IN THE CLADDAGH RING: Celtic Community Radio
By ERIN MULLAN
The best thing about radio is having the chance to share amazing music. Most Friday evenings for the last eight years, I’ve been heading over to Vancouver Co-operative Radio to host the Celtic music show In the Claddagh Ring. There are some weeks when I have to drag myself down to the radio station. I’ll be rushing ‘round after work like a madwoman trying to get ready for the show, it’ll be pouring rain out and I’ll be asking myself, “why I am doing this?”
ERIN MULLAN on the air at Vancouver’s Co-Op Radio
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Then I get myself to the station where I spend an hour and a half playing some of the finest music to be found anywhere. The 90 minutes fly by and I rediscover the pure pleasure of being a DJ.
One of the great delights is when a listener calls the station, having just found the show on the dial, happy as Larry to hear this kind of music on the radio. People often call to ask about something they’ve heard on the show that really caught their ear. One couple so loved a waltz by the Irish group Altan that they had heard on the show they chose to play it at their wedding.
Music from anywhere the Celts left their mark gets played on In the Claddagh Ring. It’s a big ring. The show features all sorts of Celtic music, from pure drop traditional to weird, wonderful experimental stuff. At the moment Spirit by Dervish, The Arm’s Dealer’s Daughter by Shooglenifty, Underneath the Stars by Kate Rusby and The Kinnity Sessions by Lúnasa are all getting plenty of airplay.
Recently Michael Viens, who plays with the local Celtic band Blackthorn, has started hosting the show from time to time. Michael is a natural when it comes to radio and it’s wonderful to have another Celtic music fan on board to spin the tunes.
I love being part of a community station that’s owned by the people who listen to it and volunteer at it. As the station says on its website, “Vancouver Co-operative Radio, CFRO 102.7 FM is a non-commercial, co-operatively owned, listener-supported community radio station. Located in the heart of Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside, Co-op Radio is a voice for the voiceless that strives to provide a space for under-represented and marginalized communities.” The station focuses on local music and “music that is both entertaining and rarely heard elsewhere,” which certainly describes the content of In the Claddagh Ring.
Co-op Radio has over 400 volunteers making radio 24 hours a day, with 20 per cent of the station’s programming is in languages other than English. This year we’re celebrating our 30-year anniversary. CFRO got its license in 1974 and the first broadcast was on April 15, 1975. In the early days tapes were actually carried by hand up to the transmitter on Burnaby Mountain. These days we’ve started live streaming on the internet.
Co-op Radio would cease to exist without the generous support of our audience. Listeners can take out memberships and join the station, which provides the bulk of our funding. We need your support!
In the Claddagh Ring runs from 6:30 to 8 PM Friday evenings on CFRO 102.7 FM. To learn more about Co-op Radio and to find out how to join the station or volunteer call (604) 684-8494 from noon to 6 PM Monday to Thursday, or check out: http://www.coopradio.org.
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