BBC Radio Foyle

10/10/2025

What’s it like to have your child on Big Brother? Contestant Jenny’s mum Breege talks to North West Today. Listen now on BBC Sounds: https://bbc.in/473ehn9

10/10/2025

Some businesses in Derry have been severely affected by the partial closure of Pump St due to an unstable building.

We heard from some of them ⬇️

Cordons remain in place after a section of the former convent on Pump Street in Derry collapsed at the weekend.

10/10/2025

Altan - live in studio from noon today!
👓The Mark Patterson Show👓

08/10/2025

Big Brother winner Kate Lawler backs Derry’s Jenny Baird to win this year’s reality tv show 🌟

08/10/2025

Chef Shauna Does ... Sprouts!!
👓The Mark Patterson Show👓
[12.45]

Fancy a wee sprout today? Love a sprout. Would eat 'em year round. I'm a sprout-ophile ... but of course not everyone is. Could you be persuaded to try a new approach to the humble sprout? Chef Shauna Froydenlund hopes so ....

“Hi Mark, it’s that time of year again where one of my favourite ingredients is in season - sprouts! I believe they should be eaten all through autumn and winter, not just at Christmas! This recipe is super delicious as part of an evening meal. Use it as a garnish for chicken or fish or often I’ll have it in a flatbread for lunch, which is what I’ve done for you today.”

Chef Shauna's Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Broccoli, Halloumi, Spinach and a Harissa Dressing
Serves 2 as part of an evening meal, or 3 flatbreads

INGREDIENTS
1x Head of broccoli cut into florets
500g Brussel sprouts, cut in half
225g Packet of halloumi, cut into cubes
1x Red onion, finely sliced
2x tbsp Harissa
2 tbsp Olive oil
150g Spinach, roughly chopped
Pinch of sea salt
½ Lemon, juiced

To serve:
- Flatbreads
- A couple of spoons of greek yoghurt spread on the flatbread

METHOD
- Preheat the oven to 180oC fan
- Place a frying pan on a high heat on the hob, add a small splash of oil then place the sprouts
neatly, face down so they can get nice and caramelised. You might need to do this in 2
batches. Season generously with the sea salt
- Mix the broccoli florets with the roasted sprouts, halloumi, red onion, olive oil and harissa. Season with sea salt, mix well then transfer to a roasting tin. Roast in the oven for 25 minutes until nice and coloured
- Stir through the chopped spinach and lemon juice, check the seasoning and add sea salt to taste
- Toast the flatbread, spread with a little yoghurt then serve with the roasted sprout mix wrapped inside

Enjoy! S"

08/10/2025

Pump Street - Latest
👓The Mark Patterson Show👓
[13.10]

Heavy machinery is now on site at the street which remains closed off.
MPS understands that work will begin this morning on the former Convent of Mercy building, after a front section of the building fell into Pump Street in the wake of the recent storm.
Council say - 'in the interests of health and safety and urgent meetings are taking place throughout today between Council, the premises owners, and relevant statutory agencies to deal with this issue and further updates will be provided when information is available...'
More at noon...

07/10/2025

PORTS discuss their latest album ‘The Eyes Of The Moon’, in session with Stephen McCauley.

Available now on BBC Sounds: https://bbc.in/48Q1wia

07/10/2025

- Derry/Dublin Flight 'To Commence'
👓The Mark Patterson Show👓

If flying is your thing and you're up and down the road to Dublin a lot, here you go ...

Fondly remembered back in the day as 'the flying minibus', the Derry/Dublin flight is to be resurrected next year.

On budget day in the Republic, Minister for Public Expenditure Jack Chambers has just said that projects next year will include a new Dublin-Derry airlink, to enable regular air travel between the two cities, and that:

"... this Government is committed to supporting vibrant, inclusive and sustainable communities throughout Ireland where people can live, work and connect ... "

07/10/2025

Lifeline for Derry M.A.N. Group
👓The Mark Patterson Show👓
[12.00]

Many in the N West expressed concern recently when funding for M.A.N. - or the Derry based Men's Action Network - came to an end.

