RTE 1 252 kHz, niente switchoff nel 2017. Le onde lunghe piacciono agli espatriati

La foto dell'impianto di Clarkstown, da Wikipedia.

[Purtroppo il contenuto di questo post deve ricevere uno spiacevole aggiornamento. I responsabili di RTE hanno confermato che la dismissione dell'impianto di Clarkstown rimane programmata per il 2017. Verranno comunque esplorati altri format e canali destinati alla comunità degli irlandesi emigrati. Peccato.] Il modello europeo del "public broadcasting" è messo a dura prova dalla lunga crisi, che ha reso i bilanci di molte emittenti perforati come il gruviera. Ma è sempre più chiaro che certe scelte sono, in realtà, di natura politica. Hanno a che fare con i desideri e le aspirazioni della gente. In questo senso sorprende l'annuncio, oggi sull'irlandese Independent, della sospensione del progetto di smantellamento dell'impianto in onde lunghe di Clarkstown su 252 kHz, nato come joint venture pubblico-privata (tra l'irlandese RTE e il gruppo RTL) alla fine degli anni '80 e oggi gestito da RTE Radio 1 attraverso 2RN, l'operatore di rete controllato dallo stesso broadcaster pubblico. I 252 consumano molto e pesano parecchio sulla bolletta elettrica di RTE (250 kiloeuro all'anno, secondo il quotidiano). L'emittente, chequest'anno annuncerà un altro buco da 20 milioni di euro, aveva da tempo deciso per lo spegnimento di questa potente antenna, che era stato fissato per il maggio del 2017. E invece sembra che il destino ultimo delle onde lunghe irlandesi potrebbe essere oggetto di revisione. Diversi gruppi di opinione si sono fatti sentire, inclusi i rappresentanti della importante comunità di 600 mila irlandesi che vivono nel Regno Unito, naturale area target dell'emittente. Per quanto obsoleta e costosa come tecnologia, le onde lunghe continuano a essere percepite come un importante legame con la madre patria, soprattutto dagli ascoltatori più anziani. L'Independent cita un sondaggio da cui risulterebbero livelli di apprezzamento superiori al 90% in un pubblico evidentemente molto più fedele del previsto.

Non è detto che non vengano prese in considerazione tecniche nuove, come il DRM (peraltro già utilizzato in passato per una sperimentazione sulla stessa frequenza), ma anche il prossimo anno RTE 1 continuerà a trasmettere.

Politica irlandese: figuracce per Darwin e radiosbornia

Due memorabili scivoloni e tutti praticamente lo stesso giorno. Entrambi avvenuti davanti a un pubblico enorme, un po' perché quello che ha danneggiato l'immagine del primo ministro irlandese Brian Cowen è una intervista radiofonica concessa a RTE1; poi perché la seconda gaffe coinvolge un ministro (sempre irlandese) della scienza che accetta - ritirandosi solo all'ultimo momento - di partecipare alla presentazione di un libro demenziale, scritto da un misterioso ciarlatano (anch'esso irlandese) con precedenti radiofonici per confutare le teorie darwiniane.

Per diverse ore mezza Internet è stata impegnata a discutere l'inspiegabile performance di Conor Lenihan, membro del partito del Fianna Fáil e nominato, proprio da Brian Cowen, il primo ministro suo compagno di partito, alla carica di ministro (di Stato, un grado inferiore ai segretari di gabinetto, come dire un ministro senza portafogli) per la Scienza. Da qualche tempo un buffo signore chiamato John J. May annuncia su Internet e attraverso spot radiofonici diffusi in tutta l'Irlanda di aver scritto un testo, The Origin of Specious Nonsense, che manderà definitivamente in pensione quel parruccone di Charles Darwin con le sue assurde teorie sui cambiamenti genetici. May ha addirittura messo in palio un premio di diecimila euro per chi riuscirà a provare "biochimicamente", la possibilità di una specie di trasformarsi in

un'altra specie. John May ha un passato di conduttore e forse proprietario di stazioni radio pirata, poi private. Ma ha fatto mille mestieri, si autodefinisce ex-vescovo (di che?) e oggi consulente matrimoniale. Le idiozie che gli sentite dire nei filmati You Tube per il lancio del suo libro lo qualificano alla perfezione. Un pirla capace di far soldi con qualsiasi imbroglio. Ma May è anche amico personale del ministro Lenihan e dal suo amico era arrivata la promessa di essere al fianco dell'autore quando, il 15 settembre, quest'ultimo avrebbe presentato The Origin in un grande albergo di Dublino. La notizia non era sfuggita ai forum su Web e ai blogger, che hanno avvertito i giornali, che hanno scatenato un putiferio. Lenihan si è cavato di impiccio per un pelo, annunciando in extremis che non avrebbe partecipato all'infausta presentazione. Intervitato a RTE1 May è riuscito ad affermare di essere stato lui a convincere l'amico a rinunciare: "quei pazzi darwiniani lo hanno sottoposto a una vergognosa gogna mediatica" ha detto più o meno.

