Author: Dundalk FM
Families gathered on Euston Street in Greenore for Heritage Week 2026, enjoying working steam machines, vintage cars, live music from the Dundalk Ukulele Strummers and a strong sense of local community spirit.
Dundalk FM took home three awards from the Craol Achievement Awards 2026, held at the Shamrock Lodge Hotel in Athlone, Co Westmeath, on Thursday, July 16th. “These awards are a true reflection of the dedication and passion of our volunteers, staff and everyone who makes Dundalk FM the heart of our community,” said Dundalk FM. The local community station received two Gold awards and a Silver, with the Dundalk Library Poetry Reading Group also collecting a second special honour for its Irish language programme. Grúpa Léitheoirí Filíochta Leabharlann Dhún Dealgan, the Dundalk Library Poetry Reading Group, received Gold in the Irish Language category. The award recognised a programme created by Yvonne Bagnall, Deirdre McDermott, Pat McKenna, Noel Sharkey, Jervis Byrne, Sally Lambe, Michael Farrell, Patrick Bermingham, Irene Maloney, Loretta Byrne and Alan Byrne. The group’s work brings Irish language poetry to the airwaves, providing an accessible meeting point between language, literature and community broadcasting. Alongside its Gold award, the group received a second special recognition for the programme, underlining the quality of its entry and the members’ commitment to sharing Irish language and culture with Dundalk FM’s listeners. A second Gold award went to presenter Joanne Lavelle for Families of Dundalk in the Irish Culture Showcase category. The six part series explored the history and continuing importance of independent family businesses in Dundalk. Through personal conversations with local business owners, Lavelle examined how well known enterprises began, evolved and overcame the challenges involved in serving the town across several generations. Among the businesses featured were Michael Lynch Menswear, McCormick’s Butchers, Christy McGee Insurance, Holland Hardware, Connell & Co., Terry Kelly Paints, Life Pharmacy in Seatown, Conlon’s Food Deli, McEvoys Stores and Michael Lavelle Estate Agents. The programme also considered the wider role played by Dundalk Chamber of Commerce and the Dundalk Business Improvement District Scheme in supporting the commercial and social life of the town. Common themes running through the series included the importance of families serving families, the trust built between local businesses and their customers, and the pride these enterprises take in contributing to Dundalk. Dundalk FM chairperson Joe Duffy was honoured with Silver in the Social Benefit Music category for his work on the Afternoon Show, Showband Street and as a documentary maker. Duffy’s broadcasting celebrates music as a source of shared memory and community connection. Showband Street, in particular, helps preserve the story and sound of Ireland’s showband era for existing fans while introducing that important part of Irish cultural history to new audiences. The awards were presented by Community Radio Ireland, also known as CRAOL or Raidió Pobail na hÉireann, with the support of Coimisiún na Meán. The latest success continues Dundalk FM’s strong history at the national community radio awards. In 2022, presenter Jason Kelly received Gold in the Access and Inclusion category as well as a special Outstanding Award, while Dundalk FM’s flagship Town Talk programme received Gold for Social Benefit. Kelly was recognised for the confidence, skills and sense of belonging he developed through community broadcasting, including his determination to learn how to broadcast remotely during the pandemic. Town Talk was honoured for its extensive coverage of local affairs and its engagement with community organisations across Dundalk. The 2026 awards demonstrate the breadth of Dundalk FM’s programming. From Irish language poetry and traditional popular music to the stories of local family businesses, the winning entries share a commitment to preserving local identity and giving members of the community an opportunity to tell their own stories. For Dundalk FM, the awards are not simply an acknowledgement of broadcasting quality. They recognise the volunteers, presenters, contributors and community groups whose work ensures that Dundalk’s voices, experiences and cultural traditions continue to be heard.
