IRISH-language radio station Raidió Fáilte will celebrate twenty years of their Ofcom license this Friday night at a special dinner in Belfast City Hall.
The station, with its headquarters on Divis Street in West Belfast, spent the first 20 years of its existence broadcasting outside of Ofcom regulations. It was awarded a license in 2006 and made their first official broadcast on 15 September of the same year. The first voice heard on the airwaves under the Ofcom broadcasting regulations was President Mary McAleese.
Friday's dinner will be attended by the Lord Mayor of Belfast, Róis Máire Donnelly, as well as the Irish Language Commissioner Pól Deeds, and the Commissioner for Media Development in the south, Rónán Ó Domhnaill. Renowned Donegal family Clann Mhic Ruairí will provide music, as well as reggae band Bréag.
Raidió Fáilte manager Cillian Breatnach said that the event will be a culmination of nearly 18 months of celebration, ever since the station celebrated 40 years of their first ever broadcast in March of last year.
"Everything was done voluntarily when the station was first founded. Eoghan Ó Néill, Gearóid Ó Cairealláin and Aoife Ní Riain were the main three in the early days.
"The goal of Irish language radio in Belfast was always that there would be a service for the people, because the demand was there.
"The founders decided to just do it themselves. They wanted it to be cross-community, professional, and that stories, news and current affairs would be available for people who wanted them."
The station has expanded its output in recent years after securing permission to broadcast outside community radio's standard five-mile radius. Listeners can now tune in as far south as Banbridge, and as far east as Carrickfergus and Crawfordsburn. Broadcast range to the north stops around the Glengormley area.
Cillian said that the station has made a concerted effort in recent years to get out on the road and cover events all across Ireland and beyond.
He said: "For example, we go to Cultúrlann Uí Chanáin in Derry, to South Armagh's Sean-nós Festival, to Éigse na nGlinntí in Cushendall."
The station also broadcast from the Isle of Man, and from the Sabhal Mòr Ostaig on the Isle of Skye, as well as covering national events such as Electric Picnic, Oireachtas na Samhna and Féile na Gealaí.
Raidió Fáilte have secured a ten-year extension to their Ofcom license from September of this year. It goes beyond the normal five-year extension awarded to community radio, something which Cillian says is crucial for the future of the station.
"There have always been three main themes for Raidió Fáilte. A broadcaster, an Irish-language group, and an Irish language community space. A place and a space that is open and welcoming for people to come in and be themselves, and express their opinions."
You can also listen to Raidió Fáilte online at raidiofailte.com