Today we learn that the group has been given a lifeline from the Housing Executive - 5 figure funding to deliver new work with people being released from prison, and regarding domestic abuse. Also today from MAN, a new pledge for local men and boys to address the issue of violence against women and girls. We also have details of a major delegation that is Stormont-bound next month to table a new policy for men's health in N Ireland.

06/10/2025

City Cemetery Fly Tipping
👓The Mark Patterson Show👓
[13.10]

Unreal eh. The City Cemetery.

The Council are posting concern that people are using the cemetery bins for general domestic waste:

'We’re asking everyone to please respect the City Cemetery and refrain from illegal dumping. Do NOT dump household waste, appliances, or rubbish in or around the cemetery grounds. This is a place of rest and remembrance so please be mindful of others.
Let’s work together to keep our cemetery clean for everyone.
'

03/10/2025

Storm - Emergency Numbers
👓The Mark Patterson Show👓

[Here you go. Just in case you need them this next few days. Stay safe peeps. m]

03/10/2025

Gardener Gareth Austin
👓The Mark Patterson Show👓
[13.10]

"Morning All,

Tight few days forecast, not much outdoorsy time over the next few days, but Sunday looks a middlin day at this stage. Today on the radio:

Bulb Planting
We're deep in the trenches of bulb planting season, this week we've been planting some frilly, multi headed dwarf Narcissus ' Tete a Tete Boucle", his wee 8" daffodil will look fab planted into pots, or into the front of beds in the garden. I think bulbs are always planted in good sized clumps, spacing the bulbs 6" apart to allow them to naturalise and spread.

Wallflowers
Now when we think about old fashioned plants Wallflower is high on the list. Available for planting now, they'll grow through the winter and flower next April/May.

Clearing Cucumbers
Our cucumbers in the polytunnel have really started to slow down so we'll be shipping these out and sowing the ground with Spinach and other winter greens. These we will then pick through the winter and Spring. It's important you choose a winter spinach variety such as 'Verdil'.

Autumn Raspberries
These are fruiting now in the gardens and by far are the easiest type of Raspberries to grow and now is a great time to be planting fresh canes for cropping next year. These are shorter than regular summer raspberries so do well in large pots and in raised beds. The pruning of these is much simplier in that you cut all the canes down to ground level after fruiting. Expect around 1kg or fruit per m2.

On this weekend:

~ Errigal, Donegal. Saturday 10-4pm.
This Mountain Environment Day will take place on the 4th of October, starting from Ionad Pobail Dhún Lúiche in Dunlewey, Donegal.The event will start indoors. But much of the day will be spent outdoors on Errigal, looking at the pathwork, flora, fauna and habitats as well as discussing the projects that Cairde na hEaragaile are leading in the area. For more contact Mountaineering Ireland

~ Oakfield Park, Raphoe. Saturday & Sunday 12:00PM - 06:00PM
Come along to Oakfield Park for a special Harry Potter experience. Take a trip on the wee train around the magnificent parkland and through the Forbidden Forest! All witches and wizards are encouraged to dress up in their finest house robes and bring their wands. Wainfest.ie

~ Greenmount Campus, Antrim. Saturday 11.30-5pm.
Ulster Beekeepers Association. 8th Annual Honey Show & Beekeeping Day. Workshops, exhibitors and everything bee related. I'm sure they'll be a buzz about this day ;-). Free event.

~ Portstewart Strand. Waggy Races 5km. Sunday 11.45am.
Waggy Races is a cross-country fun run for you to enter alongside your dogs! This year's Waggy Races will be a 5k on the beautiful Portstewart Strand beach.
Enter as a runner or walker with 1 dog, with 2 dogs or as a pack (2 people & 1 dog)
With over 200 dogs aiming to top the podium, it'll be quite a noisy spectacle on the Strand on 5th October. Free event.

Thanks
Gareth"