The Big Breakfast Blaa

WLR FM
WLR FM

Start your day with Ollie Carroll, Dymphna Nugent and the WLR News team on The Big Breakfast Blaa, who will bring you plenty of on-air banter, laughter, great music, fantastic competitions, features and much, much more… And as well as being entertained you’ll also be kept well informed with all the very latest news, sport and traffic updates from our team. It's as much a part of Waterford life as the Blaa itself! The Big Breakfast Blaa is brought to you in association with Coffee House Lane https://www.wlrfm.com/listenback">Listen back to The Big Breakfast Blaa here.

  1. 6h ago

    Grace on 'Dropping Beats and Jiggling Cheeks'

    'Dropping Beats and Jiggling Cheeks' is not a tagline we often use here on The Big Breakfast Blaa. (Of course this has something to do with Grace!) Following on from significant controversy this week over a new children's toy called 'Chester Cheeks,' Grace got her hands on one and brought it into studio. Marketed for children aged 4 and up, the silicone toy is a battery operated bum, wearing headphones and sprouting a shock of hair. When pressed, he dances and 'jiggles.' When squeezed, he farts. And when his cheeks are manually spread, he emits a farting sound, which is elogated the longer the position is held. Some psychologists believe this is a wildly inappropriate toy, which runs the risk of teaching children the wrong message about consent and boundaries. Others believe this is simply a children's toy leaning into crude toilet-based humour. Grace weighs in on what SHE thinks. Play to listen back in full. Keep up to date on all the latest from The Big Breakfast Blaa with Ollie and Dymphna from 6am until 10am daily. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Grace on 'Dropping Beats and Jiggling Cheeks'

  2. 1d ago

    Waterford to host first Wild Bee Festival

    Waterford will host its first Wild Bee Festival on Saturday 22nd and Sunday 23rd August at Waterford Education Support Centre. The Wild Bee Festival is an annual event run by the National Biodiversity Data Centre as part of the All-Ireland Pollinator Plan. It is a weekend of walks, talks and workshops for community groups, raising awareness of Ireland’s pollinators and how to help them in our communities. The 2026 Festival is coordinated by the National Biodiversity Data Centre in collaboration with B Corridor, a biodiversity action group based in Waterford City. What to Expect The festival will take place in the Waterford Education Support Centre, featuring a series of talks led by biodiversity experts and community groups on pollinators and the simple , evidence-based actions we can take to help them. Talks will include: ‘How Communities can Help Pollinators’, an introduction to Community Biodiversity Action Plans led by FERs ecologist Ciarán Byrne, and a guided walk of the Maypark Nature Trail led by B Corridor. Other speakers include Waterford Trees for Life, ecologist Dr Fiona MacGowan, the Three Sisters Women’s Shed and the Déise Men’s Shed. Saturday afternoon will also feature the ‘Cross Pollination station’ led by artist Siobhán Clancy - a creative drop in space to process new information about wild bees, swap ideas and learn about bees in the arts, health, folk tradition, and mythology. Kate Chandler, Communities Pollinator Officer for the National Biodiversity Data Centre joined Ollie and Dymphna on air. She said: “This is the fifth annual Wild Bee Festival, and the first one to be held in Waterford. Every year the festival is a chance for community groups to come together and learn how to help biodiversity in their towns and villages. We’re delighted to be partnering with B Corridor to hold this year’s festival, a group who have done exceptional work for pollinators and biodiversity here in Waterford. If you have ever wanted to find out more about wild bees and how to help them in your community, this is the event for you!” Admission is free but booking is required. More information, including a full programme and booking link, can be found on the All-Ireland Pollinator Plan website: https://pollinators.ie/wildbeefestival/ Keep up to date on all the latest from The Big Breakfast Blaa with Ollie and Dymphna from 6am until 10am daily. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Waterford to host first Wild Bee Festival

  3. 1d ago

    Roaring Success Sees Family Fun Day Return to Abbeyside FC

    The Family Fun Day returns to Abbeyside FC in Dogleaf Park for its third consecutive year. Following enormous success, year on year, the club continues to expand. Ollie and Dymphna were joined on air by committee member, Liam Sheehan. He outlined the joy with which he sees new faces coming to see the club every single week. These are people new to the area, families looking to help their child expand their social circle a little, or to be brave and try something new. Catering for all ages, the club is beautifully situated near the boardwalk and near some award-winning coffee (Liam reliably informed us!) Taking place Sunday of next week, August 23rd in Dogleaf Park, entry is just 5 euro per head. Liam outlined the wealth of options available on the day, including face painting, bouncy castles, tug of war, penalty shoot-outs, foodie options, and games for all ages. Families do not need to be members of the club, they are welcome on the day to soak up the fun of the fair in Abbeyside. Play to listen back in full. Keep up to date on all the latest from The Big Breakfast Blaa with Ollie and Dymphna from 6am until 10am daily. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Roaring Success Sees Family Fun Day Return to Abbeyside FC

  4. 2d ago

    Annual Solas Cancer Support Centre costs hit €1.2m

    Annual costs for the Solas Cancer Support Centre hit €1.2million last year. This comes as a record number 1,433 clients accessed the services and therapies provided by the centre last year. This number includes individuals affected by a cancer diagnosis, including clients themselves, their friends, families, and those who have experienced a bereavement. The annual Run and Walk for Solas (rebranded this year from the Run and Walk for Life) raised €230,000 last year. The registration for this year's two day event is now open for both the Dungarvan and Waterford City dates on October 10th and 11th respectively. Manager of the Solas Cancer Support Centre spoke on The Big Breakfast Blaa ahead of the event. Keep up to date on all the latest from The Big Breakfast Blaa with Ollie and Dymphna from 6am until 10am daily. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Annual Solas Cancer Support Centre costs hit €1.2m

  5. 2d ago

    Was James the Largest Man from Waterford?