La figuraccia sembrava archiviata, o comunque mitigata da un saggio anche se tardivo ripensamento. E invece no, perché lo stesso giorno in cui Lenihan proclamava il suo non possumus, ecco arrivare il suo primo ministro Brian Cowen. Nella sera precedente il 14 settembre Cowen partecipa a una convention di partito a Galway. Le cronache successivamente ricostruiscono che tra conversazioni e pinte di quella buona, Cowen dev'essere andato a letto verso le tre e mezza. Verso le otto del mattino era in programma una intervista indiretta al morning Ireland, l'ascoltatissimo show mattutino. E Cowen, puntualmente, si presenta. Ma la sua voce impastata e l'evidente irritazione, le esitazioni di fronte alle pressanti domande (ragazzi, se un giornalista radiofonico usasse quei toni con Berlusconi finirebbe a spazzare le strade con la lingua) dell'intervistatore, hanno scatenato gli ironici commenti dell'opposizione e il disappunto di molti ascoltatori. Ore dopo il malcapitato premier ha chiesto scusa per le sue risposte confuse, negando tuttavia di essere stato in preda delle pinte in quel momento. Io comunque l'intervista l'ho registrata dal sito di RTE e la sottopongo al vostro giudizio, ditemi voi se quest'uomo è o no in balia di un solenne post-sbornia.

Trovo perfetto il resoconto di entrambe le vicende proposto da Abigail Rieley, cronista giudiziaria dublinese e autrice di due libri dedicati a famosi delitti e conseguenti processi. Sul suo blog Abigail svela anche di aver collaborato con l'"antiscienziato" May all'epoca delle sue attività radiofoniche e in una piccola startup che forniva un curioso servizio personalizzato, fornendo ai clienti un dossier con tutti gli eventi di cronaca relativi al loro giorno di nascita (ancora la genetica!). Bravissima, Abigail: meno male che l'Irlanda, Dublino e Galway sono soprattutto questo. E quelle indimenticabili pinte (da non bere prima delle interviste).

Grab Radio, dall'Irlanda verso iPad

Altra applicazione per iPhone/iTouch per l'ascolto della radio, con tanto di funzione di tagging per il successivo acquisto dei brani su iTunes. Viene dall'Irlanda e si chiama Grab Radio. Mi sembra interessante e il costruttore GLobal Internet Radio Technologies, di Galway, annuncia già che presto sarà disponibile per iPad. A proposito di iPad: chissà che impatto potrebbe avere sull'ascolto della radio via IP? Sto pensando in particolare al fattore di forma, che a mio parere non mi sembra particolarmente adatto a un tipo di fruizione "radiofonica". In compenso, le notizie arrivate oggi da Steve Jobs sull'arrivo della versione multitasking prevista per l'estate nell'ambiente iPhone 4, mi fanno pensare a una incredibile impennata dei minuti trascorsi ad ascoltare la radio con lo smartphone Apple.

New app for hundreds of radio stations coming to iPad

08.04.2010

A new innovative mobile app for iPhone called Grab Radio which allows you listen to any radio station on the go through your iPhone or iTouch, the first of its kind in Europe and designed by an Irish company, will soon launch on the iPad.

The Grab Radio app has already been voted top of the 02 App of the Week and was listed at No 2 in the top paid apps in Ireland for the bulk of last week

Grab Radio allows you to listen to more than 100 radio stations that cover the best of Irish and UK Radio stations.

You can listen to any programme and grab a song you love by purchasing it directly from iTunes to allow you build up your own music collection in crisp, clear and constant sound quality on the go.

The app was devised by Global Internet Radio Technologies, based in Galway.

Aonghus O’hEocha, founder and managing director of Global Internet Radio Technologies who created Grab Radio, explained: “Grab Radio offers the perfect solution to listen to and interact with your favourite station. You can select your station according to your current location by using a unique Google maps feature or a cool click wheel interface.