We’re delighted to share some news with our listeners, volunteers, presenters and everyone who supports community radio in County Louth: Dundalk FM has a brand new website, and it’s live right now at dundalkfm.ie. Community radio has always been about more than just what goes out over the airwaves. It’s about staying connected to the people we serve, morning, noon and night, whether that’s through Good Morning Dundalk at breakfast time or Classics with Colette as the evening winds down. These days, that connection doesn’t stop at 97.7FM. A huge number of you find us online first, whether you’re checking the schedule before a show starts, catching up on local news, or tuning in to the live stream from your phone on the school run. A modern, easy-to-use website has become just as much a part of how we serve Dundalk and the surrounding area as our broadcasts themselves, and we felt it was time ours reflected that. Why It Was Time for a New Website Like anything that’s been around a while, our old website had served us well, but the way people use the internet has moved on quite a bit. More of you are browsing on phones than ever before. You want to find a programme, a presenter, or a way to get in touch without having to hunt through menus. And behind the scenes, our own team needed something simpler to update, so that news, schedules and station announcements could go up quickly rather than getting stuck in a queue. So we set ourselves a fairly simple brief: make the website easier to navigate, quicker to load, friendlier on mobile phones, clearer to look at, and more accessible for everyone, including listeners who use screen readers or other assistive technology. We also wanted programme discovery to be genuinely simple, so that anyone new to Dundalk FM could land on the site and understand within seconds what we do, who’s on air, and how to listen. This wasn’t about starting from scratch or leaving the old site behind with any regret. It was the next natural step for a station that’s been growing steadily and wanted its website to grow alongside it. As part of this project, we worked with Astory Media, a Dundalk-based digital agency, to help us plan and build the new site properly, rather than patching things up piecemeal. More on that a little further down. What Visitors Will Notice A Cleaner, More Modern Design The first thing you’ll spot is that the site simply looks tidier. Pages are less cluttered, text is easier to read, and there’s more breathing room around photos and headlines. We wanted the design to feel calm and welcoming, much like tuning into the station itself, rather than something you have to work hard to make sense of. Built for Mobile A large share of our audience now listens and browses from a phone, whether that’s someone catching Town Talk on their commute or a parent checking what time Drivetime starts. The new site has been built with mobile visitors in mind from the outset, so pages resize properly, buttons are easier to tap, and the listen-live player works smoothly whether you’re on a phone, tablet or laptop. Finding Programmes Is Much Simpler We know one of the main reasons people visit is to find out what’s on. The new site makes it far easier to browse the full programme schedule, see who’s presenting each show, discover our specialist music programmes, and find community-focused shows that cover local issues and events. Station information, like how to contact us or get involved, is also much easier to locate than before. A Faster Website Nobody enjoys waiting for a page to load, especially if you’re just trying to check today’s schedule before you head out the door. A faster website means less waiting, smoother browsing on slower mobile connections, and a generally more pleasant experience for anyone popping in for a quick look. Better Accessibility for Everyone We’ve paid close attention to accessibility throughout this project, from clearer typography and stronger colour contrast to more straightforward navigation. Community radio is for everyone, and we wanted our website to reflect that same principle, so it’s easier to use whether you’re a longtime listener or visiting Dundalk FM online for the first time. Supporting the Local Community At its heart, Dundalk FM has always been about the community, first, last and always. That hasn’t changed with this new website; if anything, it’s easier now to stay close to what matters. You’ll be able to keep up with local news, find out about community events happening across Dundalk and County Louth, get to know our presenters a little better, discover new music, catch up on interviews, and learn more about the local organisations we work alongside. For anyone thinking about volunteering, whether behind the scenes or on air, the new site makes it simpler to find out how to get involved. Community radio only works because people give their time to it, and we wanted that route in to be clear and welcoming rather than buried away. Our Official Launch We marked the launch with a gathering at the Dundalk Media Centre, and it was, honestly, a lovely evening. Presenters, volunteers, committee members and supporters who’ve been part of Dundalk FM’s story over the years came together to celebrate, along with plenty of familiar faces from the local community. The undoubted highlight of the night was a performance from renowned Irish fiddle player Gerry O’Connor, who played a set of traditional music before officially introducing the launch of the new website. It felt like exactly the right way to mark the occasion: a celebration of where Dundalk FM has come from as much as where it’s heading, with traditional music and local voices sitting comfortably alongside a very modern milestone for the station. Working with Astory Media Throughout this project, we worked closely with Astory Media, a marketing and web design agency based
