East Limerick Community Radio reaching out to the masses

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East Limerick Community Radio reaching out to the masses

East Limerick County Radio now boasts the third largest schedule of all 23 community radio stations in the country.

Tuesday, 25 June 2013
12:00 AM GMT



Two years on from when they first secured their full time licence, East Limerick County Radio now boasts the third largest schedule of all 23 community radio stations in the country.

Broadcasting from Cloverfield just outside Kilteely, the station first started out with four 30-day licences which saw them through the summer weekends from 2006 until 2009.

Run solely by volunteers, Galbally councillor Eddie Ryan is among the 35 presenters who do shows featuring music, current affairs, entertainment, rural affairs and much more.

Broadcasting on 96.8fm and 97.3fm, the radio has a catchment of about 48,000 of which they have up to 25,000 listeners and Cllr Ryan said that a lot more people from Mitchelstown, Galbally, Kilfinane, Glanworth and Kildorrery are tuning in. He added that if anyone from areas outside East Limerick would like to have news items featured on the station, they are more than welcome to contact 087-6077774 or email elcr96.8@gmail.com.

Cllr Ryan said that community radio listenership is on the rise, as a recent Red C poll showed that community radio stations around the country have 304,000 people tuning into them.

Eddie himself can be heard on the station on Wednesday evenings from 7pm talking about rural affairs. He told The Avondhu that he had been on the station talking about issues as a councillor and he was delighted when they asked him to present his own show, as it was something he had never done before.

"It was a challenge, but I took it on and now I love it," he said.

The station have run shows from Knockadea, Glenbrohane and Eddie Ryan will be doing a show about the creamery in Anglesboro, which will air on Wednesday, June 26. The following week, he will be speaking about local man John Linehan who will turn 100 on October 16.

The station is jointly run by managers Tim Long and John Moloney and Tim explained to The Avondhu that they raise additional funds to keep the station running through church gate collections, social evenings and other fundraisers.

Tim explained that they do 84 hours broadcasting a week and he added that everyone who comes into the station on work experience or as a volunteer, will present a show and gain invaluable experience on the airwaves.

The station is unique in that the volunteers run everything themselves. Tim himself was a former technician for Eircom and was involved in broadcasting before, so he was in a position to bring a lot of practical experience to the role.

He said that since 2006, 80% of the presenters have remained with the station, while others have come and gone over the years, adding that their presenters would be equal in numbers between men and women.

With their ten year licence, the station looks forward to many more years of bringing current affairs, news and local views across the airwaves in East Limerick and further afield.



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