We present in this paper a discussion of the properties of plasmas generated in microhollow cathode geometries and in microcathode sustained discharge geometries. The results presented here are derived from models. This work is part of a joint modelling/experimental programme whose objective is the evaluation of the potential of the high-pressure, non-thermal plasmas created in microdischarges (e.g. discharges in small, 100s of micrometre sized geometries) for the production of large quantities of radical species, and in particular oxygen singlet delta (metastable) molecules, O2(1Δ).