Tipperary Mid-West Community Radio
Encyclopedia
Tipperary Mid-West Community Radio is a non-profit, community radio station
which broadcasts from St. Michael's Street, Tipperary
Town, Ireland
. It broadcasts on the frequency 104.8fm and 106.7fm in the Cashel area and can be heard in parts of 8 counties in Ireland namely; Tipperary
, Limerick
, Cork
, Waterford
, Kilkenny
, Carlow
, Laois and Offaly.
station (Tipperary Community Radio
- TCR), after which it gained a commercial license running under the name Tipperary Mid-West Radio (Tipp-Mid West Radio, for short). In 2003 the radio was almost shut down when a clause was introduced whereby only one commercial radio license would be granted in Co. Tipperary, Clonmel's Tipp Fm gaining favourship for the licence. After a series of debates and protests including a petition signed by hundreds of listeners, spearheaded by the radio's Breda Ryan, the station was given a community radio (non-profit) licence by the BAI (Broadcasting Authority of Ireland
).
town. This serves to allow people in the Cashel area to present programmes without having to come to Tipperary Town as well as allowing listeners in the Cashel area to hear news and current affairs from their locality. This is done mainly through Friday's "Morning Call" programme which is broadcast from the Cashel studio. However, other music programmes are also presented from the Cashel studio also. Because the Cashel studio is a secondary station, programmes cannot be broadcast directly from Cashel and must go through a system in the main Tipperary Town studio. Therefore, when programmes are being presented from Cashel, there must always be somebody in the Tipperary Town studio to play commercial breaks, jingles and so forth as well as ensure that during these breaks, the Cashel "fader" is lowered and brought back up etc.
Other areas of programming include David Condon's "Classical Jukebox" (Classical music), Seamus Egan's "Cutting Edge (Rock music)" and Pat O'Connor's "Sunday Spin"(Old-time/soft jazz music) to name but a few of the other genres of programmes on the station.
The station comprises mainly on volunteer staff (well over 30 in all) with most of the evening and virtually all of the weekend programmes being presented by voluntary staff.
Station Manager: Anne Power
Assistant Manager: Breda Ryan
Advertising: Tom Hartnett
Receptionists: Larry Breen / Anne Crowe
News: Joe Pryce
Sport: Michael Hennessy, Lina Ryan, Stevie O'Donnell, Jerry Ring, Mick O'Byrne (Cashel Studio)
General / Local Current Affairs Chatshow: Seán Buckley / Ann Devitt (Weekday "Morning Call" chat show)
European Affairs: Gus Scott
Farming Affairs: Jos Tobin
CCE (Irish Language/Cultural Interest): Donnocha O' Cinnéide
Local Current Affairs News: John Hassett
Red Cross/Health Interest: Tony Lawlor
Religious Affairs: Dean Philip Knowles
Arts (Classical Music, Theatre, Drama, Art): David Condon
Radio station
Radio broadcasting is a one-way wireless transmission over radio waves intended to reach a wide audience. Stations can be linked in radio networks to broadcast a common radio format, either in broadcast syndication or simulcast or both...
which broadcasts from St. Michael's Street, Tipperary
Tipperary
Tipperary is a town and a civil parish in South Tipperary in Ireland. Its population was 4,415 at the 2006 census. It is also an ecclesiastical parish in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cashel and Emly, and is in the historical barony of Clanwilliam....
Town, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
. It broadcasts on the frequency 104.8fm and 106.7fm in the Cashel area and can be heard in parts of 8 counties in Ireland namely; Tipperary
County Tipperary
County Tipperary is a county of Ireland. It is located in the province of Munster and is named after the town of Tipperary. The area of the county does not have a single local authority; local government is split between two authorities. In North Tipperary, part of the Mid-West Region, local...
, Limerick
County Limerick
It is thought that humans had established themselves in the Lough Gur area of the county as early as 3000 BC, while megalithic remains found at Duntryleague date back further to 3500 BC...
, Cork
County Cork
County Cork is a county in Ireland. It is located in the South-West Region and is also part of the province of Munster. It is named after the city of Cork . Cork County Council is the local authority for the county...
, Waterford
County Waterford
*Abbeyside, Affane, Aglish, Annestown, An Rinn, Ardmore*Ballinacourty, Ballinameela, Ballinamult, Ballinroad, Ballybeg, Ballybricken, Ballyduff Lower, Ballyduff Upper, Ballydurn, Ballygunner, Ballylaneen, Ballymacarbry, Ballymacart, Ballynaneashagh, Ballysaggart, Ballytruckle, Bilberry, Bunmahon,...
, Kilkenny
County Kilkenny
County Kilkenny is a county in Ireland. It is part of the South-East Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the city of Kilkenny. The territory of the county was the core part of the ancient Irish Kingdom of Osraige which in turn was the core of the Diocese of...