“When a station is outputting meta data (song/artist/album information) you can check out the artwork of your favourite album on your iPhone, iTouch, (and very soon iPad). As you listen the to the music you can then Grab or Tag the music you love. You can also share it with your friends. “We’ve had a great reaction to the app with some extremely positive reviews and as we keep adding great content that should continue. As for radio stations, it provides them with a new source of revenue though advertising and affiliate fees.

“They can even run their in-app competitions, stream photos and video and use it for special targeted promotions. They can even develop their own mobile games making it more of an experience that people want to get involved with” O’hEocha said. US-based advertising companies have already demonstrated that advertising revenues can reach US$5,000 a day if the app is in the top of the iTunes store. All existing users of Grab Radio Ireland edition will now receive a free upgrade to enable them to listen to the UK stations.”

How it works

Grab Radio allows users tag a tune to allow them keep a record of that song, along with the artist and album, to enable them build a bespoke collection of desired music. Users can give feedback to radio stations through a simple click of thumbs up/ thumbs down button. This feature can also be used to comment on talk radio and even take part in radio polls. It doesn’t stop with Apple products either, as the company is currently Grab Radio for Nokia and smart phones with the Android operating system.

Vent'anni fa la chiusura delle radio illegali irlandesi

Vent'anni fa, racconta questo articolo dell'Irish Times speditomi oggi da Andrea Borgnino, le autorità irlandesi mettefano fine al fenomeno delle emittenti illegali, bandendo le licenze di quelle che sarebbero divenute le nuove stazioni radio commerciali indipendenti. Era il capodanno del 1988 e una settantina di stazioni decisero di chiudere gli impianti per evitare pesanti sanzioni. Alcune di queste radio "pirata" erano molto seguite, addirittura autorevoli, come Sunshine Radio. E molte delle loro personalità si ritrovano oggi alla radio e alla televisione, nel servizio pubblico come nel privato. L'ennesima testimonianza del difficile compito del regolatore in un'area in cui molto spesso la qualità - e guarda caso anche il seguito di pubblico - non nascono dalle regole. Ma dalla loro assenza.

Saturday, January 3, 2009

When pirates ceased to rule the airwaves

New Year's Eve 1988 marked the end of one of the more fascinating and turbulent periods in Irish broadcasting, writes Patsy McGarry*

SOME 20 years ago, at about this time of year, Irish radio became altogether less colourful when an estimated 70 pirate stations went off air voluntarily.
New Year's Eve 1988 marked the end of one of the more fascinating and turbulent periods in Irish broadcasting. It is a period fondly remembered by many established names of TV and radio today.
The then Independent Radio and Television Commission had invited applications for broadcast licences but stipulated that anyone on air illegally after December 31st, 1988, would forfeit any chance of securing one.
Illegal broadcasting in the State went back to the 1940s at least, when there was a radio station called "Killeen Road Home Service" in Dublin's Santry. By the 1960s there was Radio Galaxy and Radio Dublin. By 1970, ARD was broadcasting from Cabra, remaining on air until 1980.
Big D broadcast from Chapel Lane off Parnell St in 1980/81 and Southside Radio, based at the Victor Hotel in Dún Laoghaire, was on air from 1979 to 1981.
Radio Leinster, based near Lamb Doyle's in Sandyford Co Dublin, closed in 1983 after two years, in anticipation of long-promised legislation allowing for independent broadcasting in Ireland. Other Dublin stations then included Capital, Radio City which lasted from 1979 to 1982, and TTTR, the city's only specialist (country) music station, which went on air in 1981.
Outside the capital one of the bigger pirate stations was Radio Carousel in Dundalk, on air since 1979. In Cork, both ERI and South Coast Radio were very successful. In fact, there was hardly an urban area in Ireland without its own pirate station.
Midnight on New Year's Eve 1988 also meant an end to the sole surviving "super-pirate" in Dublin - Sunshine Radio. It had been on air since 1980 when it was set up by Robbie Robinson and Chris Carey. Both had worked on Radio Caroline, the pirate station which in the 1960s broke the monopoly in British broadcasting. Caroline was started by Dubliner Ronan O'Rahilly.
A reported "sabotage attack" on Sunshine's aerial - causing £5,000 worth of damage - prompted Chris Carey and Phil Solomon, both among the station's major financiers, to pull out. But Robbie Robinson carried on. Purpose-built studios were soon ready in Portakabins behind the Sands Hotel and the standard of broadcasting set a template for all other pirates throughout the State.
A major breakthrough came in November 1980 when Aer Lingus decided to advertise with it. The station's unexpected success meant Chris Carey had a rethink and was soon back in Dublin setting up "clutter-free'' Radio Nova. He brought in a powerful FM transmitter and nothing was ever the same in Irish broadcasting after that.
Advertisers loved the "no chat, greatest hits" formula. And RTÉ got mad. They began to jam Nova and Sunshine, now also on FM as Sunshine 101.
In November 1982 the new Fine Gael-Labour coalition promised a crackdown on the pirates under pressure from unions at RTÉ. On May 18th, 1983, Sunshine's broadcasting equipment was seized. Similarly, Nova was put off the air, which brought Robinson and Carey together again as they mounted a hugely successful popular campaign with thousands of young people protesting on the streets of Dublin. Soon both stations were back on air to survive further jamming by RTÉ.
It was much the same following raids on other pirates stations across the State.
At Nova there followed a bitter dispute with the NUJ which helped bring about its closure in 1986. Sunshine continued to broadcast right up to December 31st, 1988, and was widely expected to get a licence the following year. It didn't. Carey also applied for a licence and was not successful either.
Later, in the UK, he devised decoders to unscramble satellite television stations and sold them for a small fortune. He was arrested in 1996 and got a four-year sentence. Four months later he walked out of his open prison and fled to New Zealand but was tracked down and received an additional 15-month sentence for absconding. In July 2000, at 53, he had a stroke from which he recovered. He has since died.
Failing to get a licence in 1989, Robinson went to live in Lanzarote with his wife Stella, where they remain today.

