Tullamore Community Radio now broadcasting
Tullamore Community Radio is now broadcasting 24 hours a day, seven days a week online. The switchover was made at a recent meeting of the volunteer led group. Listeners can download the station app and hit the ‘Listen Live’ button.
The station has also introduced a Donate button on its app allowing people to pledge a financial donation to help cover the costs of running a community radio station which is not-for-profit. The station is run completely by local vounteers. A website is also up and running, as well as a Facebook and Twitter page. Station manager Tommy McCabe said it’s a “landmark day for the people of Tullamore” to have their very own radio station available 24 hours a day on-line. Mr McCabe thanked people of the town for their patience and huge support and encouragement over the last number of months.
The station was established back in February/March with first meetings held last April. Since then, a working group has been appointed, a number of public meetings have been held, a programming survey was conducted during the summer and now the station is preparing to host a fundraising table quiz on Friday, December 15 next in Digans’ Bar at 8pm, with local quizmaster Matt Geraghty fielding the questions.
Tullamore Community Radio chairman Liam Dumpleton praised the work of all the local volunteers and said “all of these people are giving their time and love to the radio station and as a community. Tullamore can be very proud.” “This will be very different to what’s out there,” he said. “Tullamore people will be able to involve themselves in the station like never before, they will be able to be official members of something very special,” he said.
Tommy McCabe said the next stage will be to have the radio station broadcast on FM in the new year. “The year 2018 will be a very busy year for us,” he said. “We plan on covering as many events taking place in Tullamore as we can with our outside broadcast teams. We’ll be broadcasting programmes live from O’Connor Park, The Bridge Centre, community group venues and many other locations as well as bringing community radio into people’s homes and schools and workplaces.”
The station is planning to move into its new studios in The Mall on William Street by December with added plans to work in conjunction with Tullamore’s various community groups and youth organisations by inviting people in for production and presentation training and the areas of research, technical awareness and all things surrounding the world of radio.
People can get involved by emailing volunteers@tullamorecommunityradio.com or by checking Facebook/Tullamore Community Radio or by asking any of our volunteers at our meetings. The station is also contactable via Twitter.