Huge response to shortwave broadcast by MWR
March 20 1996
Mayo was firmly on the world map last Sunday when Mid-West Radio made Irish broadcasting history by becoming the first ever Irish station to broadcast in seven languages. The venture was an overwhelming success with reception reports pouring in from many parts of the world.
Messages of goodwill were received from various parts of the United States and Canada, from Lima in Peru, Sweden, Switzerland, France, Spain, Portugal, United Arab Emirates, Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia, Nigeria, Italy, the Canary Island, many parts of Ireland and Britain, Austria, together with a huge response from Germany.One of the final calls to reach MWR on Sunday night came all the way from the small island of St. Helena in the South Atlantic Ocean, almost 20 degrees below the equator.
Yesterday (Tuesday), the Voice of America, one of the prime international broadcasting stations, phoned MWR to say how much they enjoyed the transmissions and recorded an interview with the producer of the shows, Connaught Telegraph journalist, Michael Commins, and this will be broadcast on the world-wide service of the Voice of America on Saturday night.
Programmes in English, Irish, German, French, Spanish, and Italian were broadcast on the afternoon transmission. An added feature was the inclusion of a few minutes in Swahili by Denis Mulkeen from Knock, a Medical Student at UCG who spent the summer in Kenya.
The programmes included messages for the Missionaries and Relief Agency workers in Africa, St. Patrick's Day greetings from Archbishop Michael Neary and Bishop John Neill, as well as a number of other recorded messages from well known people.
The North American transmission on Sunday night was co-hosted by Liamy McNally and Michael Commins. This broadcast included a detailed background on the history of emigration from Ireland and this was presented by Ger Delaney from Hollymount.
Says Michael Commins:
"We are overwhelmed by the response to this
broadcast. People around the world were delighted to hear a station from the
West of Ireland on the shortwave bands. There is unlimited potential for
this project and it is time the people in authority realise this and act
upon it immediately. Money is being squandered all over the place on
irrelevant ventures and projects. It is time people impressed on the
representatives of all parties and independents the absolute need for this
service. We have pioneered this and we want it located here in the West."
Connaught Telegraph - News - Mar 1996
Connaught Telegraph - Sports - Mar 1996