From the Dundalk FM archive Looking Back: Almost 2,000 Leprechaun Hunters Descended on Carlingford in 2015 A forgotten Dundalk FM interview recalls the weekend when pipers, prospecting licences and crowds of treasure seekers transformed Carlingford and the slopes of Slieve Foy. Original Dundalk FM preview published 25 March 2015 • Hunt held Sunday, 29 March 2015 In March 2015, Dundalk FM reported an unusual development in north Louth: multicoloured leprechauns had apparently been sighted arriving in Carlingford. The explanation was almost as colourful as the sighting. The medieval village was preparing for its annual National Leprechaun Hunt, a family event that brought folklore, tourism and a touch of theatrical mischief to the slopes of Slieve Foy. Dundalk FM published its preview on 25 March 2015, featuring Frances Taylor speaking to presenter Caoimhe O’Malley. Four days later, on Sunday, 29 March, an estimated 1,900 people descended on Carlingford for the hunt. Licensed to hunt: prospective treasure seekers could purchase a novelty “Ye Olde Carlingford Leprechaun Prospecting Licence”. Designed like an aged parchment and priced at €8 per person, the licence included rules for the hunt and space for an official stamp. Tickets and information were available through the Cooley Peninsula Tourist Office. Visitors assembled in the village before being led towards the mountain by a band of pipers. Once the hunt began, participants searched through the heather, around rocks and behind bushes for miniature leprechaun figures. Each figure was connected to a cash prize. Students from Champlain College’s Dublin programme were among the international visitors who joined the search. Two members of that group, Adam Vernali and Karisa Desjardins, found prize-carrying leprechauns and returned from the mountain with some extra euros—if not the legendary pot of gold. Carlingford’s “Leprechaun Whisperer” The modern event grew from folklore promoted by Carlingford native Kevin Woods, who became widely known as Ireland’s “Leprechaun Whisperer”. The Carlingford story began after local publican P.J. O’Hare reportedly found a miniature green suit, small bones and four gold coins on Slieve Foy. Woods recognised that the discovery could be developed into a story and visitor attraction for the medieval village. Woods later recalled that one of the early hunts involved hiding £1,000 beneath four ceramic leprechauns and selling hunting licences for £10. What began as a playful tourism idea developed into a nationally known event attracting visitors from Ireland and overseas. According to the legend promoted around the attraction, Ireland’s remaining leprechauns live in caverns and tunnels beneath the Cooley Mountains. Later versions generally placed their number at 236, with an elder named Carraig communicating with Woods. The story was presented in a spirit of folklore, imagination and fun. A new cavern for 2015 The hunt was not the only leprechaun-related development in Carlingford that year. In January 2015, Louth County Council granted planning permission for Woods’ underground Leprechaun and Fairy Cavern on Ghan Road. The council described it as a unique visitor facility with the potential to attract national and international tourists to County Louth. By the time of the March hunt, the cavern had become another part of Carlingford’s growing association with leprechaun folklore. The event complemented the village’s traditional attractions: its medieval streets, castle, abbey, harbour and dramatic location between Slieve Foy and Carlingford Lough. The leprechaun story added a playful layer to that historical and natural appeal. Whatever one believed about the “little people”, the tourism impact was real. The event brought approximately 1,900 people into a relatively small village in one day and generated attention for Carlingford in Irish and international media. The missing Dundalk FM recording Dundalk FM’s surviving archive entry identifies the interview as “Frances Taylor speaks to Caoimhe O’Malley about the National Leprechaun Hunt in Carlingford”. The original audio was stored on an older Dundalk FM website that is no longer online, and the migrated MP3 address presently returns a “not found” error. No exact public copy has been located on YouTube, Mixcloud or SoundCloud. Related footage survives, however, including a 2016 Carlingford Leprechaun Hunt promotion and earlier footage associated with the hunt. Sources and further viewing Dundalk FM podcast archive — surviving listing for the Frances Taylor and Caoimhe O’Malley interview, published 25 March 2015. Champlain College: “Champlain Joins the Hunt for Leprechauns!” — eyewitness report and photographs from the 2015 event. Irish Independent: “Ireland’s boom towns” — contemporary report recording attendance of approximately 1,900. The Irish Times: profile of Kevin Woods — background to the folklore, early hunts and prospecting licences. The Irish Times: “Leprechauns’ cave granted planning permission” — January 2015 report on the Ghan Road attraction. Irish Independent: “10 great reasons to visit Louth” — contemporary preview confirming the 29 March 2015 hunt. YouTube: 2016 Carlingford Leprechaun Hunt promotion. YouTube: earlier Carlingford Leprechaun Hunt footage. Historical feature compiled from Dundalk FM’s archive and contemporary reports.
