Real people. Real stories. One community.
What happens when people from different backgrounds come together, share their experiences and discover how much they have in common?
🎙️ Our Voice is a community-led radio and podcasting project in Youghal, East Cork, bringing local residents and people seeking international protection together through storytelling, conversation and community radio.
Created by the community, for the community, the podcast gives people an opportunity to share their voices, explore topics that matter to them and build connections across cultures.
From personal experiences and cultural traditions to local initiatives and community life, every episode offers a fresh perspective and an opportunity to listen, learn and connect.
🎧 Tune in to Our Voice on CRY 104FM on the last Friday of every month at 9:30 am, or listen to previous episodes online anytime.
Who’s Behind the Our Voice Podcast?
Our Voice is delivered through SECAD’s Community Connections Project, a national initiative funded by the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht, in collaboration with Community Radio Youghal (CRY 104FM).
At the heart of the podcast is a dedicated group of people living in Youghal who are seeking international protection in Ireland. Working alongside local community members and the CRY 104FM team, they create and produce monthly episodes, sharing their own experiences and inviting guests from the wider community to join the conversation.
Through hands-on broadcasting experience, the Our Voice team is developing new skills in interviewing, storytelling, recording and presenting, while growing in confidence and becoming active contributors to local community life.
More than just a podcast, Our Voice creates opportunities for people to connect, challenge assumptions and build a greater sense of understanding and belonging in their community.
Listen to Our Voice – Explore the Podcast Episodes
Discover the stories, conversations and experiences shared by the Our Voice podcast team and their guests.
🎙️ Episode 1: Ramadan – Sharing Traditions and Experiences
An introduction to Ramadan, exploring its meaning, traditions and the experiences of people observing this important time of year.
👉 Listen to Episode 1 – Ramadan
🎙️ Episode 2: Community Gardens – Growing Connections
Exploring how community gardening can bring people together, create shared spaces and strengthen connections between neighbours.
👉 Listen to Episode 2 – Community Gardens
🎙️ Episode 3: Learning to Belong
A conversation about learning, personal development and the experiences that help people find their place and feel connected to a community.
👉 Listen to Episode 3 – Learning to Belong
🎙️ Episode 4: Courage – Part 1
Inspired by the theme of Refugee Week 2026, this episode explores courage and what it means in people’s lives and experiences.
👉 Listen to Episode 4 – Courage
🎙️ Episode 5: Courage – Part 2
Continuing the conversation about courage, with further stories and perspectives on resilience, personal experiences and community connections.
👉 Listen to Episode 5 – Courage, Part 2
🎙️ Episode 6: Misinformation and Disinformation
Exploring the importance of reliable information, media awareness and critical thinking in a world where misleading information can spread quickly.
👉 Listen to Episode 6 – Misinformation and Disinformation
🎙️ Episode 7: Community Support Services
Discovering community support services and the role they play in helping people access information, opportunities and connections in their local area.
👉 Listen to Episode 7 – Community Support Services
New episodes are broadcast monthly on CRY 104FM. Visit CRY 104FM to explore the podcast series.
More Than a Podcast – Building Confidence, Skills and Belonging
Our Voice is about much more than getting behind a microphone.
Through the project, participants have the opportunity to learn practical broadcasting and media skills while becoming active contributors to community life.
Working together, the podcast team develops skills in:
- 🎤 Podcasting and broadcasting – planning programmes, interviewing guests, recording and editing audio.
- 💬 Communication and storytelling – sharing experiences, expressing ideas and building confidence in public speaking.
- 📱 Media literacy – understanding reliable information, thinking critically about media content and communicating responsibly.
- 🤝 Community engagement – meeting local people, exploring shared interests and developing meaningful connections.
For many participants, Our Voice is also a place where friendships grow, confidence develops and a sense of belonging takes shape.
Small Conversations, Lasting Impact
The impact of Our Voice is already reaching beyond the radio studio.
Participants have described feeling welcomed and valued as part of the CRY 104FM community, while the experience of creating podcasts has helped them build confidence and develop new skills.
One enthusiastic member of the podcast team, Adila, has taken her passion for broadcasting further by developing a podcast in Urdu to connect with people from Pakistan.
Others who have moved into employment or taken on new family commitments have continued to contribute remotely, maintaining their connection with the project.
The enthusiasm of both podcast participants and local interviewees highlights something simple but powerful: being heard matters.
The project has also attracted interest beyond East Cork, with SECAD’s Community Connections Project sharing the Our Voice experience through a workshop at the World Community Development Conference in Glasgow in July 2026.
These experiences demonstrate how community radio can become a powerful tool for inclusion, personal development and stronger communities.
Everyone has a story worth sharing.
Our Voice – By Community, For Community.
Project Support and Funding
Our Voice is supported through SECAD’s Community Connections Project, a national initiative funded by the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht.
SECAD’s community inclusion work is also supported through the Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP), co-funded by the Irish Government and the European Union through the European Social Fund Plus under the Employment, Inclusion, Skills and Training (EIST) Programme 2021–2027.
