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Podcasting as a communications tool grows from strength to strength. We’ve been swamped with queries about podcasting since the New Year and we’re currently working on a host of new projects. The key reason so many Irish companies are looking to online content is that broadband access is improving and Irish people are finally getting a chance to enjoy, listen and see content online. We’re hosting a Danish media expert group in April here at the Digital Hub and its interesting that even though the Danish multimedia story seems far more advanced than ours - they are keen to find out what we’re doing and how we’re thinking about content and convergence. RTE’s podcasting story is leading the way in Ireland but more and more big and small businesses are looking to add audio and video content to their websites and their syndicated messages both internally and externally. Contact us if you’d like to find out more.

We’re in the midst of our new Capital D mini documentary series for RTE and coming up we’re filming with a fascinating woman Sister Stan and finding out just why she has created an holistic oasis in the heart of the city providing meditation for troubled teenagers and a place of calm for all inner city dwellers. We’re also getting behind waste.ie and exploring ‘waste not - want not’ and how Dublin citizens are passing on the things they dont want - whether a piano or an old bike - to someone who wants them. Its a great way to use the Internet for recycling and it connects people across the city in a real sense of community. We’re also planning a shoot around the Handel festival in April when Handel’s first performance of the Messiah is celebrated and finding out what Dublin school children make of Handel. We’ll be enjoying the annual live street performance of the Messiah on April 13th and its an event not to miss if you are near Fishamble St at ChristChurch. If you have great stories you think we should be tell about the city let us know on info@athenamedia.ie and mark your email Dublin stories. We’re always happy to hear about stories from across Ireland as well so if you like what we do - (many of our videos are online on our myspace page or on the athenamedia.ie site) do let us know and share your stories. We see one of our characters from a shoot last May - Peter Donegan - landscape gardener - who shared his Car-Den with us - is back on form creating a new entry for Bloom this year. Best of luck Peter and hope the weather is kinder this time round!

Our eight part TV documentary series ‘Winning Women’ is wrapping up its edit now and we’re beginning to hand the series over to broadcaster Setanta Sports for scheduling. Its likely the series will go out in the Summer before the kick off for the Olympics. Joanne Cuddihy - our 400 meters champion - is first off the post in the series and we’re rooting for her in the Bejing games in August. Next will be young Stephanie Meadow - the sixteen year old golfer who is currently studying in the golfing paradise of Hilton Head in South Carolina. Then there’s skier Kirsty McGarry who has already had a Winter Olympics and is training for the next. Then the Joyce twin sisters (dont call us the Twins!) who are two of the star players in Ireland’s womens cricket team. Cricket is followed by one of the outstanding champions of the series - boxer katie Taylor - world champion lightweight and then the cork women - Juliet Murphy and Briege Corkery from the three times winning Cork Ladies Football Team. Orla Brennan and Kiwi Tania Rosser follow with the Irish womens rugby team - and then Emma Byrne and Co from the Irish womens soccer squad - where we focus on the three Irish players with Arsenal. Its an inspiring mix of women and we’ll let you know schedule dates when we have them.

Its been a long time in the making - but our radio documentary for Newstalk - ‘the Last Wake’ goes out on April 20th so do give us a listen if you can - and it will probably be online for a while. Our BBC documentary got great reaction in its repeat slot on the 22nd Feb -’White Girl Running’ and we’re busy in the final stage of our edit on ‘Winning Women’ our 8 part Tv documentary series for Setanta. Its hectic with lots of layers of editing and checking before the hand over to the broadcaster but we hope you’ll be seeing them on screen very soon - in May/June perhaps. Otherwise on production we’re busy with TV production for the new series of Capital D RTE which starts again this Thursday. We’ve already made our first feature called ‘hair today - gone tomorrow’ - and you’ll have to watch to get it! Our up and coming ones include a special on the Handel festival in April, behind the scenes at waste.ie and an oasis of calm off Stonybatter run by Sister Stan. Capital D is at 7pm on thursday until July or so and let us know what you think. In our podcasting work we’re developing new areas all the time and we’re just about to celebrate two years of 02 making waves - our online podcast new music channel. Check it out and have a listen on podcastingireland.ie.