98FM’s Did You Know?

Did You Know: Dublin’s Abandoned Plan for a Liffey Cable Car?

Thu, 20 Nov 2025 16:20:00 +0000

We're well used to the luas, DART and Dublin bus heading around the city but did you know there was once a plan to add another form a transport?

Dubbed the "suas", the proposal involved suspending a cable car high above the River Liffey.

It would have allowed passengers to get from one end of the river to the other via the sky.

98FM's Emma Tyrrell spoke to the man behind the big idea...

Did You Know The Surprising Past Of The Word ‘Kip’ In Dublin?

Wed, 19 Nov 2025 13:00:00 +0000

If you're calling somewhere a 'kip' it's probably not the nicest of places.

Originally the word meant a cheap place to stay but did you know it once had a different meaning in Dublin?

98FM's Emma Tyrrell spoke to Rob Buchanan from the Dublin Time Machine history blog about the city's 'kips'.

Did You Know About Dublin's Bank Robbery?

Wed, 19 Nov 2025 12:45:00 +0000

Did you know would-be robbers once tried to rob a bank in Dublin city centre by tunnelling into the building?

It happened at Easer time in 1985 at the AIB on Dame Street. Criminals tried to use the capital's maze of tunnels and sewers to gain access to the bank in a bid to rob the safe.

98FM's Emma Tyrrell spoke to former assistant Garda commissioner Michael O'Sullivan about the daring heist.

Did You Know About Dublin's Bus Bees?

Tue, 09 Sep 2025 13:30:00 +0000

Dublin Bus has more than 4,000 staff on it’s books and over a thousand buses in it’s fleet, but the company is also home to hundreds of thousands of bees.

98FM's Emma Tyrrell went down to one of its depots in Phibsborough to find out more as part of World Bee Day in May.

She spoke to Dublin Bus employees Paul Granger, Irwin Bannon and Damien McDonnell, as well as spokesperson for the company, Blake Boland.

Did You Know About Dublin Mean Time?

Tue, 09 Sep 2025 13:30:00 +0000

We may be used to switching time zones when we go on our holidays but it wasn't long ago that Ireland went by an entirely different time to even the UK.

There was just under a half an hour in the difference back in the late 1800s.

98FM's Emma Tyrrells poke to Mathematician David Malone from Maynooth University and David Fleming the National Standards Authority of Ireland’s National Timing Grid about Dublin Mean Time.

Did You Know About Dublin's "Lady on the Rock" Statue?

Wed, 27 Aug 2025 11:30:00 +0000

She's been sitting in the windows of homes across Dublin for decades but did you know where Dublin's "Lady on the Rock" statue came from?

The modern phenomenon can be spotted from Cork Street to Cabra and has even been turned into Christmas decorations and tattoos.

98fm's Emma Tyrrell spoke to brother and sister Vincent and Rachel Doran from Dublin Mouldings on Parnell Street, who make the beloved white figure.

She also caught up with designer and stylist Zoe Redmond, who transformed herself into a real-life version of the glamourous statue.

98FM's Did You Know series is also available under 'Podcasts' on the GoLoud app.

Did You Know The Luas Was Actually Free At One Point?

Mon, 16 Sep 2024 08:00:00 +0000

Have you ever thought about how the Luas really works?

Think of Dublin and the Molly Malone statue, the River Liffey and the Luas may spring to mind.

But did you know that when the tram system was being built, there were real worries that it wouldn't work, and that it was actually free at one point?

Despite the Luas only turning twenty this year, it's become an integral part of life in the capital.

Have you ever wondered how it all works? Emma Tyrrell headed along to the Red Cow depot to fund out more.

Did You Know About Dublin's Herd Of Firefighting Goats?

Wed, 11 Sep 2024 08:00:00 +0000

Summer time may bring gorse fires along Dublin's hills but did you know there's a group of firefighting goats stationed in Howth helping to stop the flames from taking hold? More than 130 of the animals have been happily grazing along the rocky coast for the last three years. Emma Tyrrell went to the Old Irish Goat society's base to find out more.

Did You Know About Dublin's Secret Elephant Graveyard?

Wed, 04 Sep 2024 11:00:00 +0000

A hidden gem in Dublin city centre, Iveagh Gardens has a pretty big secret. The public park at the back of the National Concert Hall is rumoured to be home to an elephant graveyard. Emma Tyrrell took a stroll around the green space to find out more about the giant animal that's said to be buried under the grass.

Did You Know About Ireland's First Aeronaut?

Fri, 30 Aug 2024 11:00:00 +0000

Did You Know About Ireland's First Aeroanut?

Did You Know The Famous MGM Lion Was Born In Dublin Zoo?

Wed, 21 Aug 2024 11:00:00 +0000

Dublin Zoo has been entertaining young and old for close to 200 years but the animal park has a pretty massive connection to one of the oldest and most iconic film studios in the world. The story goes that one of MGM's famous lions on it's opening credits was born in the Phoenix Park. Emma Tyrrell went for a day out at the zoo to find out more.

Did You Know About Dublin's Dark Bodysnatching History?

Wed, 14 Aug 2024 11:00:00 +0000

Did you know Dublin once had a booming economy in bodysnatching?

It was big business for over a hundred years with increasing numbers of people training up to become doctors and surgeons needing fresh bodies to practice on.

Emma Tyrrell visited Bully's Acre in Kilmainham - the capital's oldest graveyard - and caught up with Rob Buchanan (@dublintimemachine on Instagram) to find out more

Did You Know About The Castle On Baggot Street?

Wed, 07 Aug 2024 15:00:00 +0000

Baggot Street may now be known for its pubs, restaurants and big Georgian buildings but the southside area has a rich history. It was once home to a castle that was one of the most significant strongholds in Dublin.

Not only was there a castle but it's thought it sat on the site of one of the city's best known pubs, Searsons.

Emma Tyrrell found out more about the street's past.

Did You Know About The World War II Air Raid Shelters In Dublin?

Thu, 01 Aug 2024 09:00:00 +0000

Ireland may have been neutral during World War II but that didn't mean we weren't prepared for any bombs to fall. Dozens of air raid shelters were built here during the 1940s with the remnants of some of them still visible. That includes an unusual looking mound at Merrion Square Park in the heart of the city. Shelters were also built along O'Connell Street, in the basement of a clothes shop on Grafton Street and even in a cinema in the city. Emma Tyrrell has been finding out more about the capital's air raid shelters.

Did You Know How The Forty Foot Got Its Name?

Wed, 24 Jul 2024 10:00:00 +0000

The Forty Foot is one of Dublin's most famous and popular swimming spots. People have been coming to the Sandycove bathing place for a dip in the sea for over 250 years but there's a question mark around where the name comes from. Most people think it has to do with the depth of the water but that's not the case. Emma Tyrrell headed out to the seaside to ask the regulars and the locals what they think.

Did You Know About The Wallabies On Lambay Island?

Wed, 17 Jul 2024 11:00:00 +0000

There’s an island just off Dublin that is home to some pretty unusual residents. Since the 1970s, wallabies, that are usually found in Australia, have been happily living on the privately owned Lambay Island.

A cousin to the kangaroo, they’ve been multiplying ever since and it’s now thought there are over 500 wallabies on Lambay. The working farm is also home to deer, sheep and even puffins.

98FM's Emma Tyrrell took a boat trip from Malahide to find out more about Dublin’s wild wallabies