A passion for radio

INDEPENDENT PEOPLE: MARY LENNON

Mary Lennon's lifelong interest in radio can be traced back to early childhood mornings when her mother would tune in to the Gay Byrne show.

"The others had gone to school, and then you’d hear the music coming on for Gay Byrne," she recalls. "There were different music programmes I was interested in over the years. I remember Frank Kelly had a programme on Radio One, and he was hilarious.

"They were sponsored by Jacob’s, and various other businesses. I think Pretty Polly sponsored one of (the shows). But the radio was always on in our house. On a Sunday afternoon the match would be on, with Daddy listening to it. It was always there over the years."

Her early interest would ultimately develop into roles working in community radio stations. Mary was involved in setting up Athlone Community Radio, and she has been its manager since early 2008.

Her time there is now coming to an end, as she about to embark on a new job as coordinator of the Community Radio Forum of Ireland (CRAOL), which is the umbrella organisation for all community radio stations nationally.

A native of the Glasson / Ballykeeran area, where she still lives, Mary worked as a community employment supervisor at Ros FM, in Roscommon, before the Athlone station was founded.

"Working at Ros FM was where I 'got the bug', as they say. A few people I’d have known from working in Athlone over the years then said, 'Athlone is a big town - why doesn’t it have a community radio station?' So we looked at how we’d set up one, and it just started from there."

The first talks about setting up the station took place in 2006, and there was an encouraging turnout of 50 people at a public meeting designed to see if there was any interest in the initiative. 

"I loved the whole concept of community radio, because it’s not commercial. That’s the big thing," Mary explains.

"It's about the community you are in, the people in the community, and the diversity of the people. No more than the Westmeath Independent as a local paper, (the station) is about recording local issues and local history.

"Everybody has a story to tell. Everybody has something of interest, and the people that I have met through the community radio – you wouldn’t meet them in ten lifetimes!" she smiles.

The station currently broadcasts for 77 hours each week. While it has a small core staff, it wouldn't exist without the approximately 50 volunteers who devote time to it on a regular basis.

"Each of those volunteers brings something really special to the station. Everybody has their own talents, their own interests and abilities, and that’s what community radio is about," says Mary.

"We do have new volunteers joining us all the time, but we also have volunteers who have been there since the day we started, so it's a great mix of people.

"Because we’re a not-for-profit community project, we’re not constrained like the commercial stations. The commercial stations have to make money - obviously - and I feel that they’re very limited, then, in the kind of programming they can do. Whereas in community radio you’re not limited."

She speaks about the quality documentaries made for Athlone Community Radio over the years by broadcasters like Irena Djak Cvetkovic.

"Irena's not (originally) from Athlone but, my God, the documentaries she’s made! Those things don’t get captured (otherwise), so you’re creating an archive of oral history."

Mary has also done some presenting on the station, including a 'soft rock' music programme which she would host on Sundays.

"I don’t know if everybody would have the same taste in music that I’d have, but the programme gives me the opportunity to play stuff I haven’t listened to in years," she says.

Her other hobbies revolve around getting out to support local events like fundraising table quizzes, or plays in Athlone Little Theatre.

Securing funding was the main challenge Mary faced during her years managing the station.

"Funding is always the biggest issue, but anyone working in any community project would say the same."

Athlone Community Radio receives funding through Pobal for its core staff, and over the years it's received additional funding from organisations such as Westmeath Community Development, Westmeath County Council, Athlone Community Taskforce, The Community Foundation, and the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland.

The station also receives a certain amount of income from fundraising and advertising, and Mary says local people have been very supportive.

She will continue to be based in Athlone in her new role with CRAOL, which will involve coordinating the support it provides to community stations in various parts of the country. There are 21 fully-licensed community stations in Ireland and a number of others on temporary licenses.

"Probably the oldest station in community radio is Connemara, and it’s based in Letterfrack, which is a very rural area, so it means a lot to communities to have that link to what’s happening in their own community," she says.

Does she feel sad about leaving Athlone Community Radio?

"I will be sad leaving it, because it’s very dear to my heart, but I also think it’s time to move on and for new blood to come into the station," she replies.

"I think with any community project you need that (change), to freshen it up and keep it going. I would like to thank everybody over the years – all the staff, volunteers and board members and all of our funders. And especially our listeners, who have been so supportive."

John Madden, the chairperson of the board of Athlone Community Radio, paid tribute to Mary as she departs for her new job.

"For many, it is the end of an era. Mary wasn't just the manager of the station, she is a leader, a mentor, an advocate, an inspiration and above all else, a dear friend to us all. All members of the Board of Directors, present and past, want to wish her every success in her new role," he said.