A memorable night on Sports Academy From Belarus to Oriel: When Dundalk Dared to Dream Against BATE Borisov Gavin McLaughlin and Dundalk FC general manager Martin Connolly joined John Murphy on Sports Academy as the Lilywhites prepared for a defining Champions League night. Sports Academy • 20 July 2015 • UEFA Champions League second qualifying round In July 2015, Dundalk FC stood one goal away from eliminating one of the most experienced clubs in Champions League qualifying. Belarusian champions BATE Borisov had beaten Stephen Kenny’s side 2–1 in the first leg at the modern Borisov Arena on 15 July. Dundalk returned home defeated, but far from discouraged. David McMillan’s away goal meant that a 1–0 victory at Oriel Park would send the League of Ireland champions into the next round. BATE BorisovBorisov Arena 2–1 Dundalk FC15 July 2015 Five days after the first leg, Dundalk Democrat sports journalist Gavin McLaughlin joined John Murphy on Dundalk FM’s Sports Academy. McLaughlin described the Borisov Arena, the atmosphere surrounding the European fixture and the conversations and opinions shared by Dundalk’s travelling support. The first leg had started badly for the visitors when Aleksandr Karnitski put BATE ahead. Dundalk responded impressively. A move involving Daryl Horgan and Richie Towell created the opening for McMillan, who calmly finished from the edge of the penalty area and sent the travelling support into celebration. BATE restored its lead before half-time, but Dundalk prevented the hosts from adding to their advantage after the interval. Against a club accustomed to European group-stage football, the Irish champions remained composed, technically assured and very much alive in the tie. What was at stake? Contemporary reports estimated that progression would guarantee Dundalk approximately €1.2 million in prize money. More immediately, a single unanswered goal at Oriel Park would be enough to eliminate BATE on the away-goals rule then used by UEFA. Martin Connolly’s message to supporters During the second half of the programme, Dundalk FC general manager Martin Connolly joined the conversation with important advice for everyone heading to Oriel Park on Wednesday, 22 July. With a capacity crowd expected and European match-night arrangements in place, supporters were encouraged to plan ahead and help create the kind of atmosphere that could lift the Lilywhites. The anticipation was felt all over the town. Tickets were precious, conversation was dominated by possible line-ups and scorelines, and one question hung over Oriel: could Dundalk finish the job against a team accustomed to playing on Europe’s biggest stages? Excitement around the return leg was enormous. Dundalk were reigning League of Ireland champions and had shown in Belarus that they could compete with a club of BATE’s European experience. Stephen Kenny described his players as prepared and ready to attack the tie, while acknowledging that the visitors would arrive conscious of the threat Dundalk posed. A brave European campaign ends narrowly A crowd of just over 3,100 packed into Oriel Park on 22 July. Dundalk kept BATE scoreless but could not find the goal required to overturn the first-leg deficit. The match finished 0–0, sending the Belarusian champions through 2–1 on aggregate. Dundalk FC Oriel Park 0–0 BATE Borisov BATE won 2–1 on aggregate Although the result ended Dundalk’s European campaign, the two performances strengthened the belief that Kenny’s team belonged at that level. BATE went on to reach the Champions League group stage, while Dundalk completed 2015 by retaining the League of Ireland title and winning the FAI Cup. The story also gained a remarkable sequel. Drawn against BATE again in 2016, Dundalk overturned another first-leg deficit with a famous 3–0 victory at Tallaght Stadium. Two goals from David McMillan and a late Robbie Benson strike delivered a 3–1 aggregate win and one of the greatest European results achieved by an Irish club. That later triumph gave additional meaning to the discussion heard on Sports Academy in July 2015. The confidence of the travelling supporters, the belief created by McMillan’s away goal and the expectation surrounding the return to Oriel were early signs of the extraordinary European journey still to come. Sources and further reading Dundalk FM 97.7 — current official station website and Sports Academy listing. League of Ireland: Dundalk’s top European moments — account of David McMillan’s 2015 goal in Borisov and the 2016 victory. The Irish Times: David McMillan goal gives Dundalk confidence — report from the first leg. Irish Independent: Gritty Dundalk keep dream alive — contemporary account from Belarus and the financial importance of progression. The Irish Times: Stephen Kenny previews the return leg. The42: Goalless draw ends Dundalk’s European campaign — report from Oriel Park. Extratime: Dundalk 0–0 BATE Borisov — second-leg match report. Sky Sports: Dundalk v BATE match information and teams. The42: Dundalk warning over counterfeit Champions League tickets. RTÉ Sport: Dundalk’s famous 2016 victory over BATE — the sequel to the 2015 tie. A Dundalk FM look back at a European tie that helped shape an unforgettable era for the Lilywhites.
