September 2019 News

Dundalk FM’s upcoming Outside Broadcast, Training and Information Evening Schedule.

Aug	30	Last day for Dundalk FM 2009 – 2019 Broadcast Licence
Sept	1	First day for Dundalk FM 2019 – 2029 – Irish Music per day is UP FROM 25% TO 30%
	12	7.00 pm Information Evening for New Volunteers
	16	7.15 pm Dundalk Media Centre CLG Annual General Meeting
	25	7.00 pm Documentary Making Workshop
	26	OB Town Talk Louth Volunteer Centre
	28	OB Brunch/Kavanagh Centre, Inniskeen
	30	7.00 pm Sound Desk Training
Oct	5 & 12	2-day Radio Course for New Presenters. 9.30 am – 3.30 pm. Cost €95.00
	23	3.00 pm Outside Broadcast Technical Training
Nov	14	7.00 pm Information Evening for New Volunteers
Dec	2	7.00 pm Sound Desk Training
	20	Christmas Fundraiser, Lisdoo

Programming News

• Our Dundalk FC match commentary team are just back from commentating on FC Riga, Qarabag and Slovan Bratislava and are looking forward to broadcasting from the Unite the Union Champions Cup, a two-legged play off (home and away) between the winners of the Northern Ireland Football League and the League of Ireland in November. Thanks to the presenters for their understanding for programmes that are cancelled due to soccer matches especially Heart of the Matter, Rock Steady Rhythms and An Alternative Ireland. Build up with Bellew is the new pre match show and thanks to Orla Crilly, Ciaran Callan and Neil McArdle (Bratislava) for sending us interviews and for speaking to us live on air. A first for Dundalk FM – we took a live feed from Derry’s Community Radio Station – Drive 105 – for the Derry v Dundalk match from the Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium on 5^th July. For the FAI Cup match on August 23^rd we will do the same. Many thanks to Kevin Moore, Dee Curran, Colin Greene and Eddie Seydak from Drive 105 for organising this for us.
• During the summer time we had OB’s from the Quay Celtic Pitch for the Motor Neuron Disease Fundraiser, we had a wonderful music team at Vantastival and we did our annual OBs from Dundalk Pride and the Rehab Hub Coffee Morning.
• Welcome back after the summer break to Dundalk Lions Club – at your service, Conversations with Dundalk Toastmasters and the Health and Well Being show.
• Welcome to our new Drive Time presenters – John Englishby and Cathal McCooey.
• Recently introduced Shows: Saturday Night 80’s (Andy McKenna), Automatic Pilot (International Poetry show with Alan Byrne), Roots and Boots (Kerry Fearon), Saturday Night (David Larkin), Ready, Steady…Go! Series II (Marissa Lucchesi) and ABC of Music with Philip O’Brien.
• New Spotlight Shows aired were by Sandra de la Cruz (Saber), Anita Guest (One Direction) and Alan Byrne (Buddy Rich).
• 27 members are taking part in the new Alpha Beats Series I. 1 x presenter – 1 x letter – 1 x hour. Show are on at 3pm and 4pm each Sunday. To see the schedule of presenters, listen again to shows and to check their running orders see www.dundalkfm.com/listen-again-on-dundalk-fm/. The draw for the second series will take place on Friday 25^th October during Drive Time. We are looking for all new presenters for this round and then for Series III starting in February 2020 – all presenters can put their names into the hat!
• Programme and Technical Meetings are on the first Tuesday at 4.30pm and we welcome new programme proposals which are accompanied by a 5 minute demo.

Volunteer Involvement and Training

• The next Information Evening will be on Thursday 12^th September at 7pm. Please pass on this invite to anyone who would like find out how to join us.
• The closing date for the next round of Sound and Vision is November 8^th. There will be a Radio Documentary Workshop on Wednesday 25^th September 2019 at 7.15 pm.
• If you want to brush up on your Sound Desk and Audio Editing Skills then we have training on Monday 30^th September and Monday 2^nd December at 7pm.
• There were 5 people at the OB Training on Wednesday 19^th June, so we will run another workshop on Wednesday 23^rd October at 3.00 pm.
• This year the Craol Training Féile will take place on Friday 18^th and Saturday 19^th October in the Springfield Hotel, Leixlip. I will send out a text closer to the time about attendance at the event.
• Pat Hamilton and Pat Byrne attended a CRAOL QQI CPD Training event in August.
• Craol are collecting stories that best illustrate the social benefit that community radio stations generate. At Dundalk FM, we have great stories to tell and if you would like to share your story with other Craol stations, please let me know so we can document and record this important piece of modern CR History.
• We will shortly be rolling out a Department of Justice funded Training Project with the aim of promoting diversity on air and off air.

