Meeting to discuss community radio for Mullingar area
A meeting to get a community radio up and running in Mullingar is to take place in the Greville Arms on Monday September 24 at 7.30pm.
Explaining the background to the project, Donal Coade of Transformative Recovery College Mullingar, said his interest is in radio and he is working on it for the college.
A not-for-profit community organisation started four years ago, the Transformative College offers mental health and wellness education, group therapy and one-to-one counselling.
Now with a membership of 190, the Transformative Recovery College is on the hunt for a new premises to respond to the growing demand for services, and to allow for a café, therapy rooms, community radio room and garden.
“The college is for all types of people, whether you’re recovering from an illness, mental health issues, addictions,” said Donal.
“It provides training programmes for members and helps them get back out into the community by building their confidence.
“The college runs a number of projects, for instance, there’s about 30 of our members involved in a historical project at the moment. We cover all types of topics and interests – and my interest is in community radio.”
Researching the success of the likes of the Tullamore and Athlone community radio stations, Donal says a station in Mullingar could also provide employment.
“The likes of Tullamore and Athlone have two full-time staff, two part-time staff, and then there’s researchers and administrative roles.
“We’re having the meeting in the Greville Arms to hear what the people of Mullingar and its surrounds want out of a community radio station. We’re looking for people to get involved and to volunteer.”
The plan is to apply for a 30-day licence at first, and broadcast on weekends, before moving to a 100-day licence, and then a full-time broadcasting licence.
“I would see us discussing all types of interests and topics, including health and wellness,” said Donal.
“We’d like to see local organisations get involved such as the 1428 Club, Men’s Shed groups, schools and sports clubs. It will be multi denominational and apolitical.
“We want to spread positive news.”
Currently based at offices on Austin Friar Street, the Transformative College is a registered charity and is looking for a bigger premises to suit the growing needs of the organisation. Alice McDonnell is the director of the college and offers professional counselling to members free of charge.
Donal said: “There are recovery colleges all around the country and internationally. In Longford, they are operating a Recovery Café which allows people to socialise in a safe environment and talk about things. We want to do the same here in Mullingar.
“Our Transformative College differs to the other organisations in that it provides professional counselling for people dealing with anxiety, depression, and other issues leading from recovery of any kind, from the recovery of a health problem such as cancer, to the recovery of addiction,” continues Donal. “It also provides training.”
While the Transformative College have been promised access to the Galway Roast cafe two evenings a week, outside of usual operating hours, Donal says the long-term goal is to secure a premises that will house a café, radio station, therapy rooms and a community garden for growing fresh fruit and vegetables.
“The proposed name for the Radio Station is SPARK FM as the service will hopefully put the spark back into people’s lives,” adds Donal.
• The public meeting is in The Greville Arms Hotel on Monday September 24 at 7.30pm.