Author: Dundalk FM
Page: 14
Summerfest was organised by Michael Duffy to bring listeners and local musicians together for a free mid summer celebration in the Spirit Store, Dundalk.
Dundalk Weekend Radio was the pilot community radio service that began broadcasting in May 2002. The first radio station was based in an upstairs office in Partnership Court. During the week presenters recorded shows to mini disc (remember those – and the editing took forever). The mini discs were lined up and played out one after another at the weekend.
Presenters A to Z Meet the voices behind Dundalk FM’s music, sport, culture, community and current affairs programmes. TopACDEGIJKMOPRST A A Adam Heslin Power Play Adam Heslin presents Power Play on Dundalk FM. The programme forms part of the station’s specialist music schedule, giving Adam an opportunity to share his selection of music with Dundalk FM listeners. A Adrian McGearty An Citóg Adrian McGearty presents An Citóg, a weekly programme covering local sport. His show keeps listeners informed about sporting activity, stories and developments from Dundalk and the surrounding area. A Alan Byrne 5 Irish Tunes Alan Byrne is the Station Manager of Dundalk FM and plays a central role in managing its community broadcasting, training and volunteer activities. He also presents 5 Irish Tunes and has contributed to documentaries, special broadcasts and community radio projects. A Alison Lavery Time Machine Alison Lavery presents Time Machine on Dundalk FM. The programme takes listeners through memorable music from different periods, offering a nostalgic journey across songs and musical eras. A Alvaro Lucchesi On the Street Where You Live Alvaro Lucchesi co-presents On the Street Where You Live with Paddy and Sean McEneaney. The Sunday morning programme combines music and conversation with a relaxed, community-focused style, and Alvaro has also served as a Dundalk FM board member. A Andrew Nulty Andrew Nulty is a Community Radio Producer at Dundalk FM and the presenter of Totally 90’s. He has also presented The Chart Show, featuring current chart music and a weekly focus on an Irish musician, and has supported the station through production and creative work. A Andy McKenna Saturday Night 80’s on the first Saturday of each month Andy McKenna presents Saturday Night 80’s on the first Saturday of each month. His programme brings listeners back to the music of the 1980s through a personal selection of songs from the decade. A Anita Guest Rehab Care on Air Anita Guest presents Rehab Care on Air and has been involved with Dundalk FM since 2004. She has also produced special programmes and documentaries, receiving a CRAOL Achievement Award for The History and People of Rehab Care Dundalk. C C Carole Wardlaw The Arts Zone Carole Wardlaw co-presents The Arts Zone with Eimear O’Kane. The programme explores theatre, visual art, music and cultural activity across Dundalk and the wider region. C Cathal McCooey Cathal McCooey is a versatile Dundalk FM contributor who presents and contributes to Town Talk and Irish Gigs Review. He has also worked on Drivetime, community broadcasts, outside recordings and programmes focused on Irish music and local events. C Ciaran Callan Friday’s Drivetime programme Ciaran Callan presents Friday’s Drivetime programme and has contributed to Dundalk FM football coverage. His previous radio work includes Live Wire, Saturday Soccer Live and interviews connected with Dundalk FC match broadcasts. C Colette McGahon Classics Colette McGahon presents Classics with Colette on Dundalk FM. Her programme gives listeners a selection of familiar and enduring classical favourites as part of the station’s specialist music schedule. D D Damien McKenna First Cut Damien McKenna presents First Cut, a weekly programme dedicated to new, emerging and independent music. He is also a Dundalk musician and the frontman of Orwells ’84, bringing direct experience of the Irish music scene to his radio work. D Dan Pope Dan Pope has been involved with Dundalk FM through programmes including Alphabeats and Under the Covers. His current show explores cover versions, while his earlier Alphabeats work formed part of the station’s presenter-led alphabetical music series. D Darragh Woods Build Up Darragh Woods co-presents Build Up with Orla Crilly. The programme focuses on Dundalk FC, preparing listeners for upcoming matches through football discussion, interviews and local match coverage. D David Bastible Pop Label Picks David Bastible presents Pop Label Picks, celebrating music from iconic record labels and the artists associated with them. His programme explores the stories behind the labels alongside a carefully selected playlist. D David Larkin David Larkin presents the Saturday Night Show, featuring a broad mix of music to accompany listeners through Saturday evening. He has also contributed to Dundalk FM's collaborative AlphaBeats series and other station projects. D Dean Wright Listening Lounge Dean Wright presents Listening Lounge, a programme that gives listeners an opportunity to discover relaxed music and emerging artists. He joined Dundalk FM through the station's community radio training programme and has become part of its volunteer presenter team. E E Ebony Devlin A Little Bit of Everything Ebony Devlin presents A Little Bit of Everything, offering a varied mix of music and entertainment. The programme reflects Dundalk FM's community ethos by bringing together different musical styles in a relaxed format. E Eimear O'Kane The Arts Zone Eimear O'Kane co-presents The Arts Zone with Carole Wardlaw, highlighting theatre, visual arts, music and culture across County Louth. She has also contributed to documentaries, community productions and collaborative station projects over a number of years. G G Gerry Cunningham Oriel Park Live Gerry Cunningham is one of Dundalk FM's longest-serving sports commentators and co-presents Oriel Park Live alongside John Murphy and Gussie Hearty. He has been part of the station's Dundalk FC match commentary team since the station launched in 2004. G Gussie Hearty Sports Academy Gussie Hearty co-presents Sports Academy and Oriel Park Live, covering local sport with a strong focus on Dundalk FC. He has also served as a board member and regularly contributes to outside broadcasts and sports coverage. I I Ian Coogan The Sound of the 70's Ian Coogan presents The Sound of the 70's, taking listeners back through one of the most influential decades in popular music. His programme features classic hits, album tracks and memories from the era. J J Jason Kelly Wednesday Drivetime Jason Kelly presents Wednesday Drivetime and has been involved in several Dundalk FM documentaries and special broadcasts. He was one of the presenters of the award-winning documentary on the history of Dundalk FC and regularly contributes to community programming. J Joanne Venegas Joanne Venegas presents the Venegas Roadshow, bringing
Tune into Audio Sonic with Roisín Byrne from 12.00 am to 1.00 am every Saturday night. Audiosonic is weekly Dance & electronic based music show that plays the very best in local, national and international singed and unsigned artists. Roisin is a third year Music & Audio Production student at DkIT. She has been DJ’ing for over four years & has been involved in music promotion at various club nights in Dublin.
Tune into for all the best in sports news and chat on the Saturday Sports Show, every Saturday from 3.00 pm – 4.00 pm The Saturday Sports on every Saturday for one hour, bringing you the best in sports at the weekends.
Tune into Summer League Focus with Gussie Hearty and Robbie Rafferty every Wednesday from 8.00 pm to 9.00 pm. DUNDALK FM MOST SIGNIFICANT CHANGE STORY THE SUMMER LEAGUE FOCUS SHOW Back in 2004, a member of the Dundalk and District Junior League heard an ad on fledgling local radio station Dundalk FM inviting sports and community groups to get involved in programming. This piqued an interest, and with no specific intention in mind, 5 representatives from the DDJL attended a subsequent public meeting. Less than a year later they had completed Dundalk FM’s in- house radio training course and The Summer League Focus show was born. 14 years, later it continues as a weekly one hour live broadcast that covers all aspects of the DDJL, including live coverage and commentary of league matches, and regular interviews with managers and players. In the early days the programme was available as a podcast, however as streaming became more prevalent this ceased as the listeners it attracted around the globe are now able to access the show live. Not long into its tenure, football historian and author Robbie Rafferty was invited on as guest to talk about the history of the DDJL, which at that stage had spanned more than a century, and he too found a new home in the Dundalk FM studios, remaining to this day as one of The Summer League Focus’s main anchors. Gussie Hearty, who was one of the original 5, points out that The Summer League Focus was the first of its kind on Dundalk FM, as it concentrated on a particular sport. It spawned a number of similar programmes dedicated to local GAA, rugby and ice hockey, but perhaps its most significant imitator is something that has become one of the station’s most recognisable features. Spurred on by the success of The Summer League Focus’s live match commentary, another Dundalk sporting legend and a presenter of the weekly Sport’s Academy, John Murphy, hit on the idea of commentating on Dundalk FC matches, and the rest as they say… Speaking on the programme’s evolution, Gussie explained that they were all “nervous at the star” but that they eventually “just got used to talking on air” and that it is now just second nature to them. He also admitted that they have all grown in confidence since the early days and are now capable of taking on broadcasting challenges that they would previously have run a mile from. Robbie concurs with this. When asked if he ever imagined he would be on live radio discussing the the DDJL and commentating on matches he replies “never”, and goes on to say that he considers himself to be “the worst commentator in the world”, though it is clear his listenership do not share this opinion, as he is regularly stopped on the streets of Dundalk by people looking to praise his ability as a pundit and engage in conversation about the Dundalk District Junior League and the Summer League Focus Show. Both Gussie and Robbie point out that getting to grips with broadcasting was not the only difficulty they have had to contend with over the last 14 years. The Dundalk District Junior League was hit badly by the recession, as local companies who had teams in the league closed down, and many of their players were forced to seek employment outside of Dundalk and Ireland. However, this is where the Summer League Focus Show has been able to soften that blow, by providing a platform whereby those that are geographically no longer in a position to take an active part in the DDJL can still follow the league and keep abreast of eveything that is happening in it. Overall, both Gussie and Robbie believe the Summer League Focus Show has not only been instrumental in their personal development as viable, recognisable and revered community broadcasters, it has increased their sense of confidence, and the confidence of the DDJL as a whole, and given that veteran institution a further legacy, and a sense of belonging in an area that had the potential for fraction and ultimate extinction. From Dundalk FM’s perspective, this is a perfect example of facilitating a community group and reinforcing their capacity to achieve their goals. The Dundalk and District Junior League (known locally as simply the summer league) runs every year from May until September by teams from Dundalk and surrounding areas. Founded in the 1905/1906 season (the league previously ran from September to May), the Dundalk and District League was revived after World War I in 1919 and has proved resilient up until the present day. Two of the early winners of the league, The G.N.R and Drogheda United, have gone on to reach league of Ireland standard as Dundalk FC and Drogheda United. Many international players have begun their career in the league. Many seasons of the league have produced players who have gone on to play senior football.
Tune into the Rugby Show with Geraldine Kieran on the second and fourth Wednesday of the month from 7.00 pm until 8.00 pm.
Renowned broadcaster and marine specialist, Tom Mac Sweeney presents a radio series covering all things maritime and nautical on the first and third Saturday from 9.00 am – 9.30 pm. MARITIME IRELAND features interviews and news from the local, national and international maritime scenes. Technical support by Justin Maher, Community Radio Youghal.