*Patsy McGarry was head of news at Sunshine Radio from 1983-1987

Memories of pirate radio

ANNE CASSIN (RTÉ)

I was very low down the food chain when I worked as a researcher for the early morning news service in the early 1980s on Radio Nova. I was paid £100 a week.
Preparing the news, of course, involved the shabby practice of taping RTÉ Radio 1's early morning bulletins, re-jigging them, and handing them to Bob . It was plagiarising of course, and I had sporadic bouts of guilt about the practice, but hey, this was Ireland in the 1980s and there were no jobs.
The fact that I was working on an illegal radio station, a pirate, never troubled me - in fact it was thrilling to be part of something that was taking on the establishment and winning. My big broadcasting break came when I filled in for newsreader Sybil Fennell who had slept it out! I was awful.

AIDAN COONEY (TV3)

I was lucky enough to work for both Nova and Sunshine. Some of my fondest memories as a pirate come from the days spent in the Portakabins where Sunshine Radio flew its Jolly Roger.
The term "good old days" comes readily to mind, but I think it was more the fact that we were young, free and single and willing to work long hours in an exciting new industry. We never dared believe that one day we might be working for companies or corporations that might have an actual licence to broadcast.

BRYAN DOBSON (RTÉ)

Let me be absolutely honest and admit that, while I had two hugely enjoyable years in Radio Nova and that it was an experience which changed the course of my life, I couldn't get out of the place quick enough. Nova was a great radio station that produced some great broadcasting and outstanding broadcasters . . . Most important of all it demonstrated a public demand for an alternative to RTÉ.
But while I loved radio and loved working in Nova, I hated being a "pirate". I could see no future for illegal broadcasting.
We had already been closed down once by the government and it could happen again.
I am glad I escaped the world of pirate radio when I did. But I am also proud that I had the good fortune to begin my career in one of the best radio stations ever to take to the Irish airwaves.

La radio fa bene alla musica irlandese

Nessuno è profeta in patria, neppure quando la patria in questione è una musicalissima Irlanda e i profetti sono i gruppi musicali locali. Oggi un articolo del Sunday Times irlandese racconta che solo nel 2008 è stata registrata una inversione di tendenza nella curva discendente della popolarità delle band musicali locali, che nel 2007 avevano ottenuto un misero 21% della quota complessiva di dischi venduti in Irlanda. A fine anni novanta riuscivano a sfiorare quota 30%. Secondo le etichette discografiche la prima colpevole di questo scarso riscontro è la radio: le emittenti irlandesi sono sempre state accusate di eccessiva esterofilia. E una minore visibilità si traduceva ovviamente in un più esiguo impatto commerciale. In passato, sostengono gli editori musicali, una band irlandese veniva presa in considerazione solo quando riusciva a scalare le classifica di popolarità in Regno Unito e Stati Uniti. Solo recentemente, l'arrivo di gruppi molto interessanti sembra aver fatto cambiare idea ai responsabili delle stazioni. Il Sunday Times in effetti presenta uno spaccato interessante di questa nuova scena musicale popolata da complessi come The Script o da cantanti da nomi ultra Irish come Paddy Casey. Tutti molto interessanti, per quel poco che posso capire io.