Station News

• VACANCY – we will be sending out notice for a full time position with the station during the next week.
• Our Flag Day on August 8^th raised €204.00 Thank you to the members who gave their time to collect donations on the streets.
• Equipment – Louth County Council have awarded the station €1,695 as part of the Community Enhancement Programme. This will go towards IT and Studio Equipment. We are finalising the purchase of new digital broadcast equipment and installation will take place in September/October.
• June, July and August photo additions to the History of Community Radio webpage can be found here https://www.dundalkfm.com/about-us/dundalks-community-radio-history-book/
• Don’t forget about our Suggestion Box and Volunteer of the Month Nomination Forms.
• News is played on the hour during the week. Community Notices are played on the hour at the weekend. After 6pm the news is 2 minutes in duration.
• If a song finishes before the news then you can play out a range of show promos. They are in the Timed Promos in Today’s Ad’s Folder.

If you have suggestions for station or would like to get more involved in OB’s, training or fundraising please let me know. The next update will be circulated in December 2019.

Finally, we are collecting Membership for 2019/2020 at present. The fee is €30 and members who pay on or before September 1^st are entitled to vote at the AGM.

Alan

June 2019 News

Dundalk FM’s recent and upcoming Outside Broadcast, Training and Information Evening Schedule.

Apr	17	OB Town Talk	Age Friendly Conference	Crowne Plaza
	24	OB Town Talk	Fr Michael Cusack/Birches Fundraiser	St Gerard’s Hall
May	3	OB Town Talk	Redeemer Resource Centre the Big Hello/Community Radio Day	Redeemer Resource Centre
	13	7.00 pm Sound Desk Training
	16	OB Town Talk	National Volunteer Week	Louth Volunteer Centre
	23	OB Town Talk	LMETB Open Day	Chapel Street
	25 & 26	OB Brunch/Dlk FM Election Crew	Local, European Elections & Referendum	Redeemer Count Centre
	31	OB First Cut	Vantastival	Beaulieu House, Drogheda
June	1 2	OB 2pm – 4pm OB 3pm – 5pm	Vantastival	Beaulieu House, Drogheda
	11	OB Town Talk	Rehab Coffee Morning	Rehab Hub
	17	7.00 pm Sound Desk Training
	19	3.00 pm Outside Broadcast Technical Training
	23	OB On the Street where you Live	Motor Neuron Disease Fundraiser	Clancy Park, Quay Street
July	3	3.00 pm Dundalk FM Events Team meeting
	11	7.00 pm Information Evening for New Volunteers
	12	OB Town Talk	Dundalk Pride	Roden Place
	15	7.00 pm Sound Desk Training

Programming News

• Our Dundalk FC match commentary team have been to 16 games so far and are looking forward to the UEFA Champion’s League matches starting in early July.
• The Summer League Focus show with Gussie Hearty, Robbie Rafferty and Dazer Bond returned to the Wednesday 8pm evening slot.
• This year we have aired new Spotlight Shows by Orla Crilly (The Sunshine Bar), Dominik Buch (Queen), Cathal McCooey (Creedance Clearwater Revival), Tara Tine (The Cranberries), David Bellew (Moonlight Benjamin and a show about Dundalk Solo Artists), Noel Sharkey (The Breakaways) and Jason Kelly (Charlie Landsborough).
• Ready Steady…Go! Series 2 produced by Marissa Lucchesi begins on 22^nd June.
• A Weekend News Service would be a great addition to the station service so if you would like to join our news team, please have a chat with Paddy McEneaney and he will show you how to research and record the news, sports and weather.

Volunteer Involvement and Training

• We had the highest attendance (12) at our April Radio Documentary Workshop – Jason Kelly, Brian Bingham, David Bellew, Sean T O’Reilly, Harry Mallon, Michael Dowdall, Brendan Connolly, Eamon O Reilly, Marian Del Duca, Billy Lyons, Tony Moran and David Larkin. The discussion was hosted by Alison Lennon and Alan Byrne. The closing date for the next round for Sound and Vision applications is the 7^th of November.
• Our April Radio Course trainees were Gregor Byatt, Andy McKenna, David Larkin and Orla Crilly. Andy and David are starting their own shows on the 1^st and 2^nd Saturday of the month at 10.00 pm.
• 12 people attended the Coffee Evening on Thursday 9^th May at 7pm.
• The next evening will be on Thursday 11^th July at 7pm. Please pass on this invite to anyone who would like to join us.
• The June Radio Course attendees were Kerry Fearon, Cynthia Manda and Eddie Cranney.
• If you want to brush up on your Sound Desk Skills then we have training on Monday 17^th June and Monday 15^th July – at 7pm.
• There were 7 people at the OB Training on Wednesday 22^nd May, so we will run another workshop on Wednesday 19^th June at 3.00 pm.
• A special word of thanks to Pat Byrne, Marissa Lucchesi, Caoimhe O’Malley, John Englishby, Marian Del Duca, Billy Lyons, Philip O’Brien and John Murphy for helping to training our new volunteers.