    Was James Hugh Murphy Jr. the largest man from Waterford? That's certainly the claim from P.T Barnum and his travelling circus of cruel curiosities. His 'menagerie and museum of freaks' featured James Hugh Murphy Jr, who became known as 'The Irish Giant.' 8ft Tall and 350 Lbs Murphy spent three years travelling the length and breadth of the United States as an 8ft tall, 350lbs attraction. Reports from the media at the time refer to his pleasant nature and kindness. The story of James and the wider conversation around P.T Barnum, whose story is told in part in the popular film, The Greatest Showman, has sparked significant controversy in modern times. To fill in the blanks of James' story and to reflect on the wider travelling circus, Cian Manning joined Ollie and Dymphna for another week with another story. Play to listen back in full. Keep up to date on all the latest from The Big Breakfast Blaa with Ollie and Dymphna from 6am until 10am daily. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Was James the Largest Man from Waterford?

  6. 3d ago

    Running on Heart: Gary Russell Takes on an Ultramarathon for Solas

    1,400 kilometres. One huge challenge. And a cause that means everything. Carrick-on-Suir man and WLR familiar face Gary Russell is preparing to push himself further than ever before taking on an extraordinary ultramarathon challenge in aid of the Solas Cancer Support Centre. And this isn't Gary's first time going the extra mile for Solas. Gary Russell's 2026 Challenge Last year, he ran an incredible 235km over just 10 days, raising more than €5,000 for the centre. That distance had a very personal meaning. It represented the 235 men who had sought support from Solas during the previous year. This time, Gary has set his sights considerably higher. He began training back in November 2025, and when his 2026 challenge is complete, he will have covered more than 1,400km on the road. It's a staggering physical and mental undertaking, but for Gary, it's about far more than running. It's about giving something back. Every cent raised will go to Solas, which provides vital services, support and therapies completely free of charge to people affected by cancer from its bases in Waterford City and Dungarvan. The need for that support is enormous. Last year alone, it cost €1.2 million to operate the centre, with 1,433 people accessing its free services and therapies. For someone who is willing to put his own body through more than 1,400 kilometres of running to help others, it's perhaps no surprise that Gary is described as a man with a very big heart. He joined Ollie and Dymphna on The Big Breakfast Blaa to talk about the mammoth challenge ahead, the months of training already behind him, and the reason he's prepared to go the distance once again for Solas. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Running on Heart: Gary Russell Takes on an Ultramarathon for Solas

  7. 4d ago

    Three Waterford Men, 230 Combined Years, One New Business

    Three Waterford men with a combined age of 230 years, are continuing to grow their business from strength to strength. Find A Trade.ie does exactly what it sounds like... it helps people to find the right tradesperson for the right job. Frank Kennedy is one third of the brains and passion behind the business model, which aims to assist members of the public, particularly older members or those new to the community who may not have confidence in choosing a tradesperson for a job. It features a large catalogue of traders across a range of disciplines across Waterford City, Dungarvan, and their environs, with the aim of being the 'modern day equivalent to the business Golden Pages.' Frank joined Ollie and Dymphna on air to discuss the evolution of the business, the etiquette involved in contacting someone about a job to be done, and why sometimes a handyman is the better option of smaller household jobs. He also looked at the increase, as reported by Gardaí, on the prevalence of rogue builders in the area and the importance of having trust established between all parties. Play to listen back in full to Frank on The Big Breakfast Blaa. Keep up to date on all the latest from The Big Breakfast Blaa with Ollie and Dymphna from 6am until 10am daily.   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Three Waterford Men, 230 Combined Years, One New Business

  8. Aug 7

    Grace's €10 Festival Hero: The Stool That Saved Summer

    Fresh from a weekend of festival fever, Grace arrived into studio with one clear winner from her summer adventures – her Festival MVP: the humble pop-up stool. Costing just €10, it's one of the rare impulse buys that actually delivered exactly what it promised. Unlike the pore-blocking aluminium deodorant and the caffeine water (the less said about those, the better!), the pop-up stool earned Grace's full seal of approval. Decked out in Adidas and looking like she'd stepped straight out of Kevin & Perry Go Large, Grace embraced festival life at All Together Now and Spraoi, proving that experience really is the best festival accessory. Of course, it hasn't always gone so smoothly. Only Grace could manage to get hypothermia at a summer festival – during the very first All Together Now, she was convinced her final moments had arrived and even sent farewell messages to loved ones from the festival portaloos. Thankfully, this year was a very different story. There was also a special mention for Rory, who continues his search for the woman he met by chance in Waterford. Grace has declared she's waiting in the wings – festival stool, anti-inflammatory gel and all – with absolutely no chance of letting hypothermia get in the way. Hit play to catch the full chat, and don't miss The Buzz with Grace, every Friday after 9am. Keep up to date on all the latest from The Big Breakfast Blaa with Ollie and Dymphna from 6am until 10am daily.     See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Grace's €10 Festival Hero: The Stool That Saved Summer
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About

Start your day with Ollie Carroll, Dymphna Nugent and the WLR News team on The Big Breakfast Blaa, who will bring you plenty of on-air banter, laughter, great music, fantastic competitions, features and much, much more… And as well as being entertained you’ll also be kept well informed with all the very latest news, sport and traffic updates from our team. It's as much a part of Waterford life as the Blaa itself! The Big Breakfast Blaa is brought to you in association with Coffee House Lane https://www.wlrfm.com/listenback">Listen back to The Big Breakfast Blaa here.

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