One small turn of the dial Remember Retuning Your Radio? How 97.7 Became the Sound of Dundalk A postcard through the letterbox. A new number on the dial. And a community helping its own radio station reach farther than before. 20 October 2015 • Dundalk FM If you lived around Dundalk in October 2015, you may remember being asked to do something very simple. Turn on the radio. Move the dial to 97.7 FM. Then tell Dundalk FM what you could hear. It did not sound like a grand moment in broadcasting history. There was no red carpet and no dramatic countdown. But that small request marked the beginning of a change that would become part of Dundalk life. After years on 100 FM, the station was moving. 100 FMThe original frequency ➔ 97.7 FMThe new home on the dial But would anyone hear it? A new frequency only matters if the voices reach the people waiting on the other side. So Dundalk FM asked listeners to become part of the test. People tuned in from their kitchens, cars, shops, and workplaces, then reported back on the strength of the new signal. The first reports were promising. Reception appeared stronger in Knockbridge, Castlebellingham, and Ravensdale. A signal shaped by its listeners Every response helped reveal how the new frequency was travelling across Dundalk and North Louth. The audience was helping to build the next chapter as it happened. That is what made the moment special. The people listening were not treated as numbers on an audience chart. They were participants. That same idea still sits at the heart of Dundalk FM as a community station. Local people do not simply listen. They contribute, present, share stories, support programmes, and help the station reflect the place it serves. Do you remember where you were when you first retuned to 97.7? The postcard that announced a new era There were no social media algorithms to trust with such an important message. Dundalk FM went directly to local homes. A postcard through the letterbox reminded listeners that the final day on 100 FM would be Saturday, 31 October 2015. When Sunday morning arrived, the station would have a new home at 97.7 FM. 20 October 2015The frequency change was announced 31 October 2015The final day on 100 FM 1 November 201597.7 became the station’s new home For listeners, the task took seconds. Turn the dial, find the signal, and save the new preset. For the station, it was much bigger. The frequency changed, but the promise did not. Dundalk FM would continue to make radio about local people, local concerns, local culture, and the stories that national broadcasters could never know in quite the same way. Three numbers that became part of the name Today, 97.7 feels inseparable from Dundalk FM. It appears beside the logo. Presenters say it on air. Listeners know exactly where to find it. What began as a technical change became part of the station’s identity. More than a decade later, you can still tune to 97.7 FM across Dundalk and the surrounding area. You can also listen live to Dundalk FM online, wherever in the world you happen to be. Yet the real connection has never depended on distance. It comes from hearing a familiar place reflected through familiar voices. One small turn of the dial began a story that continues today. 97.7 has been the home of Dundalk FM ever since. Were you listening when Dundalk FM changed frequency? Share where you heard the new signal and what the station has meant to you over the years. Your memory is part of this story too. Dundalk FM 97.7, the sound of the local community since 2004.