Station News

• Dundalk FM will sign a new 10 year licence in July 2019. This is our third licence – the first was in 2004 (5 years) and the second was in 2009 (10 years).
• Andrew Nulty created a really useful page for the recent elections and it can be found herehttps://dfmbusiness.wordpress.com/2019-elections/
• April and May additions to the History of Community Radio webpage can be found herehttps://www.dundalkfm.com/about-us/dundalks-community-radio-history-book/
• Don’t forget about our Suggestion Box and Volunteer of the Month Nomination Forms.
• If a song finishes before the news then you can play out the Timed Promos. These are show promos of varying length from 10 seconds to over 60 seconds. You will find this in the Ad Carts Folder. Tip: Rather than fading out at the top of the hour for the news or going into the next programme hour you can fade out your second last song so the last song will finish in time for the news.

If there is information about the station that you would find useful please let me know and I will include it in the September update.

Kind regards

Alan Byrne

Station Manager

The Fundraising Committee and friends held a fantastic fundraiser in the Lisdoo just before Christmas and they have booked a date again this year. So between now and then there will be some more fun nights out. The first is the Dundalk FM’s 60’s and 70’s POP MUSIC QUIZ which will be on Friday 19th April in the Lisdoo. All welcome. Great night’s craic guaranteed. All proceeds going to renovate the station. Kudos to Sean Callaghan and Tom Gernon who are the question masters. Please come along and join in.

A Radio Documentary Workshop with Alison Lennon and Alan Byrne will be held on Thursday 11th April at the station at 7pm. The closing date for S&V applications is 8th May. If you want to meet Alison to chat about an idea you can reach her at alisonlennon@dundalkfm.com.

Our April Radio Course begins this week and we welcome Andy McKenna, Gregor Byatt, Orla Crilly and David Larkin to the station.

Running orders – are important on 2 reasons- we calculate the Irish Music % played each day – it’s 25% at present moving up to 30% when our new Licence comes into force from 1st September. And also for our Voices on Air – our target is 7,200. We need to have running orders to back up our stats.

We have two Town Talk OB’s coming up – the first will be in the Crowne Plaza for the Age Friendly Conference on Wednesday  17th April and then a week later on the 24th, we will be in St Gerard’s Hall.

The Ready, Steady… Go series will commence very shortly send an email to Marissa at talk@dundalkfm.com and she will contact you with the time and date for your show.

The Town Talk programme on Bank Holiday Monday (22nd April), Marissa is putting together a Poetry Special Show. If you would like to record a poem and select a song get in contact with Marissa.

You may have noticed a photo frame with some old and some new photos in the reception area. These are the photos we put up during March…more to follow each month.

The Volunteer of the Month nomination form can be found here. Nominations can be for whatever you feel merits special recognition e.g: listener feedback, outstanding show content, flexibility, support for colleague, advertising referrals, exceptional hours contributed in month, special milestone e.g. 5 year/10 year on air etc.

Finally, we have put up a Suggestion Box at the entrance to the Main Studio so please pop a card into the box so we can work on improving our studios, services, programming, training, communications and so on.

Volunteer of the Month Awards

In our Engagement Survey last year, many volunteers suggested we introduce a way to recognise exceptional individual volunteer contributions.

We are now delighted to announce the launch of a Volunteer of the Month Award.

Nominations for the award can be made by any two members of Dundalk FM including volunteers and staff. A nomination form is attached and will be available from reception throughout the year. A reminder will go out each month and nominations can be made at any time.

Nominations can be for whatever you feel merits special recognition e.g: listener feedback,outstanding show content, flexibility, support for colleague, advertising referrals, exceptional hours contributed in month, special milestone e.g. 5 year/10 year on air etc.

Awards Judging Panel 2019 will include Chairman (Joe Duffy), Manager (Alan Byrne) and Volunteer Liaison Person (Marian Del Duca). Monthly winners will receive a Certificate and a place on the year’s Roll of Honour 2019. There will be a Perpetual Award at year end for an overall Volunteer of the Year who will be chosen by a vote from all members at year end.

So who would you like to nominate for February 2019 Volunteer of the Month Award?

Kind regards

Joe Duffy

Chairman

Volunteer of the Month Nomination Form 20190218

We are saddened to hear of the passing our dear colleague Jimmy Neary last evening.

Our thoughts are with Marita, Karen and John.

There is a remembrance journal at the station.

Dear Paul,

On behalf of the Board of Directors of Dundalk FM, I would like to extend our thanks for all your studio assistance and audio advice during the last three years as Evening Duty Manager.

We hope that you will continue to be involved in music, documentary or other related local community radio activities with us in the future.

I know that all the staff, presenters and presenter teams join with us in wishing you every success with your endeavours.

