SCARIFF BAY Community Radio has been awarded a ten year broadcasting licence.
For the first-time, Scariff Bay Community Radio (SBCR) has signed a full-time broadcasting contract in what is a historic step for popular East Clare station.
Newly elected Chairperson of SBCR, Pat O’Brien put pen to paper on the contract at the headquarters of Coimisiún na Meán in Shelbourne Buildings on Dublin on Monday alongside SBCR Compliance Officer Tom Hanley, co-founder and station manager Jim Collins, board member Pat McNamara and PRO Eoin O’Hagan. Broadcast Commissioner Aoife MacEvilly oversaw the signing of the new deal.
Jim Collins, the chief driving force of the station since its first broadcast in August 2015 said securing the ten-year licence was a “dream come true”.
A decade ago, he floated the idea of launching a radio station to serve the local community. “Our first broadcasts were from a broom closet in Scariff GAA but we soon outgrew this tiny space as our schedule and roster of volunteers grew. With the support of Scariff GAA and later the Derg Active Alliance Group, Scariff Bay Community Radio moved into a first floor meeting room which we utilised as a studio, before building a fit for purpose radio studio on the ground floor of the Derg Active Alliance Building where we now broadcast from,” he reflected.
Part of its growth includes jumping from a team of six people to a roster which now have over eighty volunteer broadcasters, sound engineers and producers,
For the past ten years, SBCR has engaged with what was formerly the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI) and has now become Coimisiún na Meán, to qualify for a FM Licence. Volunteers involved in the application described the procedure as “rigorous”.
With a high broadcasting standard, SBCR’s bid to gain a full licence was successful. Programmes are now broadcast in three different languages, English, Irish and Ukrainian. Live theatre from musical societies and a radio play festival have been broadcast while SBCR has been embedded in local festivals festivals in Mountshannon, Scariff, Feakle. Tuamgraney and Bodyke.
GAA coverage on SBCR has gone down a treat with commentaries by Leo Doyle and Pat McNamara hugely popular in drawing in listeners. They also broadcast ‘Sportsline’ every Saturday. Getting to the heart of communities in East Clare is the Saturday morning show, Saturday Chronicle hosted by a panel of presenters including Marie McNamara and Trish Nugent. The Local Media Show which stemmed from an idea by Pat O’Brien has gained a strong reputation for its dissection of the local newspapers in Clare. The addition of young broadcasters, Stephen Minogue and Isabella Danaher has also showcased the station’s ability to hone the abilities of up and coming reporters.
Political coverage on SBCR is strengthened by the analysis of former councillor, Paul Bugler who presents El Politico alongside Tom Bottcher. The station has received awards for its broadcasts from Brussels, the home of the BBC and Lisdoonvarna amongst other locations.
As a result of securing the ten year licence, SBCR will broadcast on FM (88.3 and 92.7FM) on Friday evenings as well as all day Saturday and Sunday. The station will also be on FM for St Patrick’s Day, Christmas Day and other special occasions which may fall on weekdays. Online broadcasting will continue.