24HOURS Ready, Steady, Go Could You Make a Radio Show in 24 Hours? Three presenters walk into a studio. They have never worked together. The theme is a secret. And the clock is already ticking. A creative radio challenge from Dundalk FM 97.7 Imagine opening a message and discovering the subject of your next radio show.It could be firsts. It could be journeys. It could be songs that changed the world, guilty pleasures, local legends, or something so unexpected that your first reaction is laughter. Now imagine you have just 24 hours to turn that theme into one entertaining hour of radio. Ready? Borrowed from guerrilla filmmaking, rebuilt for radio In guerrilla filmmaking challenges, a team receives a surprise theme and races to create a finished film before time runs out. Dundalk FM took that creative pressure and brought it into the studio. The result was Ready, Steady, Go, a format built around surprise, teamwork, quick thinking, and the wonderful possibility that absolutely anything might happen. 3 presentersPicked to work together 1 secret themeRevealed at the last moment 24 hoursTo create the show The best part is not knowing Most radio programmes begin with plenty of preparation. Presenters know their subject, choose their music, arrange interviews, and polish the running order. This challenge deliberately removes that comfort. The presenters know in advance who will be on the team. They can meet, discover each other’s strengths, and decide how they might work together. But one crucial piece remains hidden until the day before broadcast. The theme stays secret. That is where the nerves begin, and where the creativity comes alive. What happens when the theme arrives? The 24 hour countdown begins: Three different minds react to the same surprise. Ideas are pitched, challenged, combined, and occasionally abandoned. Music, stories, interviews, comedy, and local voices begin to take shape. A running order emerges from the chaos. The studio light comes on, ready or not. The pressure is real, but so is the freedom. Nobody expects perfection. The fun comes from hearing people think on their feet and discovering how three personalities interpret the same idea. One theme can become a hundred different shows Give three presenters the word “home” and one might choose songs about Dundalk, another might interview people who returned after years abroad, and the third might explore the sounds that instantly bring back childhood memories. Change the theme and the entire programme changes with it. First times Hidden Dundalk Second chances One unforgettable summer Local heroes Music after midnight That unpredictability makes the idea as enjoyable for listeners as it is for the presenters. You are not only tuning in for the topic. You are tuning in to hear how the team solved the challenge. Why creative experiments belong on community radio Formats like this capture what makes Dundalk FM’s approach to community radio so valuable. The station can take a chance on an unusual idea, bring different local voices together, and create something that could never be produced by an automated playlist. It also gives presenters permission to stretch themselves. A music specialist may discover a talent for interviewing. A quiet researcher may deliver the funniest moment in the programme. Three people who barely knew one another can leave the studio already planning what they would do next time. That is the lasting appeal of Ready, Steady, Go. It is not tied to one date or one broadcast slot. It is a reminder that great radio can begin with a surprising idea, a willing team, and the courage to start before every detail feels comfortable. Would you accept the challenge? If this sounds exciting rather than terrifying, community radio may have a place for you. Explore what is happening at Dundalk FM, or introduce yourself and share the kind of programme you would love to make. Tell Dundalk FM your idea And while you are thinking about it, listen live to Dundalk FM 97.7. The next voice you hear might once have been wondering whether they were ready too. Dundalk FM 97.7, where local voices and brave ideas get on the air.
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 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.
