Near FM

Near FM (North East Access Radio) 90.3 FM is a BAI-licensed, communally owned, and not-for-profit community media project.

Near FM is based in the Northside Civic Centre

Near FM van

The project is operated by a democratic co-operative, Near Media Co-op, and is open to all organisations and individuals in Dublin North-East, Ireland.

The station provides a wide range of specialist music programmes (blues, punk, ska etc.) as well as a variety of talk programming, incorporating a positive emphasis on facilitating and supporting community development and providing a platform to a wide range of local groups.

Previously known as Near fm 101.6, the station first went on air in August 1995. On Tuesday 23 January 2007, the station switched to a new frequency of 90.3 MHz and was renamed Near90fm. In 2012, the station reverted to using its former Near FM name.

Near Media Co-op also runs a community television project – Near TV Productions – and an IT project called Near Online. The station also runs an internet cafe in the Northside Civic Centre, Coolock, where the project is based, as well as the Near Drama, Near Records, and Near Choice projects.

Near fm is a founding member of CRAOL, The Community Radio Forum of Ireland.

In the 1980s there was a pirate radio station which NEAR FM is based on called North Dublin Community Radio. It closed down in order to reform as NEAR FM and apply for a licence.