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Radiothon 4th Oct 2019 – We broadcast from 97 places in one day!!!

Written by on 24.04.2026

Radiothon 2019

97 Places in One Day: The Radiothon That Put Dundalk on Air

Shops, schools, salons, factories, gyms, community groups, and even somebody’s front room. If Dundalk FM could reach it, it could become part of the broadcast.

Friday, 4 October 2019  •  Dundalk FM 97.7

At first, the number sounded ridiculous.Ninety seven locations. One day.That meant getting out of the studio, crossing Dundalk against the clock, meeting people wherever they worked or gathered, and turning every quick visit into a little piece of live local radio.It was ambitious. It was unpredictable. And it was exactly the kind of idea a community station should attempt.

97 placesAcross the local community
1 dayTo complete the challenge
97.7 FMThe number that inspired it

The invitation went out to everyone

Dundalk FM appeal for public to take part in radiothon

The plan was simple. Dundalk FM presenters would visit each location for a few minutes, record a dedication or song request, and invite the hosts to take on a Just a Minute Quiz.

Who could join in? Practically anyone.

Local shops
Salons
Restaurants
Factories
Gyms
Schools
Community groups
Public buildings
Local homes

The open invitation was picked up by the Dundalk Democrat ahead of the event, helping spread the challenge across the town.

A radio station in motion

On Friday, 4 October, Radiothon stopped being a poster and became a race around Dundalk.

Each visit was brief, but that was part of the charm. A presenter arrived. A microphone appeared. Someone made a dedication. Someone else faced the quiz. Then the team packed up and moved towards the next name on the list.

For one day, the studio was not a room in Park Street. The studio was the whole town.

The format captured small moments that ordinary broadcasting can miss. Staff members laughing together. A customer being pulled into a quiz. A school or community group hearing its own name on air. A familiar local business becoming the centre of attention for a few memorable minutes.

Could you survive the Just a Minute Quiz?

The visits needed something quick, playful, and capable of producing instant radio. The Just a Minute Quiz fitted perfectly.

One location. One dedication. One quick quiz.
Then it was time to race towards the next stop.

The quiz gave every location its own little moment of suspense. It also made the hosts more than a name on a list. They became part of the programme, often with colleagues, friends, pupils, customers, or neighbours listening nearby.

Mission accomplished

By the end of the day, Dundalk FM had done what it set out to do. The station had broadcast from 97 places in a single day.

The achievement mattered, but the number was only half the story. Every stop represented a relationship between the station and the community it serves.

That is why the challenge still feels so perfectly matched to Dundalk FM. The station’s frequency supplied the number, but the people of Dundalk supplied the energy, the locations, the voices, and the welcome.

More than a number on the dial

Radiothon 2019 showed what community radio looks like when it steps outside and knocks on the community’s door. To hear what Dundalk FM is doing today, listen live on 97.7 FM or online. To discover why participation matters so much, explore the story and purpose of Dundalk FM.

Dundalk FM 97.7, connecting the town one voice, one story, and one location at a time.

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