Dundalk FM in lockdown! Remote but Never Distant: How Dundalk FM Kept Broadcasting The studio fell quiet in spring 2020. Across Dundalk, spare bedrooms, kitchen tables, laptops, and mobile phones became the beginnings of a new kind of radio station. April to May 2020 • Dundalk FM 97.7 The microphones were still there. The sound desk was ready. The studio lights could still glow red. But the presenters could not gather around them. When the first Covid lockdown separated Dundalk FM’s volunteers from the station and from one another, local radio suddenly faced a difficult question. How do you keep a community connected when the people making the programmes cannot share a studio? The answer began with a weekly call On 23 April 2020, a group of presenters met remotely for the first in a series of broadcasting question and answer sessions. Some were experienced editors. Others were taking their first steps with home recording. Everybody had something to learn, and almost everybody had something useful to share. 23 AprilSession one 30 AprilSession two 7 MaySession three 14 MaySession four Over four Thursdays, names and faces appeared on screen: John Englishby, Dan Pope, Eimear O’Kane, Brendan Coughlan, Cathal Cassidy, Alan Byrne, Cathal McCooey, Mary Rose Muckian, Philip O’Brien, Sean Callaghan, Padraig Quigley, David Bellew, Marian Del Duca, Pat Byrne, Tracey Hanby, and others from across the station. The calls were practical, but they were also social. Presenters who had never met properly before said hello. People compared equipment, solved problems, demonstrated editing techniques, and encouraged colleagues who were nervous about recording alone. There was a wonderful sense of “we’re in this together.” The studio had become a collection of homes, but the team was still a team. Presenters met online to exchange ideas, solve recording problems, and keep programmes moving during lockdown. Could a kitchen table become a radio studio? It turned out that the first step did not require a room full of expensive equipment. A smartphone could record a presenter’s links. A plug in microphone or gaming headset could make a conversation sound clearer. Soft furnishings could reduce echo. A laptop could bring interviews together through Zoom, while editing software allowed voices, music, introductions, and station sounds to become a finished programme. A quiet roomCurtains, carpets, and soft furniture help calm unwanted echo. A clear microphoneA simple headset or USB microphone can transform how close a voice feels. A willingness to learnThe most important part of the home studio was the person willing to press record. Padraig Quigley shared advice on equipment and improving a laptop. Philip O’Brien explained how he built a promo for AlphaBeats by combining music, voice, and station audio. John Englishby demonstrated an edit for a Joe Jackson Spotlight programme and offered to help Mary Rose Muckian develop her own editing skills. The programmes kept taking shape This was not training for some distant future. Every new skill could help put another local programme on air. Ideas developed during the sessions included: new editions of Spotlight and AlphaBeats, the continuing 100 Years of Music project, a Slane concert series, a remote version of Ready, Steady, Go, a programme linking songs through five degrees of separation, and a new Community Call series. For 100 Years of Music, presenters divided the decades between them. One person could research and write. Another could record. Someone else could edit. Files travelled between homes, and individual contributions became complete broadcasts. Shows such as Fadó Fadó, The Brunch, Health and Well Being, and Beaten Tracks explored ways to keep conversations flowing even when the contributors were miles apart. Radio for people who needed company The technical learning served a larger purpose. During lockdown, isolation was not an abstract problem. Older listeners and people living alone could go days without seeing a familiar face. Dundalk FM began developing Community Call as a 24 part series, bringing together researchers, presenters, and editors to share helpful information and strengthen connections. The Community Foundation for Ireland later recorded support for a Dundalk FM radio programme aimed at increasing connectivity among older people in the town. The work reflected the same purpose that continues to define Dundalk FM as a community radio station. Technology mattered, but only because it helped one local voice reach another person who needed to hear it. Learning to listen differently Remote conversations were not always easy. Mary Rose captured one of the central difficulties: speaking into a laptop could feel stilted, with the natural rhythm of conversation harder to find. The group learned that good headphones and a closer microphone could make voices feel more immediate. They also learned to leave space, listen carefully, and accept that an online conversation had its own rhythm. Those lessons went beyond software. They made presenters more patient, more resourceful, and more aware of how much warmth the human voice can carry. A simple invitation brought the station’s presenters together while they could not meet in person. The doors reopened, but the knowledge remained Plans were made for presenters to begin returning to live broadcasting from 8 June 2020 under new safety rules. The station would look different. Numbers were restricted, guests stayed away at first, and every return required care. Yet Dundalk FM did not return as the same station that had entered lockdown. Its volunteers now knew how to record on phones, conduct remote interviews, edit programmes at home, transfer large audio files, and collaborate without sitting in the same room. That knowledge continued to create opportunities. A remote studio established at RehabCare Dundalk during the pandemic later helped participants remain involved in training and broadcasting, an initiative recognised in coverage of volunteer Jason Kelly’s contribution to community radio. The real lesson was never about the equipment A microphone could be inexpensive. A studio could be a spare room. An interview could arrive through a laptop. What made it radio was the willingness to learn, help a colleague, and keep talking to the community. That spirit remains part of Dundalk FM
