Two gold achievement awards for Athlone Community Radio

Celebrating ten years on air, Athlone Community Radio was thrilled recently to receive two gold awards for its programmes at the CRAOL Achievement Awards.

'MnáPause,' a series of short programmes that explores the issues of menopause, won an award in the commissioned programme category.

The series, which involved women sharing their personal experience, received great feedback since its broadcast and has provided the inspiration for community ceremonies and academic research as well as information and unique insight into the many different stages reflecting the different ages, cause of onset, duration, and symptoms from woman to woman.

Judges remarked on “a vastly different programme with the voices of women from grassroots in the community to local experts in the areas of health, media and the arts. We hear from women who share their own personal experience of menopause as they bring this great taboo out into the open. Not afraid to present a programme of a sensitive nature.” Producer and editor Erica Follows-Smith joined Chairperson of CRAOL Declan Gibbons live on Zoom to receive the award.

Also winning Gold on the night was the documentary 'One Day at a Time'. This one-hour programme tells the story of living with a person with Down Syndrome from the parents and children’s point of view. The story is told by the families and the documentary also explores what supports are in place for their families.

The judge described the programme as “phenomenal stuff - so well recorded, you really feel like you've been brought right into these families' lives. Really well edited, scripted and it's telling that more parents have been interested in telling their stories too. Anyone listening can't help but feel empathy and gain understanding of these families' lives. Teetering on full marks.”

Deirdre Hunt, researcher, producer and sound engineer accepted the award and paid tribute to all of the families who opened their homes to facilitate the making of the documentary.

'MnáPause' and 'One Day at a Time' are Athlone Community Radio productions, funded by the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland Sound & Vision Scheme and paid for with the television licence fee. You can listen to these programmes on the Athlone Community Radio’s mixcloud account.

Athlone Community Radio invites you to join them on Saturday, December 12 at 7pm on 88.4fm and Facebook live for their 10K for 10 Years.