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About Us
  • Community Radio Castlebar has a licence from the Broadcasting Commission of Ireland to provide a community radio service to Castlebar and the surrounding environs and was established in June 1995. The station broadcasts seven 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 the Broadcasting Commission of Ireland. 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 the BAI 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

    CRC 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

    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 BAI). 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.
  • The Board of Directors at CRCfm are responsible for the overall operating strategy and policy of the company, ensuring that the station is in compliance with all its statutory obligations and overseeing the control, management and delivery of the service.

  • CHAIRPERSON: Pat Stanton
  • VICE CHAIRPERSON: James Blake
  • John Browne
  • Mary Connell
  • Mary O'Reilly
  • Tony Henry
  • Jack Loftus
  • Tom Kelly
  • Denise Redmond
  • COMPANY SECRETARY: Aidan Crowley
  • ACTING STATION MANAGER: Aidan Crowley


  • The management structure is designed to facilitate feedback from, and interaction with, the community. The structure involves a number of sub committees appointed by the board to contribute to the operation of the service. A Grievance committee is activated when necessary, comprising two company directors, one staff member and two independent members.
Schedule
CRCfm broadcasts 24 hours per day to an area in and around Castlebar, populated by more than 30,000 people from various backgrounds. CRCfm maintains the key aspects of access, participation and volunteerism to the forefront in the day to day operation of the station, including programmimg.

Weekday Schedule

            Weekdend Schedule

                Podcasts
                Sometimes it's hard to catch the live broadcast of your favourite programme - or you just might like to hear it again. So here's your chance to catch up.
                Advertising

                CRCfm offers you the opportunity to showcase your business to a local audience of 30,000 people who live within our franchaise area in and around Castlebar, Mayo and to a world wide audience online.

                We can help script your idea into a 15 or 30 second ad which can be produced in-house at our modern production studio or outsourced to one of our affiliate production companies.

                Our Sales team will be happy to discuss your requirements and the options available to you through spot advertising, sponsorship or outside broadcasts from your business.

                With NO shareholders taking dividends and our complete focus on building up OUR community, together we can make CRCfm work for YOU! Our contact details are:

                Phone: 094 902 7442
                Email: advertising@crcfm.ie

                Our rates are exceptional value for money and we offer you an audience the other stations can't.

                Contact Us
                Phone: 094 902 7442
                (Multiple lines)
                Email: info@crcfm.ie
                Text: 087 935 0043
                There are several ways to contact us depending on who can best assist your needs

                Advertising
                Phone: 094 902 7442
                Email: advertising@crcfm.ie

                Accounts
                Phone: 094 902 7442
                Email: accounts@crcfm.ie

                Newsroom
                Phone: 094 902 7442
                Email:news@crcfm.ie

                Manager
                Phone: 094 902 7442
                Email:stationmanager@crcfm.ie

                Board contacts:
                Chairperson - chair@crcfm.ie
                Secretary - secretary@crcfm.ie

                Some programmes can be contacted directly

                The Grapevine
                Phone: 094 902 7442
                Email: grapevine@crcfm.ie

                Community Diary
                Phone: 094 902 7442
                Email: communitydiary@crcfm.ie

                Sport
                Phone: 094 902 7442
                Email: sport@crcfm.ie

                Community Radio Castlebar Privacy Notice

                The following notice outlines our obligations under the EU General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR), The Data Protection Acts 1988 & 2003 ("The Acts") and Statutory Instrument Number 336 of 2011 European Communities (Electronic Communications Networks and Services)(Privacy and Electronic Communications) Regulations 2011 ("SI 336/2011").

                The personal data we collect will be used for the following purposes:

                • • To establish a contact base for guests for future programming
                • • To procure feedback from individuals and groups
                • • For student work and transition-year placements
                • • For delivery of courses
                • • For fundraising ventures
                • • To establish contacts for advertising sales

                Our legal basis for processing the personal data:

                • • Consent
                • • Contractual necessity
                • • Compliance with legal obligations
                • • Legitimate interest of CRCfm Clg.
                • • For fundraising ventures
                • • To establish contacts for advertising sales

                Third party requests

                CRCfm Clg. will not pass on personal information to a third party without first establishing consent from the data subject.

                Security

                CRCfm Clg. takes its responsibilities in regards to data security seriously. CRCfm Clg. will endeavour to apply measures to comply with the GDPR to the best of our ability. These measures will include technological security, staff training, staff and public awareness and regular reviews.