From The Sunday Times
January 4, 2009

Radio finally going ga-ga for Irish acts

There has been a marked rise in the amount of air-time Irish musical acts are getting on the radio - and that is translating into increased sales

For years, Irish music acts have been singing the same refrain: we can’t get our records played on the radio. But 2008 proved to be the year the tables finally started turning for home-grown artists.
The second most played track on radio stations in the republic last year was The Man Who Can’t Be Moved by The Script, an Irish trio who have also conquered the British charts. It was aired more than 10,000 times, only marginally fewer than Duffy’s mega-hit Mercy. Coldplay’s track Viva La Vida was the third most played.
The Script also notched up No 30 on the airplay chart of the year with their first single We Cry, and No 55 with Breakeven, their latest release. Snow Patrol, meanwhile, were at No 36 and No 81 with Take Back the City and Chasing Cars respectively.
They were among 13 Irish songs in the Top 100 chart of the most-played tunes on radio, produced by Nielsen Music Control after monitoring the output of 34 stations.
While this may still seem a small proportion compared with the dominance of the airwaves by international stars, it represents a tripling of what was being played a year ago.
Feidhlim Byrne, of Nielsen, said: “I can see a huge increase in the number of Irish acts getting played and getting into the prime-time. [In the past] we would be lucky if we had five in the top 100 airplay chart every week. Now we are getting 15, maybe 20.
“The music is probably getting better, but a big part of it is down to the likes of Hot Press and the acts themselves pushing the media to give them a chance, so a lot of stations have started to give them a break. Tony Fenton, Ian Dempsey and Rick O'Shea on the bigger shows are fitting more Irish into their shows and getting behind certain bands, helping to drive them into the charts.
“Then other stations jump on them. Some of these artists are now getting airplay around the country, which they found it difficult to do before.”
Byrne cited Duke Special, Fred, the Coronas, the Blizzards and Ham Sandwich as among the artists getting a lot of air-time last year. “While we consistently have international songs getting maybe 700 plays a week, there are Irish songs good enough to get the same but which may only get 300 or if they’re lucky 400,” he said.
“The Script would be the exception. Duke Special, Fred, the Coronas, the Blizzards had radio-friendly songs but still wouldn’t get 700 plays.” As recently as the end of 2007, the Irish music industry was holding panel discussions with contributors including Westlife manager Louis Walsh as part of a campaign to get more Irish music played on the radio.
Home-grown artists were disappearing from the Irish Top 40 album chart and being replaced by international stars whose share of record sales had soared since the end of the 1990s.
Irish artists accounted for 27% of the local music market at the end of the Nineties, but that had fallen to 21% by 2007. Record labels blamed a lack of support from radio stations as the main reason.
Dermot Doran, manager of Republic of Loose, whose The Steady Song was the second most played Irish song last year and 24th overall, said: “It’s definitely improved on years ago, when it was impossible. This is the third album and from the second album on they’ve been getting good airplay.
“In the past, unless you were getting played in America and England, the powers-that-be in radio here didn’t think you were worthy of airplay.
“It probably is easier for Irish artists to get played on the radio because of the success in the past few years of home-grown acts such as Paddy Casey, who can sell 150,000 records in Ireland but mightn’t have as high a profile in the UK.”
Record sales last year seemed to reflect the boost. According to ChartTrack, which compiles the chart for the Irish Recorded Music Association, The Galway Girl by Sharon Shannon and Mundy was the biggest-selling single in 2008. Of the top 40 albums sold last year, 11 were by Irish artists including The Script’s debut record at No 2.

Dublino celebra la chiusura delle onde medie

Gigi Nadali mi segnala la pagina del sito di RTE di Dublino con le iniziative previste per il 24 marzo, data in cui la radio pubblica irlandese spegnerà il trasmettitore in onde medie su 567 kHz. Una festa d'addio tutta da seguire via Internet.