Kind regards

____________________________________

Joe Duffy

Chairperson

The application for a renewal of our community licence was submitted to the BAI at the beginning of August.

I texted our members for some their own words to help with the application and asked them to answer these 3 questions:

1. What does it mean to you to be a member of Dundalk FM 97.7?

2. What is missing from the schedule.

3. What year did you start?

…and here are the replies…

Being a member of Dundalk FM is extremely important to me as it allows me to contribute something to my community and to be a part of making a difference in the lives of local people. There is very little missing from the schedule. Joined in 2005

Kevin Marley, Heart of the Matter

Being a volunteer at Dundalkfm has been an awesome experience. The staff and management have been so friendly and supportive. They believed in me when I didn’t believe in myself. It has been an amazing learning curve. I’m learning new skills that I thought I could never learn, working the desk producing and presenting programs, interviewing guests etc etc. Dundalkfm is the voice of our community.

I feel part of a very useful and necessary community organization. I’m getting great feedback from the people I meet not only about me but the station in general. This station has given me a new lease of life.

Marian Del Duca, Presenter on the Town Talk, Health and Well Being, Conversations with Dundalk Toastmasters and stand in presenter for Lunch Box, Afternoon Show and Drive Time

I feel a member of a really close-knit and vibrant community. Joined in 2010.

Noel Sharkey, Music and Local History Documentary Maker

Being a member opens a whole new world. …ability to broadcast. .meet new people. …try different types of programmes. …and enjoy the journey.

I feel that more educational and local history programming which involves the local schools should be considered I’ve been involved in community radio for about 10/12 years

Alan Bogan, Radio Documentary Producer

1. I am a member of a viable and valuable community entity that affords me the opportunity to forge strong local links and influence positive action in the sector.

2. Female Voices on Air

3. 2015

Marissa Lucchesi, Town Talk and Dundalk FM Board Member

Great to be part of a community based radio station providing a unique service for the town of Dundalk.

Joined in 2002.

Michael Duffy, Town Talk

1. It has opened doors for me in the dj world. Since starting the show. I have done the Dublin, Cork and Belfast ska festivals and next week I do a set at Wexford ska festival. I feel part of something and I have the freedom to express myself on the station.

2. It needs more music shows and younger presenters to tap into the future of our listenership.

3.2015 and please God I have many more years ahead.

Karl Collins, Rocksteady Rhythms

It means the freedom to broadcast a show to my own style with the support of the management and the members. It has also meant the opportunity to develop skills and attributes that have seen me grow as a person and a journalist.

2. What is missing from the schedule? A late night show for the 16-29 demographic

3. What year did you start? 2009

Ciaran Callan, Drive Time

1. Great to be part of such a great resource for the community of Dundalk.

2. Probably room for more Irish language programming.

3. Joined in 2016. Good luck with application.

Pat Byrne, Dundalk Lions’ Club – at your service, Director

Hi Alan

Answer 1. It means a great deal to me being a member of Dundalk fm as being a person with a disability it has giving me an opportunity to for-fill one of my dreams of presenting my own radio show an opportunity I don’t think i would have gotten anywhere else. Also I have received great help support and advise from the staff and fellow members of Dundalk fm.

Answer 2 subject to demand i think more air time needs to be made available for more programs Answer 3 I joined in 2018

Martin Trodden, Classic Love.

Alan, answers as follows:

1. Being a presenter on Dundalk FM, gives me the chance to communicate my passion for music, with the listeners, and hopefully educate, inspire, and ultimately, entertain them at the same time. Being part of the Dundalk FM community gives me a sense of contributing to the local community, with like minded people, who have a similar goal and vision.

2. There should be more live content, especially in the evening, and most especially over the weekend.

3. I joined in 2018.
Hope that helps.

Mike McMahon, Mike’s Music Express

1. To be a member of Dundalk fm97.7 means a lot to me. I’ve upgraded my mass communication and broadened my mind how community based radio runs and the target audience it is transmitting to.

2. To be realistic I don’t see anything missing. I just assume if the volunteers have the ability to bring up new ideas to upgrade for the better of our dear listeners interest.

3. I joined Dundalk FM 2 years ago.

Tony Banda. Music Show

1. Making listeners happy, bringing sport to their homes.

2. Should be more Outside Broadcasts around Dundalk.

3. about 2004

Gussie Hearty, Summer League Focus.

1. What does it mean to you to be a member of Dundalk FM 97.7? As a new resident of the town, being a member of Dundalk FM means I feel a part of the community. There are familiar faces at the station and out and about now that make me feel like less of a stranger in a new place.

2. What is missing from the schedule? From what I’ve seen, the schedule is pretty broad. I’d like to do more to promote the Irish language on the station. My own level of Irish isn’t great, but making the effort might be as useful as already being fluent.

3. What year did you start? February 2018

Paul Donnolly, News and Sport