                Accurate, complete and up to date information

                CRCfm Clg. aims to hold only accurate, complete and up to date data. Persons may update their data via email or by contacting the station directly. CRCfm Clg. may also contact individuals/groups directly to update information.

                Adequate, relevant and not excessive

                CRCfm Clg. will not collect more data than is necessary for the purpose for which the information is collected. Data which is excessive or no longer relevant will be deleted.

                Data Retention Period

                CRCfm Clg. will retain personal information only for as long as is necessary for the purpose for which it was collected.

                Right of access and right of rectification or erasure

                A request can be made in writing to the station. CRCfm Clg. will respond within 40 calendar days of receipt of the request.

                Disclaimer

                No warranties

                This website is provided “as is” without any representations or warranties, express or implied. CRCfm makes no representations or warranties in relation to this website or the information and materials provided on this website.

                Without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing paragraph, CRCfm does not warrant that:
                * this website will be constantly available, or available at all; or
                * the information on this website is complete, true, accurate or non-misleading.

                Nothing on this website constitutes, or is meant to constitute, advice of any kind. [If you require advice in relation to any [legal, financial or medical] matter you should consult an appropriate professional.]

                Limitations of liability

                CRCfm will not be liable to you (whether under the law of contract, the law of torts or otherwise) in relation to the contents of, or use of, or otherwise in connection with, this website:
                * [to the extent that the website is provided free-of-charge, for any direct loss;]
                * for any indirect, special or consequential loss; or
                * for any business losses, loss of revenue, income, profits or anticipated savings, loss of contracts or business relationships, loss of reputation or goodwill, or loss or corruption of information or data. These limitations of liability apply even if CRCfm has been expressly advised of the potential loss.

                Exceptions

                Nothing in this website disclaimer will exclude or limit any warranty implied by law that it would be unlawful to exclude or limit; and nothing in this website disclaimer will exclude or limit [NAME'S] liability in respect of any:
                * death or personal injury caused by CRCfm's negligence;
                * fraud or fraudulent misrepresentation on the part of CRCfm or
                * matter which it would be illegal or unlawful for CRCfm to exclude or limit, or to attempt or purport to exclude or limit, its liability.

                Reasonableness

                By using this website, you agree that the exclusions and limitations of liability set out in this website disclaimer are reasonable. If you do not think they are reasonable, you must not use this website.

                Unenforceable provisions

                If any provision of this website disclaimer is, or is found to be, unenforceable under applicable law, that will not affect the enforceability of the other provisions of this website disclaimer.

                Complaints

                Introduction

                We aim to deliver the best possible service to our listeners. We also aim to ensure that our programming is compliant with the requirements set out in the Broadcasting Act, 2009 and broadcasting codes published by the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (1) We welcome and will engage with all feedback, both negative and positive, from our listeners concerning any aspect of our service. We are obliged under the Broadcasting Act, 2009 to have in place a Code of Practice for handling complaints from our listeners. This Code of Practice sets out and explains our complaint process for listeners and ensures that we deal with complaints in an effective and efficient manner. It should be noted that the Code of Practice only relates to certain categories of complaints as detailed below.

                1. What can I complain about?

                You may submit a complaint to us if you are of the opinion that a broadcast or part of a broadcast on our service has breached one or more of the following obligations:

                (i) News We will ensure that our news programming is objective and impartial without any expression of our own views.

                (ii) Current affairs We will ensure that our current affairs programming is: - objective and impartial without any expression of our own views; and - will treat the subject matter and all interests concerned fairly. If we cannot achieve fairness, objectivity and impartiality in one current affairs programme, we will do so in related broadcasts that will be broadcast within a reasonable period of each other.

                (iii) Programmes We will ensure that our programming does not contain any content which may reasonably be regarded as - causing harm or offence; - tending to promote, or incite crime; - tending to undermine the authority of the State; or - unreasonably encroach upon the privacy of an individual. We also will ensure programming is in compliance with the BAI Code of Programme Standards

                (iv) Commercial Communications All commercial communications broadcast by us will be in compliance with the BAI General Commercial Communications Code and the BAI Childrens Commercial Communications Code If you have a complaint that does not fall under the categories set out in (i) to (iv) above, we would invite you to avail of our feedback/complaints facility at info@crcfrm.ie If your complaint concerns alleged defamation, you should refer to the BAI Right of Reply Scheme The BAI codes can be accessed at www.bai.ie or are available on request from the BAI offices.

                2. How do I make a complaint?

                You can first contact us by telephone, email complaints@crcfm.ie or letter and inform us of your complaint. A member of our staff will contact you to discuss what concerned you and attempt to resolve the matter to your satisfaction. If we cannot resolve your complaint to your satisfaction, and you are satisfied that your complaint is covered by this Code of Practice, you should submit the following details in writing (letter, fax or email): ·your name and address; ·the category of complaint; (please refer to the categories of complaints in ‘What I can complain about?’ above) ·the date, time and channel of broadcast; ·the name of the programme, news item or advertisement/commercial communication that you have viewed/heard and which is the subject of your complaint; (2) ·detail exactly what, in the broadcast, concerned you;

                In order for your complaint to be accepted and considered, it must include the above details and must refer to a programme, advertisement or other form of commercial communication already broadcast on our service. To assist complainants a ‘Programming Complaint Form’ is available to download from our website HERE. For complaints relating to commercial or advertising output you should use the form HERE An on-line complaint facility is also available on our website at www.crcfm.ie

                If, by reason of disability or other good reason, you are unable to submit the complaint in writing, please contact us and we will assist you to do so.

                Community Radio Castlebar is committed to protecting the rights and privacy of individuals in accordance with the Data Protection Acts 1988 - 2003.

                We will not accept complaints which we deem to be of a frivolous or vexatious nature.

                3. How soon should I make my complaint after the broadcast?

                The Broadcasting Act, 2009 requires you to make your complaint not more than 30 days after the date of broadcast: (a) if your complaint relates to one broadcast, 30 days after the date of that broadcast; (b) if your complaint relates to two or more unrelated broadcasts; 30 days after the date of the earlier or earliest of those broadcasts; (c) if your complaints relates to two or more related broadcasts of which at least two are made on different dates; 30 days after the date of the later or latest of those broadcasts. Complaints submitted outside of these time periods cannot be considered.

                4. Where should I send my complaint?

                You should submit your complaint to the following address:

                Station Manager, Community Radio Castlebar, Thomas Street, Castlebar, Co Mayo. Fax: 094 902 7442 Email complaints@crcfm.ie

                5. What will happen to my complaint?

                Once we have accepted your complaint we will work to resolve the issue/s as soon as possible. Your complaint will be carefully considered, investigated if necessary, and responded to in writing by our Station Manager or a senior member of our programming team. ·We will write to you to acknowledge receipt of your complaint within 7 working days. ·We will consider the issues raised in your complaint. ·We will listen to the programme/broadcast item identified in your complaint. ·Where appropriate, we will consult with any party to which your complaint relates, for example, the advertiser, the presenter or programme maker, to give that party an opportunity to provide observations and comments in relation to the issues raised by you. ·We will provide a response to your complaint which will, as far as possible, address all of the issues/concerns you have raised. We will set out the reasons for our decision on your complaint. This response will be sent to you within 21 days from receipt of your complaint.

                6. What are the potential outcomes for my complaint?

                We may uphold or reject a complaint. Upholding a complaint means that we believe that our programming did not comply with our obligations covered by this Code of Practice. Rejecting a complaint means we believe that our programming was in compliance with our obligations. If we uphold your complaint, we will seek to resolve it to your satisfaction in an agreed manner. The manner of resolution will be decided on a case by case basis but may include an apology, correction, clarification and/or the offer of a rebuttal.

                7. The role of the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland

                If we have not responded to your complaint within 21 days or if you are not satisfied with our response, you can refer your complaint to the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland. The BAI will consider the complaint and may carry out an independent review of the complaint and our response. Information on how to refer a complaint to the BAI is available on the BAI website at www.bai.ie or from the following address: Complaints Officer Broadcasting Authority of Ireland 2 - 5 Warrington Place, Dublin 2 Phone: (01) 6441200 Fax:(01) 6441299 E-mail:complaints@bai.ie

                8. Record of Complaints

                We are required under the Broadcasting Act, 2009 to keep a record of all complaints submitted in accordance with this Code of Practice for twoyears. We are also obliged to provide these records to the Compliance Committee of the BAI if the Committee so directs. Our records will include copies of your complaint, our response/s and the audio copies of the broadcast material.

                (1) The Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI) was established on October 1st 2009, as an independent regulator for radio and television broadcasters in Ireland. Its functions, roles and responsibilities are set out in the Broadcasting Act, 2009.

                (2) CRCfm is not obliged to send you a copy of any broadcast. You yourself should have heard/viewed the broadcast in question if making the complaint.