, Carlow
County Carlow
County Carlow is a county in Ireland. It is part of the South-East Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the town of Carlow, which lies on the River Barrow. Carlow County Council is the local authority for the county...
, Laois and Offaly.
History
The station originally started life as a piratePirate radio
Pirate radio is illegal or unregulated radio transmission. The term is most commonly used to describe illegal broadcasting for entertainment or political purposes, but is also sometimes used for illegal two-way radio operation...
station (Tipperary Community Radio
Community radio
Community radio is a type of radio service, that offers a third model of radio broadcasting beyond commercial broadcasting and public broadcasting. Community stations can serve geographic communities and communities of interest...
- TCR), after which it gained a commercial license running under the name Tipperary Mid-West Radio (Tipp-Mid West Radio, for short). In 2003 the radio was almost shut down when a clause was introduced whereby only one commercial radio license would be granted in Co. Tipperary, Clonmel's Tipp Fm gaining favourship for the licence. After a series of debates and protests including a petition signed by hundreds of listeners, spearheaded by the radio's Breda Ryan, the station was given a community radio (non-profit) licence by the BAI (Broadcasting Authority of Ireland
Broadcasting Authority of Ireland
The Broadcasting Authority of Ireland was established on 1 October 2009 effectively replacing the Broadcasting Commission of Ireland ....
).
Emalgamation with Cashel
The station also has a secondary broadcast studio in "Halla na Féile", CashelCashel, County Tipperary
Cashel is a town in South Tipperary in Ireland. Its population was 2936 at the 2006 census. The town gives its name to the ecclesiastical province of Cashel. Additionally, the cathedra of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cashel and Emly was originally in the town prior to the English Reformation....
town. This serves to allow people in the Cashel area to present programmes without having to come to Tipperary Town as well as allowing listeners in the Cashel area to hear news and current affairs from their locality. This is done mainly through Friday's "Morning Call" programme which is broadcast from the Cashel studio. However, other music programmes are also presented from the Cashel studio also. Because the Cashel studio is a secondary station, programmes cannot be broadcast directly from Cashel and must go through a system in the main Tipperary Town studio. Therefore, when programmes are being presented from Cashel, there must always be somebody in the Tipperary Town studio to play commercial breaks, jingles and so forth as well as ensure that during these breaks, the Cashel "fader" is lowered and brought back up etc.
Programming
The station now broadcasts 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Live programming goes out from 8 a.m. until midnight daily. Thereafter, the "Overnight Service" is broadcast which consists of selected programming from the previous day's broadcasts. Daily programmes include music, chat, European affairs, current affairs, musician specials etc. Because of the older age bracket of many of the listeners to the station, much of the programmes have a "Country and Irish" music flavour, the preferred type of music among the listeners. Other popular programmes include Seán Buckley's "Morning Call" current affairs programme and Tom Hartnett's "Lunchtime Show" including the ever popular daily brainteaser.Website
The daily programme schedule from 8 a.m. until 6 p.m., Monday to Friday is the same. The programmes after 6 p.m., at weekends and bank holidays varying somewhat. A full list of the schedule is available on www.tippmidwestradio.com. The website is relatively new and allows listeners to take a look at the obituaries, news, programme schedule, presenter profiles etc. The website also allows people outside the normal broadcast area and abroad to listen to Tipperary Mid-West Community Radio live on air via the online stream.Other areas of programming include David Condon's "Classical Jukebox" (Classical music), Seamus Egan's "Cutting Edge (Rock music)" and Pat O'Connor's "Sunday Spin"(Old-time/soft jazz music) to name but a few of the other genres of programmes on the station.
The station comprises mainly on volunteer staff (well over 30 in all) with most of the evening and virtually all of the weekend programmes being presented by voluntary staff.
Station Management, Staff and Department Heads
Chairman-Board of Management: Michael MaguireStation Manager: Anne Power
Assistant Manager: Breda Ryan
Advertising: Tom Hartnett
Receptionists: Larry Breen / Anne Crowe
News: Joe Pryce
Sport: Michael Hennessy, Lina Ryan, Stevie O'Donnell, Jerry Ring, Mick O'Byrne (Cashel Studio)
General / Local Current Affairs Chatshow: Seán Buckley / Ann Devitt (Weekday "Morning Call" chat show)
European Affairs: Gus Scott
Farming Affairs: Jos Tobin
CCE (Irish Language/Cultural Interest): Donnocha O' Cinnéide
Local Current Affairs News: John Hassett
Red Cross/Health Interest: Tony Lawlor
Religious Affairs: Dean Philip Knowles
Arts (Classical Music, Theatre, Drama, Art): David Condon