There is growing concern across Drogheda and the wider north east following the decision by LMFM to end its weekly Sunday morning Mass broadcast.
The 9am Mass, which had been a long standing part of the station’s schedule, was aired for the final time on Easter Sunday. The station has said the decision is due to declining audiences and the availability of Mass online.
However, the move has prompted a strong reaction locally, particularly among older listeners. A campaign is now under way to have the broadcast restored, with an online petition gaining traction and being shared widely on social media.
The issue is expected to be discussed at an upcoming meeting of the Drogheda and District Support Group for Elderly People. Other community organisations, including Men’s Sheds and the Knights of Columbanus, are also sharing the petition.
One local woman, who did not wish to be named, said the impact of the decision is being felt by many.
She said: “There are so many people affected by this decision. I have seen and heard the Sunday mass described as a lifeline countless times in the past week.
“There are stories of aged and housebound listeners left very upset by the news, including residents at Sunhill nursing home and the Tredagh Lodge daycare centre. One 92 year old gentleman wants to protest.
“This topic is close to the hearts of so many people. It is not about religion but about taking care of each sector of our society, especially those who are becoming unseen and unheard due to age or illness.”
The petition has gathered close to 300 signatures, including support from people living abroad, and has been shared more than 550 times.
She added: “The station has said that they do not lose any money by airing the mass and they won’t make any money by cancelling it. For this reason, it is impossible to understand why they won’t reconsider. Mass may be available online but it is very much needed on our local radio.”
Senator Alison Comyn has also criticised the decision and is calling for it to be reversed.
She said: “I am hugely disappointed at this decision and it is a devastating loss for many across the North east who relied on it as a weekly lifeline.
“It fails to recognise the reality facing many elderly, vulnerable and housebound people across Louth and Meath and the wider area.
“For so many people Sunday Morning Mass on LMFM at 9am was not simply another radio programme. It was part of their weekly routine, part of their connection to their faith and their community, and in many cases, a genuine lifeline.
“I spoke directly with Station Controller Eamonn Doyle about the decision last week and while I appreciate the changing nature of broadcasting, I also conveyed the strength of feeling that exists among listeners.
“I have received a flood of calls from deeply upset listeners since this announcement was made. There is also now a sizable petition circulating in Drogheda calling on LMFM management to reconsider the move.”
Fine Gael councillor Anne Marie Ford has also received complaints from local listeners and has expressed support for calls to restore the broadcast.
It is understood that church leaders, including the Archbishop of Armagh and the Bishop of Meath, are being asked to engage with the station in the hope of reversing the decision.