Medium wave goodbye

Date: Monday 24th March 2008
Time: 1.30pm
Presenter: Brendan Balfe

RTÉ's broadcasts began life on the MW service as 2RN, later known as Radio Athlone and Raidió Éireann, and in more recent times as RTÉ Radio 1. RTÉ introduced the superior sound of the FM service in 1966 to counteract interference and poor reception on the medium wave band.
For Medium Wave Goodbye, which will be broadcast on all wavelengths, on the internet and on RTÉ's digital radio trial service, Brendan has assembled a nostalgic programme highlighting some of his favourite moments on Irish radio. Brendan promises an entertaining and fascinating 90 minutes of memories of a service which has brought the world into homes all over the country since 1926, capturing moments of history and life through decades of news, sport, features and entertainment. The programme includes archive audio of request programmes, pop and trad music, features, documentaries and commentaries.

Valentia e Malin, due costiere a rischio

L'Irlanda sta falcidiando la sua presenza radiofonica sulle frequenze sotto i 2 MHz. Dopo l'annuncio della chiusura della stazione in onde medie di RTE a Tullamore - che ha scatenato una ondata di proteste soprattutto da parte dei cattolici dell'Irlanda del Nord, che facevano affidamento sull'impianto per essere informati sulle vicende dell'Eire, ora è la volta di due stazioni costiere importanti, Malin Head e Valentia, le uniche tra l'altro a mantenere un servizio meteo in MF e a svolgere una fondamentale opera di coordinamento di tutte le operazioni di search and rescue nelle acque settentrionali e occidentali irlandesi.

Il ministero dei trasporti irlandese ha fatto sapere che le due stazioni sono troppo vecchie e che devono essere chiuse. Entrambe verranno "rilocate" in altre cittadine costiere. Certo che sono due stazioni vecchie, Malin Head è stata aperta il primo gennaio del 1902 ed è attualmente la più antica stazione costiera d'Europa. Valentia Radio è stata aperta nella stessa isola dove più di centoquaranta anni fa si attestava il primo cavo telegrafico transatlantico con l'America. Oggi le due stazioni continuano a fare il loro mestiere, Valentia lo scorso anno ha coordinato 600 missioni di soccorso in mare. Lo scorso novembre il programma Pobal di RTE 1 (un bellissimo notiziario locale in gaelico e inglese) ha trasmesso un lungo servizio. Lo potete visualizzare andando nell'archivio di Pobal per il 4 novembre 2007 e cliccando sulla seconda porzione del clip Real Video. Il reportage dura cinque minuti e contiene diverse interviste oltre a mostrare lo staff della stazione che risponde alle navi.
In gioco c'è non solo la sicurezza della navigazione ma il benessere di qualche decina di famiglie che hanno scelto di rimanere nelle due località proprio per la presenza delle stazioni. La sicurezza in mare non dovrebbe essere compromessa se davvero le operazioni verranno affidate a una nuova postazione. Ma la popolazione locale afferma che si tratta di una decisione avventata, tanto più che fino a pochi anni fa si parlava addirittura di potenziamento, non di chiusura. Il giornale Derry Journal è diventato il capofila di una petizione da presentare alle autorità. "Tutta colpa dei burocrati di Dublino", dicono gli abitanti di Malin Head. E la stessa opinione circola a Valentia.

