A notorious figure in Waterford city, Conny Mernin made national news on several occasions for his daring escapes from both Ballybricken and Clonmel jails.

A life of crime began at an early age, his first arrest occurred when he was only 11-years-old.

However, did a spell in reformatory and the penal system contribute to Mernin’s criminal activities rather than reform and rehabilitate him?

Repeated attempts to better his lot appeared to be exacerbated by the society in which he inhabited…

This is a truly sorry tale from the history books of Waterford on the harshness of the justice system and how it seems to have failed Conny Mernin and sealed his fate in life.

Listen back to the full story with resident historian Cian Manning, on air every Wednesday morning just after the news at 9.

Keep up to date on all the latest from The Big Breakfast Blaa with Ollie and Dymphna from 6am until 10am daily.

A notorious figure in Waterford city, Conny Mernin made national news on several occasions for his daring escapes from both Ballybricken and Clonmel jails.
A life of crime began at an early age, his first arrest occurred when he was only 11-years-old.
However, did a spell in reformatory and the penal system contribute to Mernin&rsquo;s criminal activities rather than reform and rehabilitate him?
Repeated attempts to better his lot appeared to be exacerbated by the society in which he inhabited&hellip;
This is a truly sorry tale from the history books of Waterford on the harshness of the justice system and how it seems to have failed Conny Mernin and sealed his fate in life.
Listen back to the full story with resident historian Cian Manning, on air every Wednesday morning just after the news at 9.
<a href="https://wlrfm.com/podcasts/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.</a>

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 <a href="https://coffeehouselane.ie/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Coffee House Lane</a> <a href="https://www.wlrfm.com/listenback">Listen back to The Big Breakfast Blaa here</a>.

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&nbsp;&lt;a href="<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://coffeehouselane.ie/">https://coffeehouselane.ie/</a>" target="_blank" rel="noopener"&gt;Coffee House Lane&lt;/a&gt;&nbsp;&lt;a href="<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.wlrfm.com/listenback&quot;>Listen">https://www.wlrfm.com/listenback"&gt;Listen</a> back to The Big Breakfast Blaa here&lt;/a&gt;.

The Big Breakfast Blaa

Did the Justice System Fail Waterford’s Conny Mernin?

Last night, Westlife took to the stage at the 3Arena in Dublin while a host of women littered the stage at their feet with bras.

Grace, Ellen, and Mary Goes Nowhere were there (bras fully intact) and they reported back live to The Big Breakfast Blaa.

Clad in their custom-made dressing gowns adorned with the floating heads of the Westlife singers, they painted a picture of a night featuring Garret Noone, Westlife, Mary's rollator (featuring lights and decorations) and matching pink hats.

Ellen was quick to confirm at at €70 a pop, her bra was not being presented to Westlife, but they definitely danced and sang the night away.

Play to listen back in full and soak up the atmosphere.

Keep up to date on all the latest from The Big Breakfast Blaa with Ollie and Dymphna from 6am until 10am daily.

Last night, Westlife took to the stage at the 3Arena in Dublin while a host of women littered the stage at their feet with bras.
Grace, Ellen, and Mary Goes Nowhere were there (bras fully intact) and they reported back live to The Big Breakfast Blaa.
Clad in their custom-made dressing gowns adorned with the floating heads of the Westlife singers, they painted a picture of a night featuring Garret Noone, Westlife, Mary's rollator (featuring lights and decorations) and matching pink hats.
Ellen was quick to confirm at at &euro;70 a pop, her bra was not being presented to Westlife, but they definitely danced and sang the night away.
Play to listen back in full and soak up the atmosphere.
<a href="https://wlrfm.com/podcasts/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.</a>

Women whip off the bras for Westlife

Tomorrow night to mark Culture Night, Waterford buses are to become 'agents of craic' between 6pm and 8pm.

Commuters on the W1, W2, and W3 routes will see the bus transformed into a rolling musical and poetry stage.

Musicians and poets will perform on the bus during its regular Friday evening commute on those routes and passengers are encouraged to bring along their favourite poem or to sing along.

