battle of the curtain tassled coats this morning on The Big Breakfast Blaa with the Drohans! For one week only in a special broadcast, Ellen joined Grace in studio for The Buzz. Fresh off the back of seeing The Devil Wears Prada 2, the ladies were starry-eyed for Miranda Priestly and her fancy coat. While the pricetag might have been a little high, they have a solid plan for a local versi...

Famed Uilleann Piper and Kill native, Liam Walsh is a name not to be forgotten. He was known over time as the 'Django Reinhardt' of uilleann piping such was his contribution to the tradition. Walsh received an active service medal in later life for his work in the fight for Irish independence. Additionally, he served as the High Constable for Waterford and was heard on Ireland's very first radio s...

The inaugural 'Are Ye Well Fest' kicks off Friday, May 8th for a three-day run of free events. Running across Tallow, Cappoquin, and Lismore, a full programme of events is planned. Things kick off in St. Carthage's Cathedral in Lismore on Friday evening at 7pm with music from John Stack, motivational speaker Edgar Kirby and much more. Then on Saturday a free sunrise kayak from Lismore to Cappoquin...

A new event titled 'Sunrise Stroll' is set to replace the annual Darkness into Light event in Tramore. This follows the announcement by the organising committee of Darkness into Light Waterford City cancelling the walk, as announced on Deise Today The decision came on foot of the planned closure of Pieta House in Waterford, with  it described by Pieta as "a strengthened regional and local ser...

Last night, the Tower Hotel played host to a wealth of future stars of Waterford Camogie. Their inaugural fundraising fashion show took place, including starlit backdrop, catwalk, and this season's latest fashions. From bridal gowns to suits, holiday inspiration, to formal wear- the show had it all. Local retailers and businesses contributed en masse and made this an unforgettable night. Significa...

Following a community fundraising campaign, Garranbane National School has raised more than €15,000 for their new sensory room. Located in a modular building adjacent to the main school building, the room will be a place for pupils to regulate and to receive sensory stimulation. Due to a loophole in Department of Education funding, no assistance could be provided to the school as the sensory...

Dungarvan man, Shaw Desmond, amongst many other pseudonyms, claimed he could communicate with the dead. With a career spanning journalism to politics and more besides, his life could have been a Netflix documentary. Cian Manning joined Ollie and Dymphna this week with the full rundown of his claims to reach beyond the veil. Throughout the 1930s, following a significant tragedy in his life, he atte...

40 years ago, Stand By Me was released, and a cultural revolution was born. Coincidentally, 40 years ago, our own Grace was born and in Waterford, a separate cultural revolution occured. This week, in the absence of both Ollie and Dymphna, Grace introduced Andy and Maria to her unique brand of madness. On the eve of her brother's birthday, she revisited spiders in the sitting room, black gloves, r...

A night of fashion for Waterford Camogie will see the Tower Hotel transformed for a major fundraising initiative. On Thursday, April 23rd, local retailers will showcase their Spring/Summer fashions on the catwalk of the Tower Hotel. Special models have been drafted in to support the event, including Kilmacthomas' own Eddie Rockett! Tickets are available online, from the Tower Hotel, and from indiv...