Mayo radio station marks 30th birthday

Community Radio Castlebar (CRC FM) recently marked their 30th anniversary welcoming past and present faces and voices through their doors last month.

They have had politicians and presidents in studio down through their three decades serving as a beacon of information, education and entertainment in the Castlebar area and environs, broadcasting 24/7.

Pat Stanton, a previous station manager, presenter on the airwaves and member of the CRC FM Board of Directors, spoke to the Western People about the journey CRC FM has been on since the radio dials first started turning to 102.9FM in June 1995.

“I was working with the VEC as Adult Education Officer and we used to have a programme with Midwest Radio called Education Matters,” he said. “Then the opportunity to send in an application for a community station came along and it was decided to have a go at that, as a means of extending our adult education coverage and providing great outreach to the community.

“We put together a meeting of local people interested in Castlebar. About 100 people turned up to the meeting and we were successful in securing a licence through a pilot programme.”

There was a great deal of fanfare ahead of the launch of CRC FM at 6am on June 30, 1995. An Taoiseach John Bruton was among the well-wishers, paying a courtesy call to the station in the days leading up to the big kick-off. Another future taoiseach, then minister for tourism and trade Enda Kenny cut the ribbon and a 30-years-and-counting journey was underway.

“We initially had tremendous support from the community and we still enjoy great support to this day,” said Pat. “We have a core staff of six employees and about 50 or 60 volunteers who participate in our weekly schedule.”

Many well-known figures in broadcasting such as Keith Cunningham of Red FM fame and the late Willie ‘The Shoe’ McNeely got their start at CRC FM microphone.

Pat said there is still a place at the table for community radio in today’s world, one that is far more media-saturated than when CRC opened its doors.

“We cover things that other stations and media outlets can’t cover. We are very local. I have always found it similar to local notes in local newspapers. It is the best place for local news because the people from that area will always read or listen to it,” he said. “We’ve tried to focus on local, community matters and issues that impact the community and allow the people in the community to voice their thoughts on those matters.

“There is so much competition out there with podcasts and on-demand players but radio still has a fascination for people, it can still hook people.”

The station has had several homes down through the years throughout the town and is now broadcasting from a three-studio premises on Thomas Street, broadcasting on 102.9FM and around the world on crcfm.ie.