Shock at closure of Malin Head Marine Rescue station

By Sue Doherty

Both Malin Head and Valentia Marine Rescue Co-Ordination Centres (MRCC) are to be phased out as part of a new government plan, which will see the relocation of MRCC to a new centres in Drogheda and on the west coast (at Cork, Ennis or Galway).
A spokesperson for the outraged workers told the 'Journal' yesterday;: "This is a total reversal of an earlier decision by Minister Dermot Ahern TD. In July 2003, he announced plans was to close the MRCC in Dublin and upgrade rescue centers at Malin Head and Valentia. We were told that that proposals for upgrading Malin Head and Valentia were to be finalised mid 2005 and expected to be in operation by mid 2007. Now, in the last few weeks we've learned that these plans have suddenly been scrapped. We can't understand where this reversal of policy has come from. The MRCCs handle between 1,700 and 1,800 incidents each year, up to 1,300 or so involving emergency rescues. We cover the north and west coasts at Malin Head and we play a vital role in co-ordinating about 400 rescues each year. This year alone, we've responded to 343 calls so far, more than 100 of which involved the search and rescue helicopter from Sligo."
Staff say the reasons given by management for the re-think do not stand up to scrutiny. The spokesman said: "They say that the centres need to be in urban locations to be near shops, schools and universities. But we have these, in Malin, Carndonagh, Letterkenny and Derry. They say there's a problem with communications at Malin Head. But Eircom tell us there is no problem getting high-speed lines to Malin Head. Also the Irish Aviation Authority has communications radar at Malin Head covering aircraft out into the North Atlantic. If these lines are safe enough for aircraft they should be safe enough for ships! Finally, management claim that it is difficult finding staff willing to work at Malin Head. But there has never been a problem recruiting staff for Malin Head.
"There is a large resource of people from the fishing and marine industry based in Donegal. There were over 50 applicants for the last job advert for Radio Officers in the Irish Coast Guard. We feel that there are major questions to be answered as the result of this latest decision by Minister Dempsey.
"Why this change in policy - a total reversal of an earlier decision by Minister Dermot Ahern? There was no consultation with staff about this latest about face. This is totally against government policy on decentralisation and regional development. Why move jobs from rural areas in Donegal and Kerry to urba
n locations in Drogheda, Cork, or Galway? The management's plan is that the stations at Malin Head and Valentia are to be retained as Irish Coast Guard locations but not as rescue centres. Why build two new rescue co-ordination centres when they already exist at Malin Head and Valentia? These two centres would just need to be upgraded. The cost involved would be minimal in comparison to building two new centres."
Historically Malin Head is the oldest operating radio station in Europe and should be allowed to continue. Why close a station that has been operated flawlessly for well over 100 years? The spokesman concluded: "We, the staff, feel very strongly that all efforts should be put in place to reverse this decision. We intend to canvas the maritime community, political representatives, trade unions, media, civic and regional interests. Please give us your support!"
http://www.derryjournal.com/inishowen/Shock-at-closure-of-Malin.3426563.jp

***

Valentia Island protests radio closure
Monday, 18 February 2008

Kerry County Council has unanimously decided to oppose the closure of Valentia Island's coastal radio station, in support of a campaign by islanders.

The councillors described the move to close the station as 'anti rural thuggery by Dublin-based bureaucrats'. The Coast Guard and the Department of Transport are proposing to close Valentia's coastal radio station as well as Malin Head radio station, and then combine both in a new station at an urban location.
Advertisement Kerry County Council has decided to form a joint approach with the Donegal County Council against both of the proposed closures.
Kerry County Manager Tom Curran described the Department of Transport's proposal as 'ridiculous' and having no logical reason. Mr Curran told Kerry County Council this morning that it was frustrating and a vote of no confidence in the county when it is trying to create highly skilled jobs. He said the county is having the rug pulled from under it by a policy with no logical reason and that does not make sense. Together with the Mayor of Kerry, Mr Curran had met a delegation of islanders protesting against the proposed closure and the removal of operations to an urban centre. The islanders see the closure attempt as anti-rural bias, particularly as the Coast Guard proposal suggested that staff and their families would have better lifestyles in an urban centre. The ESB and Eircom have contradicted Coast Guard claims that technology at Valentia is outdated. Valentia Island was where the first transatlantic telegraph cable was landed and the islanders are very proud of their involvement in maritime radio services and emergency rescues.
Story from RTÉ News:
http://www.rte.ie/news/2008/0218/valentia.html

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Coast Guard jobs won't be lost, Minister says
04 February 2008 By Donna Pryce

Marine Minister Noel Dempsey broke his silence on Malin Head coast guard station and pledged officers will not be forced to move or lose jobs.
But his promises have raised Inishowen TD Joe McHugh's eyebrows. He believes workers will have no choice but lose their jobs if they are faced with relocation or voluntary redundancy. Last week the 'Journal' ignited a campaign with Malin Head community Association to Save our station (SOS) from threatened closure. We want to help keep the 18 jobs in the area and the life-saving station which has helped rescue more than 4,000 people in the last ten years.
But plans by Minister Dempsey's department may see the 106-year-old station sunk if it is relocated to the West Coast. Deputy McHugh put the minister under the spotlight when quizzing him during parliamentary question time in the Dail last week. When asked if jobs at Malin Head and Valentia coast guard stations are safe, he replied: "It is my intention that the Irish Coast Guard and Maritime Administration will be strengthened on an ongoing basis over the coming years.
"My ambition is to put in place a service that will fully meet the needs of this country well in the 21st century. "These recent decisions referred to have been taken to reflect the future optimal configuration of co-ordination centres whilst ensuring that the detailed technical knowledge and experience of the Coast Guard Watch Officers is retained and fully utilised.
"I want to restate again that no Officer will be forced to move or lose their job. The transition arrangements for new centres, including the functions to continue at Malin and Valentia, will be negotiated with staff to ensure there is no loss of expertise." He said he wanted to modernise the Irish coast guard and the coast guard restructuring is 'aimed at improving the efficiency of a key public service'. He added: "My Department is in the process of evaluating options and this includes examining the similarities in service provision in the Department and its agencies - particularly in the safety area - to consider whether there are duplicating or overlapping functions which could be more efficiently delivered through the amalgamation, abolition or reduction of bodies, or pooling services.
"The position in relation to Coast Guard services is being considered in that context and with the benefit of the many comments that I have received since the restructuring proposal was announced. I can assure the Deputies that all the views expressed will be taken into account before a west coast location is determined." Deputy McHugh told the Journal: "Well he is saying no jobs will be lost. I think it is fair to say that that is disingenuous. On the one point he is correct in saying no one is going to lose their jobs but they will probably be offered relocation or, possibly a voluntary redundancy. But at the same time no one is going to be asked to quit their job. "The danger is Malin Head is going to be downsized and this is detrimental."
The fight to save Malin Head rumbles on and if you would like to sign the Journal's petition to save our station then email donna (dot) pryce (at) derryjournal (dot) com.
http://www.derryjournal.com/inishowen/Coast-Guard-jobs-wont-be.3742404.jp