Join Dundalk FM 97.7 Your Voice Belongs Here You do not need a radio voice, technical experience, or a perfect programme idea. You only need curiosity and the willingness to try. Volunteering, training, creativity, and community Have you ever heard a presenter introduce a song and quietly wondered what it would feel like to sit behind the microphone yourself?Perhaps you know everything about a particular kind of music. Maybe you follow local sport, care deeply about community issues, enjoy meeting people, or have a talent for finding stories nobody else has noticed.You might be closer to radio than you think.At Dundalk FM, presenters are not distant celebrities with impossible voices. They are local people who decided to give it a try. You do not volunteer because you already know how to make radio. You volunteer because you would like to learn. What does a Dundalk FM volunteer actually do? The microphone may be the most visible part of radio, but a station needs many different interests and abilities. Present programmesShare music, conversation, sport, culture, news, or a specialist interest. Research local storiesFind guests, prepare questions, check information, and uncover ideas worth sharing. Produce and edit audioShape interviews, music, introductions, and recorded material into a finished programme. Support the communityHelp with outside broadcasts, events, community notices, and local outreach. You might love being on air. You might prefer making everything work behind the scenes. Both matter. Your first step is smaller than you imagine In July 2020, twelve potential volunteers joined a Dundalk FM information session. John, Consuelo, Danielle, Noel, Mark, Venus, another Mark, Richard, Colin, Liana, Niamh, and Hammond arrived with different experiences and different reasons for being curious about radio. They were not asked to walk into a live studio and fill an hour immediately. Instead, Padraig Quigley and Marissa Lucchesi offered to help each person record a one-off music programme. The choices included AlphaBeats, 100 Years of Music, and Spotlight, three friendly formats that gave a beginner somewhere clear and enjoyable to start. A Dundalk FM information session in July 2020 introduced a new group of volunteers to the possibilities of community radio. The first programme does not need to change the world. It only needs to help you discover what happens when your interests, ideas, and personality meet a microphone. From curious beginner to confident broadcaster The volunteer journey is designed to build confidence one step at a time. 1. Say helloTell the station what interests you 2. Learn the basicsDiscover how programmes are made 3. Make a recordingTry your first supported show 4. Find your placeDevelop a role that suits you Training can introduce you to programme planning, running orders, microphone technique, interviews, audio recording, editing, and operating a sound desk. More importantly, it gives you space to practise without pretending you know everything already. The station’s current values make that commitment clear. Dundalk FM welcomes people into training in a supportive atmosphere, with no previous broadcasting experience required. You may gain more than radio skills Learning to present a programme can make you a clearer speaker. Interviewing guests can make you a better listener. Editing audio develops patience and attention to detail. Working with other volunteers builds teamwork, confidence, and friendships. Volunteering can help you: become more confident speaking and communicating learn practical recording and editing skills meet people from across Dundalk and County Louth support local groups, campaigns, events, and stories explore an interest in media, journalism, music, or production create something you are proud to share Some volunteers discover a path towards education or employment. Others find a creative outlet, a weekly routine, or a stronger connection to the town. There is no single correct reason for joining. What kind of programme could you bring to Dundalk? Think about the conversations you wish happened more often. Could you introduce listeners to new Irish music? Tell the stories of local businesses? Cover grassroots sport? Create a programme for a community that rarely hears itself represented? Explore local history? Interview artists, volunteers, carers, campaigners, or people with extraordinary everyday lives? Dundalk FM already broadcasts a wide mix of speech and music, but community radio is never finished. It grows whenever somebody new arrives with a perspective the station has not heard before. You do not have to become a presenter Perhaps being on air is not your goal. You could still have an important role. Researchers help presenters ask better questions. Producers keep programmes organised. Editors turn raw recordings into engaging audio. Technical volunteers support sound desks and outside broadcasts. Community contributors help the station stay connected to local groups and events. The station is built by people with different strengths. Your contribution does not need to sound like anybody else’s. What if your first show is closer than you think? You do not need to arrive with a finished proposal. Contact Dundalk FM, share what interests you, and ask about the next volunteer information session or introductory training opportunity. Ask about volunteering Call 042 939 5100 You can also listen live and explore the Dundalk FM schedule. Pay attention to the programmes that make you think, “I would love to try that.” That thought may be all you need to begin. Dundalk FM 97.7, your station, your community, and perhaps your next adventure. — This article was researched, refreshed and prepared for Dundalk FM by Astory Media, helping local organisations turn valuable archive material into engaging digital content.
