Documentaries, Latest, Programmes

The Long Way Home – Celebrating 30 Years of the Peter McVerry Trust

Broadcasting Jan 30, 31 & Feb 03 @ 6.30pm

Please note – On Wednesday January 29 at the Twisted Pepper (Middle Abbey St., Dublin 1) Jim Carroll of the Irish Times will interview Peter McVerry as part of the Banter sessions . Doors open at 6pm and the interview begins at 6.30pm. Admission is free and more information can be found on Jim’s blog here To coincide with this special interview Near FM will re-broadcast The Long Way Home on the dates & times above. Listen on the dial 90.3fm or online www.near.ie/listen-online

The Long Way Home is a three part series which pays tribute to the work of the Peter McVerry Trust and its commitment to those most marginalised in society. The series provides the listener with a greater level of understanding of the plight of homelessness in Dublin.  This series of programmes are a cultural and historical document to the legacy of the Peter McVerry Trust, which celebrates its 30th anniversary in 2013.

Programme 1 features a one to one interview with Peter McVerry as we learn how he began his work with homeless boys in the 1970s and explore the journey this work has taken over the thirty years since. Jan 30th @ 6.30pm

Programme 2 visits The Open Access Centre in Upper Sherrard Street, Dublin 1, which began as an administrative office for Fr. Peter McVerry and  has developed into a drop-in centre for homeless people. Jan 31st @ 6.30pm

Programme 3 is a panel discussion  focusing on general issues relating to homelessness.  Appropriate vox-pops precede the discussion and get the participants talking about the topics. Feb 03rd @ 6.30pm

Listen on the dial 90.3fm or online www.near.ie/listen-online

Contributors:

  • Fr. Peter McVerry S.J., director and founder member of the Peter McVerry Trust and a member of the Jesuit Centre for Faith and Justice team
  • Joy Smith, team leader Santry accommodation unit
  • Anne-Marie Connolly, Head of Fundraising and Communications
  • Fiona Lyons, Project Worker, Stabilisation Service
  • Sean Mulligan, Volunteer, Open Access Centre
  • Brian Friel, Head of Services
  • Darren Balfe, a resident in one of the Trust’s long-term independent living units
  • 2 Clients, Open Access Centre (unnamed)
  • Dick Lavelle, founder member of Welcome Home and active fundraising participant
  • Dr. Eoin O’Sullivan, Senior Lecturer in Social Policy in the School of Social Work and Social Policy, Trinity College, Dublin and lead editor of the European Journal of Homelessness
  • Catherine Maher, Head of Services, Focus Ireland, the housing and homeless charity

This series is a Near FM Production. Produced by Zandra Ball, Narration & Interviews by Noel McGuinness, Edited by Dave O’Connor.


The series is made with the support of the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland Sound & Vision scheme, funded by the Television licence fee.

BAI logo mark colour

Latest on Listen Again

Have you ever tried to give something up and found yourself thinking about it every single minute of every single day? That’s your brain working against you and in this [...]

Mary Oyediran report back from City Centre to celebrate the National Day set aside for kindness 1st Broadcast 20th Feb 2026 https://www.facebook.com/share/1DXDp2xQHz/ https://www.facebook.com/share/1DAQqGXX5m/ http://www.nearfm.ie   [...]

Mary Oyediran talks to Tina Marshall BSc PgDip Freelance Journalist and Podcaster about her Podcast on Housing and  more plus her upcoming book to be launched in Dublin 2026. 1st [...]

  Mary Oyediran talks to Lassane Ouedraogo Chairperson of ASCI on current news from the African Diaspora Ireland and African Continent. 1st Broadcast 20th Feb 2026 http://africacentre.ie/ https://x.com/Africa_Centre https://www.linkedin.com/company/africacentreireland?originalSubdomain=ie https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1Bzc71tyoM/ [...]

Myra Gleeson speaks to Brian Joyce about the Dublin Air Traffic Control Systems. They are in operation for safe take off and landings. 1st Broadcast 20th Feb 2026 http://www.nearfm.ie   [...]

Myra Gleeson speaks to Oisin Geoghegan, Head of Fingal Enterprise. About upcoming events to help young entrepreneurs set up their businesses. 1st Broadcast 20 th Feb 2026 http://info@leo.fingal.ie   [...]

Hans Zomer of Global Action Plan talks to Phillip Smith about Glas Community Garden Ballymun and the Benefits of it to the Public. 1st Broadcast 19th Feb 2026 hans@globalactionplan.ie   [...]

Allen Meagher Editor of Magazine Changing Ireland talks to Phillip Smith about what’s in this Month’s edition. http://Changingireland.ie     [...]