As chairperson of Craol and certified anorak – I get to visit radio stations and actually have a valid excuse to enjoy it!
This December I had the chance to visit Together FM which is online 24/7 from Ballyfermot in Dublin 10. Located in the spacious civic offices Together FM also boasts a satellite studio in nearby Cherry Orchard.
I got a tour of the Ballyfermot studios and met the keen and dedicated staff. The station are working hard to get a broadcast licence in 2025.
With very accessible studios -they are bright and air conditioned! The only window is to a control room (not pictured) where the editing and main station playout happens.
Together FM broadcasts across the week with a concentration of first air programmes at the weekend. The programmes are all prepared in advance and are broadcast as live (or with minor edits) at the scheduled time.
After the studio tour I had a great in depth discussion with some of the board of management of the station who told be of their plans for getting licenced and growing the station within their local area.
From what I have seen Together FM are busy and dynamic about their project and they have many of the characteristics of an exemplar station already adding social benefit to their area. I wish them the best is their quest and I will be back for their famous South Dublin hospitality in early 2025.