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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.

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 mission statement of the station 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 BCI 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 operates from a purpose built facility in the centre of Castlebar at its studios in the MOSAIC Centre at the Harlequin Plaza, Stephen Garvey Rd, Castlebar.

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.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS