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Major twist in Buncrana radio bid
25.01.08
THERE's been a major
twist in the bid for a new radio station for south
Inishowen based in Buncrana.
Funding for the project through the Pobal scheme,
has been turned down by Rural Affairs Minister Eamon
O Cuiv. However, the group vying for the licence has
been told the station can still go ahead with the
expansion of Inishowen Community Radio based in
north Inishowen. |
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Towards that aim, South Inishowen Community Radio (SICR)
has, in recent weeks, formally merged with ICRfm.
The new merger has since been negotiating with the
Broadcasting Commission of Ireland on plans to
expand the service |
into the south to include
Buncrana, Fahan, Burnfoot and other areas.
Jim Doherty, who is manager of ICRfm and chair of
the merged group said the twist was "unexpected but
very welcome in its own way".
“From day one, Inishowen Community Radio was
established to be a station for all of Inishowen,
not just part of it,” he said.
"But for various reasons the station was only
permitted a limited coverage area. We were told that
the only way south Inishowen could have a community
radio service was if the people here set up a
separate station. That’s all changed now."
He added: “We will be applying for a temporary
licence for the new south Inishowen service over the
coming weeks. This licence will allow us to
broadcast every Saturday and Sunday for 15 weeks.
The plan then is to submit an expression of interest
for a full licence later in the year."
The new development will mean ICR will have radio
studios in Buncrana as well as Carndonagh with plans
to include a mobile studio to broadcast from
outlying areas on a regular basis. “All of this will
cost money and we will need extra staff but we are
confident that the Minister, through Pobal, will
support the initiative. In some ways we seem to have
come full circle but better late than never,” added
the group chairperson.
ICR will hold a public meeting in the Inishowen
Development Partnership offices beside Buncrana
Library, on Wednesday, January 30, at 7.30pm.
Anyone with an interest in getting involved with the
local radio station should go along for an update
and outline of future plans. |
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