Community Radio Castlebar has a licence from Coimisiún na Meán to provide a community radio service to Castlebar and the surrounding environs. CRCfm began broadcasting in June of 1995. We broadcastsseven days a week, 24 hours per day.

In June 2007 the station was awarded a further ten year licence for the period 2007 to 2017 on the basis of the business plan submitted to Coimisiún na Meán. A further licence for the period 2017-2027 was awarded to CRCfm in Februry 2017.

The station is managed by a company by limited guarantee which has a board of thirteen directors elected from the general membership. The membership is made up of three groups representing local statutory agencies, voluntary and local business groups and individual members of the community.

The CRCfm mission statement is:

“The service should reflect the needs in the local community as well as educate, entertain and inform its listeners“

CRCs strategic goals as outlined in its submission to Coimisiún na Meán are as follows:

To own and manage its own broadcasting service

To provide access to radio broadcasting for individuals, groups and organisations in the community

To develop local talent and encourage creativity

To offer training opportunities in broadcasting to those members of the community who wish to develop media skills

To provide information on a wide range of topics of community interest

To contribute to the potential for development and improve the quality of life in the community

To create opportunities for employment

To operate CRCfm as a financially viable project

STUDIOS

CRCfm moved to new premises on Lower Thomas Street in the centre of Castlebar on 29th December 2016 and is completing a purpose built facility with three studios – any of which can be used as a live studio.

PROGRAMMING

Our programming is very much community based, mixed in with other topics of general interest to the listeners and this is broken down into fifty five percent music, with a broad range including pop,country classical,middle of the road traditional and a range of specialist music such as jazz and other genres.

The remaining forty five percent of programming is devoted to community issues, current affairs, magazine and specialist programmes in education, health, environment sport and the Irish Language.

The station has received national recognition for its work in the area of educational broadcasting, having developed programming for people with literacy difficulties and through its distance education project Survival English for non Irish nationals.

In addition, there has been a particular focus on specific target groups such as active retirement groups, women’s groups and young people.

The station was also involved in the past with the European Project NOW – New Opportunities for Women, during which fifteen women completed a radio broadcasting course.

The station regularly engages in outside broadcasts from within the community and focuses on special community events.

TRAINING

Each year the station organises training for volunteers in co-operation with Mayo Vocational Education Committee, Further Education Services and many of the stations volunteers have joined CRCfm as result of these training courses. New volunteers are given induction training in the station before going on air.

FUNDING

The station raises its income mainly from donations from local bodies, grant aid from funding bodies and limited advertising and sponsorship (limited by Coimisiún na Meán). A number of fund raising activities are organised annually as well. A membership scheme also is also in place.

STAFFING

Staffing in the station is supported by grant aid from Pobal through a Community Services Scheme and by the participation of over fifty volunteers.