Down Community Arts to be back on airwaves

Down Community Arts to be back on airwaves

9 October 2024

DOWN Community Radio will soon be back on air.

The station – previously based at the South Eastern Regional College’s campuses in Downpatrick, Lisburn and Bangor – had to close.

Broadcasting as Down FM 105, Gareth McDowell, DCR’s board chairman, said the general idea was that the radio stations would act as training venues for students in the media arts. 

He explained the radio provided a useful education function along with its more obvious role in entertainments and music. 

Mr McDowell said the equipment was subsequently removed from the college’s premises with the station’s management board discussing the way forward.

A meeting was held at the end of July in the ALPS community hub just off the Market Street car park in Downpatrick with radio presenters and interested volunteers were invited to attend.

“It was agreed that we continue to reset Down Community Radio and get on air as soon as possible, but it was acknowledged there were a number of key issues to address in the short-term,” Mr McDowell explained.

“There was only a very small amount of money in the bank and funds would need to be raised, but we were kindly offered the former BBC room at the St Patrick Centre as a base which is fantastic, but we have to activate the transmitter which sends the signal to the main mast at the Downshire estate to cover the wider Downpatrick area.”

Mr McDowell said Down Community Radio is about to run a test to see if the signal is working.

“We may be off the air for a few weeks more yet, but keep your eye on our social media platforms and in the local media for updates,” he continued.

“We do have a new website set up and are looking to stream on the back of this for the short-term. That will hopefully get us up and running. Our aim is to get the whole system working by Christmas, but it is a question of one step at a time.”

Mr McDowell said the board was aware that the presenters are keen to get going again and that many of the station’s listeners were looking forward to hearing their voices and programmes. 

“It is all very technical and we are doing our best and we remain hopeful,” he said.

“The board is aware of the impending financial needs to get DCR up and running and are putting together a fundraising strategy. We hope that our supporters and local businesses will back us in our hour of need.”

Mr McDowell said funding bids will also be made and a business plan is being put together to further understand the station’s position. 

“We will release more news about our fundraising plans in a couple of weeks and would like this community radio to be a success story for Downpatrick. We are faced with significant cost and technical issues, but we are going to do what we can,” he continued.

“It will be all hands to the pump and all help will be appreciated so stay tuned into our updates and we will do our utmost to get DCR up and running again.” 

DJ and board member Cyril McKinney said each of the presenters had their own fan bases.

“We do have quite a reach when you add up all the traffic we generate and I’m constantly being asked when we are going to get on the air again,” he said.

“Personally, I can’t wait to get the country music show going again.”