Westport radio goes from worldwide web to FM

Westport radio goes from worldwide web to FM


Áine Ryan

Welcome to WRFM (Westport Radio FM). And, unsurprisingly, ‘Something for the Weekends’ is its catchphrase since the new community station now broadcasts each weekend from 8am to midnight.
According to Stephen O’Brien, Station Manager, its first outing over the airwaves last weekend – despite a few minor technical glitches – was very successful.
“All round we have had a positive response and while there is no way of guessing the numbers of listeners, we had over 3,500 hits when it was just on the internet during the month of August,” Mr O’Brien told The Mayo News yesterday.
He said that with an exciting and broad-ranging programme schedule, the next step was to find further sponsorship for the different shows.
“Sol Rio restaurant and Westport Youth Activity Group are already sponsoring programmes. While the terms of our license by the BAI (Broadcasting Authority of Ireland) does not allow us to advertise we can get funding through sponsorship. So far we have raised funds through bucket collections and table quizzes,” he explained.
Meanwhile, one happy presenter, Michael Duffy, Editor of The Mayo News, said he loved his new occasional media chair on The Political Show, broadcast on Sunday last from 10 to 11 am.
“The panel, Cllrs Myles Staunton and Keith Martin,  focused on the politics around the upcoming presidential election, the positive impact of Westport’s expanding festival programming and we also had a lively debate about the future role of local authorities.”
WRFM is a voluntary community initiative and  has a temporary pilot license which means it will use its allocated time to broadcast every Saturday and Sunday.
Other shows include Wake up Westport with Tadhg McNally, The Arts Show with Grainne O’Reilly and Mary Reilly, Covie Classical with Liam Corbett and The News Show with Joan Geraghty. For a full listings go to www.wrfm.ie
Westport is the third town in Mayo to have its own Community Radio. The sevice has been established in Claremorris and Castlebar.