Anche l'Irlanda chiude le onde medie

Anche l'emittente di stato irlandese, RTÉ, ha deciso di farla finita con le onde medie. Una decisione triste per noi, perché i 567 kHz di Tullamore si possono sentire fin qui senza grossi problemi (malgrado le interferenze da Radio RAI, che però spegne a mezzanotte). Il quotidiano irlandese Independent riferisce delle prime reazioni negative alla decisione, appena annunciata, di spegnere Tullamore il prossimo 24 marzo. Il ricevitore consuma troppo e viene ascoltato da appena il dieci percento della pubblico, che può comunque trovare i programmi in FM. Sembra che RTÉ si sia offerta di regalare nuove radio a chi dispone solo di ricevitori a onde medie. Dovrebbero restare attivi i 252 delle onde lunghe, ma c'è chi osserva che le onde medie offrono comunque una buona copertura in mare e molti marinai fanno affidamento su quel trasmettitore per le notizie e i bollettini meteo. Per non parlare delle zone più isolate, dove la copertura dell'FM è un po' a singhiozzo.

E' tuttavia irrealistico pensare che l'Irlanda torni sulle sue decisioni (anche la YLE finnica ha appenaa spento l'ultimo trasmettitore MW superstite). C'è poco da fare, i vecchi modelli di copertura nazionale con poche o addirittura singole antenne, non reggono più alla pressione dei costi di distribuzione dei contenuti radiofonici e non si può pensare di dare spago con i soldi pubblici ai nostalgici come il sottoscritto e a pochi vecchietti chiamati Pat o Sean. La radio vive, ma le onde medie su scala nazionale sono l'equivalente del calesse. Personalmente credo che le onde medie non siano completametne obsolete e possano avere un ruolo su scale più locali e per programmi comunitari, ma come convincere coloro che alla fine prendono le decisioni?

Anger as RTE to switch off medium wave band

By Laura Noonan Saturday January 19 2008

IT'S being billed as "goodbye to an old friend". RTE is to axe Radio 1's medium-wave services, in a move which has drawn political criticism and which is set to provoke outrage among churchgoers.
Since 1926, the much-loved service has been a mainstay for people living in rural areas where FM reception is poor and a vital tool to broadcast church services.
But station executives believe that modern technology, has signed medium wave's death warrant, and it will switch off on March 24.
RTE also believes the transmission costs of supplying the service no longer justifies its existence, since the content is now available elsewhere.
Medium-wave shares almost all its content with the FM version of Radio 1, except for Sunday religious services and a mid-week soccer game.
There is to be a public information campaign ahead of the switch-off date. This will highlight the fact that the full Radio 1 MW services will remain available on long-wave radio.
The broadcaster is also talking to charities about providing subsidised radios for those who don't have sets with FM or long-wave frequencies.

Elderly

The station's research shows that one in 10 radio listeners use the medium-wave version of Radio 1, with the service particularly popular with the elderly and those living in remote areas.
Fine Gael communications spokesman Simon Coveney said shutting down medium wave transmissions has implications for people in rural parts of the country and at sea. "This is a public service broadcaster and this shouldn't be abandoned," he said.
Labour communications and marine spokesman Michael McCarthy said the decision would have the biggest implications for fishermen working 50 or 100 miles off the coast and relying on the broadcasts for weather reports and for farmers.