Sunday 21 January 2007

Ballina - September 1981


This is Jim Power from OBs in Community Radio West's Ballina studio. Community Radio West, based in Castlebar (using the Mobile Radio Studio as a hub) and with satellite studios in Clarmorris, Foxford, Ballina and Knock was RTE's last major project of its kind. It happened when RTE still had hopes of dominating local radio in Ireland. There were elaborate plans at the time for a network of regional and local stations relying extensively on voluntary community involvement. In the event, RTE Community Radio probably encouraged aspirant radio enthusiasts to set up pirate stations, which in their turn evolved into the local commercial stations of the present day.

For an enlarged high-definition image, click on the picture (note the waiting contributor in the mirror).

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

If anyone has recordings of these broadcasts, I'm sure it would prove fasinating listening to the locals if made available to download on the web!

Brendan McCarthy said...

RTE won't have held these broadcasts for more than three months. Perhaps someone in County Mayo recorded them off-air?