Prizes, lollipops are treats will be available for those who take part in the evening through contributing something on the night.

Gráinne Kennedy is the Climate Action Officer with Waterford City and County Council and the entire event is her brainchild.

Speaking on The Big Breakfast Blaa, she said she was inspired by videos of commuters in cities like London and New York who embrace ways to make the commute more exciting.

Using examples like dressing up as Santa or holding fun signs, she said she knew Waterford was the place that would embrace a mad-cap idea like this.

Creative Ireland got behind the initiative which incorporates positives steps for sustainability and introducing culture in an unexpected way.

She was sure to give a big shout out to Bus Eireann and the bus drivers, who will be kept very entertained for a few hours on Culture Night, Friday September 18th.

Forward selling the idea on air, Gráinne said the buses will be transformed into 'agents of craic' for one night only.

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.

Tomorrow night to mark Culture Night, Waterford buses are to become 'agents of craic' between 6pm and 8pm.
Commuters on the W1, W2, and W3 routes will see the bus transformed into a rolling musical and poetry stage.
Musicians and poets will perform on the bus during its regular Friday evening commute on those routes and passengers are encouraged to bring along their favourite poem or to sing along.
Prizes, lollipops are treats will be available for those who take part in the evening through contributing something on the night.
Gr&aacute;inne Kennedy is the Climate Action Officer with Waterford City and County Council and the entire event is her brainchild.
Speaking on The Big Breakfast Blaa, she said she was inspired by videos of commuters in cities like London and New York who embrace ways to make the commute more exciting.
Using examples like dressing up as Santa or holding fun signs, she said she knew Waterford was the place that would embrace a mad-cap idea like this.
Creative Ireland got behind the initiative which incorporates positives steps for sustainability and introducing culture in an unexpected way.
She was sure to give a big shout out to Bus Eireann and the bus drivers, who will be kept very entertained for a few hours on Culture Night, Friday September 18th.
Forward selling the idea on air, Gr&aacute;inne said the buses will be transformed into 'agents of craic' for one night only.
Play to listen back in full.
<a href="https://wlrfm.com/podcasts/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.</a>

Waterford Buses to be 'Agents of Craic' tomorrow

Today, September 16th is World Barber Day and we have been celebrating on The Big Breakfast Blaa!

Ahmed from A-Class Barbers joined Geoff and Dymphna in studio to mark the opening of his second barbershop in Waterford City.

He now proudly runs two outlets on Conduit Lane and Patrick Street offering the full Turkish Barber experience.

A Turkish Barber differs from a traditional barber in what the offerings are, so in A-Class, people pop in for a hot towel shave, nose waxing, ear candling, beard fades, all manner of hair fades and a seemingly endless list of fade types for hair and beard.

Ahmed explained the whole lot from start to finish, even giving Geoff a bit of advice on whether the popular mullet is a good one for him to revisit!

Play to listen back to Ahmed's chat with Geoff and Dymphna in full.

Keep up to date on all the latest from The Big Breakfast Blaa with Ollie and Dymphna from 6am until 10am daily.

Today, September 16th is World Barber Day and we have been celebrating on The Big Breakfast Blaa!
Ahmed from A-Class Barbers joined Geoff and Dymphna in studio to mark the opening of his second barbershop in Waterford City.
He now proudly runs two outlets on Conduit Lane and Patrick Street offering the full Turkish Barber experience.
A Turkish Barber differs from a traditional barber in what the offerings are, so in A-Class, people pop in for a hot towel shave, nose waxing, ear candling, beard fades, all manner of hair fades and a seemingly endless list of fade types for hair and beard.
Ahmed explained the whole lot from start to finish, even giving Geoff a bit of advice on whether the popular mullet is a good one for him to revisit!
Play to listen back to Ahmed's chat with Geoff and Dymphna in full.
<a href="https://wlrfm.com/podcasts/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.</a>

Did the Justice System Fail Waterford’s Conny Mernin?

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