My Life 'On Air'

Growing up, my family always encouraged me to use my voice. I come from a big family and close-knit community renowned for social engagement and interaction. In school, I never shied away from public speaking and performing arts were a big part of my childhood. My election onto student councils allowed me to use my voice to advocate on behalf of others. I am very comfortable expressing my personal thoughts, opinions, passions and feelings. I always knew that my chosen career would need to utilise my love of performing, creativity and my effective communication and interaction skills. When I invest my energies into a project and see it yield the outcome that I hoped for, it gives me a great sense of fulfilment and joy.

My last three years as part of DCUfm has made me realise how fulfilled I am by communicating with others through the universal medium of radio. I am fascinated by the ever changing world of radio as a form of creative media. The connection that a good radio host can make with their listeners is powerful. On a given day, the radio presenter’s voice might be the only voice that a person living alone hears. Mary O’ Rourke, former government minister, spoke about the notion of ‘the company of the radio’ and having a radio in every room of her house following the death of her husband. Radio ignites debates and discussions within family and friend groups on a wide range of important issues within our society. It provides a platform for the audience to speak and be heard. It encourages its listeners to become critical thinkers and ‘get involved’ by texting, messaging, tweeting etc. One of the strengths of radio is the personal anonymity of the listener allowing them to freely discuss sensitive and emotive topics like abortion or politics without the fear of recrimination or judgment. In particular, I love the thrill of ‘live radio’ and facilitating a healthy and balanced exchange of ideas and opinions either within the studio or across social media platforms.

When I walked into the DCUfm studio in first year, it felt like ‘coming home’. Despite a ‘shaky’ start, I became more at ease and realised that I had a natural ability to portray myself confidently (imperfections and all) on the airwaves. I had great admiration for those students who managed the studio and often reflected on what it would take to climb up that ladder. I quickly realised that it would take hard work, dedication and an openness and willingness to learn from others. Being voted as Station Manager of DCUfm for the year 2019/20 was such an honour and privilege for me. Being the first female station manager in DCUfm history, made me feel very proud. This role presented me with amazing opportunities and challenges. I networked with many within the media industry and met new and interesting people. In collaboration with others, we organised and ran numerous committee events and workshops. It was rewarding to provide a space for fellow students and witness them flourish and grow as creatives. I became more confident in my ability to mentor and support ‘budding’ DCUfm presenters. During my year as Manager, everyday brought a new challenge. Both myself and the deputy manager had to accommodate the competing demands of the roles of producer, director, researcher, content creator, events coordinator and tech manager to name but a few. We had to organise the radio schedules and project manage the building of the new studio system within the new Student Hub. This forced me to quickly learn about advanced radio technologies and systems and much more. Successfully managing these situations, gave me a greater sense of self belief and of my ability to work as part of a media production team. In order to sustain my passion and commitment to this art form, I have become involved with ‘Radio Sligo’ and am looking forward to presenting my own show ‘Éania’s Fancy’ every Wednesday at 8pm. All of these previous and current experiences have solidified what I believe is my true purpose in life – to be immersed within the enriching, exciting yet challenging world of radio. I now know that I have a true dedication to this craft.