OpenFM made history last year by becoming Ireland’s first LGBT radio station. Run entirely by volunteers, the station hopes to return for a second year, with a broadcast from 14th June to 13th July. This won’t be possible, however, without the support OpenFM desperately needs.

Via OpenFM’s website:

We are, as of 5pm [on Friday, 3rd June 2011], entering the 72 hr countdown for the survival of OpenFM – the only station in Ireland filling the need for the LGBT community. We need your help or the station will not go ahead.

If we can get 1000 people to donate 10 euro, we will survive.

PLEASE go to www.openfm.ie and click ‘Donate now’ please support OpenFM. We need YOU!

OpenFM station intends to mix music and a variety of programmes that will showcase the different tastes and interests of Dublin’s LGBT community. Leading up to and during the Pride festival, they want to feature the many events happening across the city and provide a guide to what’s on. On the day of the Pride Parade the station plans to dedicate its broadcast to the event by providing on-location live coverage throughout the parade, culminating at the post parade show. For 2011, the OpenFM team want to include their broadcasts online, giving those outside of the Dublin broadcasting area the chance to listen and participate.

OpenFM aims to highlighting the gay culture of Dublin and will endeavour to educate, inform, entertain and open the minds of its listeners. The station’s mission is to encompass and celebrate diversity.

To achieve all of this, however, the station needs your support! Please donate 10 euro or as much as you can afford.

More about OpenFM:

• Website

• Facebook

• Twitter

• YouTube

OpenFM is an entirely volunteer run radio station. OpenFM is an independent not-for-profit organisation. It has an independent board comprising people who have a variety of experience in radio. Below are short profiles of some of the members of the OpenFM team.

Mags Lynch, the Station Manager, studied in the Liberties in Dublin in the areas of media, communications and radio. While completing this course she volunteered in several stations such as KCLR and Liber8 FM and from here her passion grew. She is currently in her final year of a BA (Hons) degree in Communications and Public Relations and is eagerly anticipating being heavily involved in Open FM this year.

Liam Cahill is one of the founders of OpenFM and is also the News Editor. Liam Has a HND in Journalism and a degree in media production from DCU. As News Editor, the department and progression of the project never ceases to amaze him. “OpenFM stood up to the clichés and the niches which have dogged the LGBT community for too long. We said it was ok for a person not to be defined by the fact he/she is gay, instead we gave them the tools to define it.”

Philip Kennedy is a new presenter with OpenFM this year, tasked with presenting a two-hour weekday show encompassing all aspects of entertainment, lifestyle, current affairs, events, culture, as well as up-to-date LGBT issues. “The idea is that we will invite listeners to participate in discussion and to voice their opinions by texting or phoning in or through our various social networking media.”

Laura McGann, along with her co-presenter Mary Duffin, is set to present a film show on Saturday afternoons. She has been working in the UK for five years making TV documentaries for Channel 4 and the National Geographic Channel, as well as music videos for Universal and Mercury. She moved back to Ireland last year. One of her most recent projects was a documentary about OpenFM which was recently aired on RTÉ’s Documentary on One.

Riyadh Khalaf featured in the award winning Growing Up Gay documentary that was broadcast on RTÉ in 2010. He is currently studying broadcasting and gaining experience in the industry working with Spin1038. Riyadh presented the daily drive time show on OpenFM last year and is ready to return this year to present a weekly show.

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