CarrickfergusFM
Live on 107.6FM from the DeCourcy Centre
“Carrick FM” Carrick’s first radio station launched during the Waterfront Festival in June 1998, the station at that time called 'Radio Carrickfergus' operated from a caravan beside Carrickfergus Castle, broadcasting on 106.2FM, with the antenna placed on top of the Castle. The first on air presenter was also the station manager - Eddie West.
Christmas 2004 Carrickfergus was without its own local radio station, fearing that Carrickfergus would again be without its popular summer radio station to support the Waterfront festival, a radio committee was setup in the town with the support and advice of a number of traders in the area including Pat Clarke from Brypol Electrical and Isabel Kelly the DeCourcy centre manager. They approached a number of individuals and parties including other commercial stations in Northern Ireland and eventually a deal was struck with two commercial presenters with many years experience in running and operating RSL’s.
Carrickfergus Borough council, aware of the popularity of Carrick’s own radio station decided to give a grant to the newly formed radio committee to assist in the operation of the newly named “CARRICKFERGUS FM”
After being granted a licence from Ofcom during the summer Carrickfergus FM 107.2fm – complete with the new name, logo and a higher profile area in the Decourcy centre hit the air from 3rd to 20th June 2005. The station was an immediate success; on-air it had a mix of professional broadcasters and new talent from the local area. Local advertisers benefited enormously with competitive advertising packages – cheaper than ever before, and the listening public had the chance to win big prizes every day. Carrickfergus FM also teamed with Ulidia Integrated College to give the media studies class in the school the chance to create and produce their own radio station imaging.
Christmas 2005 and Carrickfergus FM was back now on 107.6fm, and with the support of even more local traders and commercial radio stations providing presenters, prizes and news. Once again Carrickfergus FM proved to be a massive success having a record number of entries for its main prize a widescreen television.
Summer 2006 and “Carrickfergus FM” is back – launching on air at 10am on Tuesday 6th June until Friday 23rd June, 24 hours a day 7 days a week. The station you wanted was back and this time, with bigger name presenters, bigger prizes and much much more.
Christmas 2006 and "Carrickfergus FM is back - launching at 10am on the 1st of December until Christmas. This has been an eventful few months since the summer broadcast. We have entertained at numerous functions, many to raise funds for charities others to entertain at school parties or special functions like the "Special Olympics" party at the Castle Green and not forgetting the Carrickfergus Christmas Light Switch On were the largest crowd had appeared in recent years. In November we recieved our Certificate at the Carrickfergus Business Awards in the "Best Community Initiative." The station keeps growing from strength to strength getting involved in more and more community projects.
Summer 2007 and the station is back again from the 3rd to 21st of June and again we helped promote the extensive summer program of events including the Waterfront festival as well as providing the music at several community events during the summer months including the end of summer "Party on the Green" to promote the great work being carried out by in the borough by the Carrickfergus Drug Awareness Group based in Cheston Street.
Christmas 2007 and the team are back again promoting all that is good in the borough starting at 10am on the 28th of November until the 24th of December.
May 2008 and Carrickfergus FM are back helping the community during, providing the music and keeping the 3000+ crowd entertained at the Carrickfergus Chamber & Trades sucsessful Farmers Market.
10th June 2008 sees the launch of another summer broadcast from the DeCourcy Centre until the 29th of June promoting and supporting the extensive summer program of events organised by Carrickfergus Borough Council.
Remember to check out local press for more details on just what Carrickfergus’s own station Carrickfergus FM is upto.
Carrickfergus FM – working for the local community.
Station Manager
Carrickfergus FM
The Radio Studios
DeCourcy Mall
Carrickfergus
BT38 7AB