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MIDWEST RADIO

More Than Just Radio

Midwest Radio is a local radio station based in County Mayo. It officially opened in 1989 and its current studios are located on Clare Street, Ballyhaunis.
It was on air as a pirate up until the legislated closedowns of 1988.

Midwest Radio launched with a licence on July 24th 1989 at a ceremony in Breaffy House Hotel, Castlebar.

The station had operated as a pirate from the mid-’80s, launched by present day Chief Executive Paul Claffey and present day station manager Chris Carroll.

The licence was up for renewal in 2002, when Mid West were awarded a further ten years to service the Mayo region.

How they describe themselves:
The advent of Midwest Radio signalled a rejuvenation of life in the west of Ireland. The station’s ethos of providing a truly local service – where the listener comes first – has been directly responsible for making the station one of the most listened-to services in Ireland.
The station always strives to be unique and usually succeeds. Whilst highly aware of its responsibilities regarding public service broadcasting the medium is driven by a yearning to deliver a service that is truly at the grassroots of the people it serves.
What other station in the world would consider bringing a sod of turf to New York or transmitting Mass from the top of a mountain? Midwest Radio has done that and lots more.
When it comes to the west of Ireland the station ploughs itself knee-deep into the happenings of politics, current affairs, sports and the arts. Midwest Radio likes to set the agenda and its ability to do so has made it part and parcel of people’s lives in the country.
Further a field the station has strong links with emigrant associations in every part of the world. Over the past 15 years the station regularly broadcasts programmes from all corners of the globe where men and women have made their homes away from the “auld sod”. Musically the station has put special emphises on promoting Irish talent both locally and nationally. Its exposure to the airwaves of Irish artists has unearthed a vast array of talent in country, ballads, folk, traditional and contempary.
The homely atmosphere of the station breaks the mould of traditional radio stations. At Midwest radio listeners are friends and a cead míle failte awaits everyone. The station wears its heart on its sleeve and that is why people say nobody does it quite like Midwest radio.