This article includes a list of general references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations .(January 2022) |
| |
---|---|
Broadcast area | West County Limerick |
Frequency | 102.2 MHz Newscastle West/Rathkeale area 101.6 MHz Shannon Estuary area 101.4 MHz Abbeyfeale area |
Programming | |
Format | Varied |
Affiliations | CRAOL |
History | |
Founded | 2004 |
First air date | May 2005 |
Former names | West Limerick Community Radio |
Technical information | |
Licensing authority | Broadcasting Authority of Ireland |
Links | |
Website | http://westlimerick102fm.ie/ |
West Limerick 102 is a community radio station broadcasting to the western parts of County Limerick in Ireland. The station operates on a non-commercial basis and has a five year licence issued by the Broadcasting Commission of Ireland. [1] The station went on air in May, 2005 and was officially opened by then Taoiseach Bertie Ahern in April 2006. [2]
The station has studios in Newcastle West, Abbeyfeale and Rathkeale.
The schedule features a mixture of programmes covering local news and current affairs, as well as music shows appealing to diverse musical tastes, including country, rock and Irish traditional music.
West Limerick 102 is a member of CRAOL, the Community Radio Forum of Ireland.
West Limerick 102 is the first ever radio licence issued specifically for West Limerick.
The level of interest in having a dedicated station for the region had been tested in 2003/'04 by an unlicensed radio operation called NCW 103 (later known as NCW 106 following a move in frequency). In sharp contrast to many pirate radio operations that had previously operated in the Limerick region, the primary focus of NCW was to measure the feasibility of such a station and, having determined that the interest did indeed exist, the operators of NCW voluntarily shut down the operation and applied to the Broadcasting Commission of Ireland (BCI) for a licence to serve the area.
The initial offering from the BAI was a 30-day temporary licence, and following a significant expansion of the team of volunteers and presenters, the station went on air as "West Limerick Community Radio" for the month of June 2004. Broadcasting solely on 102.2FM, the initial pilot covered a range of about 5 miles from studios in the square in Newcastle West.
Following the relative success of the pilot, an application was made to the BCI for a full-time operation, which was subsequently granted, allowing the current station to arrive on-air in May 2005, with an expanded coverage which reaches Limerick City and South Clare, as well as additional dedicated studio facilities in Abbeyfeale and Rathkeale.
County Limerick is a western county in Ireland. It is in the province of Munster and is located in the Mid-West which comprises part of the Southern Region. It is named after the city of Limerick. Limerick City and County Council is the local council for the county. The county's population at the 2016 census was 194,899 of whom 94,192 lived in Limerick City, the county capital.
Licensed radio broadcasting in Ireland is one element of the wider media of Ireland, with 85% of the population listening to a licensed radio broadcasting service on any given day.
Rathkeale is a town in west County Limerick, in Ireland. It is 30 km (18 mi) southwest of Limerick city on the N21 road to Tralee, County Kerry, and lies on the River Deel. Rathkeale has a significant Irish Traveller population, and since 1995, almost half the town residents were members of the traveling community. Rathkeale also has the largest concentration of descendants of the German Palatines who immigrated to Ireland in the early 18th century.
Newcastle West or simply Newcastle is a town in west County Limerick, Ireland. It is the largest town in the county, excluding Limerick city, It is also the county town, and sits on the River Arra which flows into the River Deel. Newcastle West is in the middle of a great bowl-shaped valley in West Limerick, known one time as the valley of the Wild Boar, apparently due to the abundance of this animal here when the area was thickly wooded. The crest of the town carries the image of a wild boar. Newcastle West is on the N21 road from Limerick to Tralee, between Rathkeale and Abbeyfeale. In 2016, the population of the town was 6,619.
Abbeyfeale is a historic market town in County Limerick, Ireland, near the border with County Kerry. The town is on the N21 road from Limerick to Tralee, some 21 kilometres south-west of Newcastle West and 16 kilometres south-east of Listowel and 38 kilometres north-east of Tralee.
Pirate radio in Ireland has had a long history, with hundreds of pirate radio stations having operated within the country.
Griffith College Dublin (GCD) is one of the longest-established private third level colleges in Dublin, Ireland.
Flirt FM is a licensed student radio station located at the University of Galway. It broadcasts at 101.3 MHz on the FM band and a webcast is also available.
Radio Kerry is a full-service, licensed radio station that operates from the franchise area of County Kerry in Southwest Ireland.
Limerick has had a number of pirate radio stations over the years; however, not many of these have had sufficient longevity to make a significant impact.
Radio Limerick One, also called Limerick 95FM and RLO at times, was the licensed radio station serving Limerick city and county. Licensed by the Independent Radio and Television Commission in 1989, its licence was removed in 1996 for misbehaviour, although the station did not leave the airwaves. It was eventually replaced by Limerick's Live 95FM as the licensed operator.
Digital Radio in the Republic of Ireland is broadcast on a number of digital terrestrial, cable and internet platforms. Until the 31 March 2021, official broadcasts of the digital audio broadcasting standard were also available in the state by Raidió Teilifís Éireann (RTÉ) of their full banquet of radio services. DAB broadcasts since April 2021 are now restricted to unlicensed, low powered multiplexes in a small number of locations.
WLR FM, or more commonly WLR is the local radio station covering Waterford City and County, Ireland. It is Ireland's Local Station of the Year 2019, 2020, 2021 & 2022. In addition to the official franchise area, the station also enjoys a considerable listenership in South County Kilkenny and East County Cork. Licensed by the Broadcasting Commission of Ireland since 1989, WLR had previously been a pirate radio station.
Nova Radio North East, is an FM community radio station based in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. Launched in 2007, the station broadcasts 24 hours a day on 102.5 FM, and online via its website. The station is owned by CBIT. They were awarded a five-year community broadcast licence by Ofcom in 2006, which has since been extended to 2022.
i102-104FM was a regional station in Ireland, launched on 7 February 2008. The station had won a licence – as part of a strategy by the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland to create a network of regional youth stations across the Republic – to operate a 'youth' oriented station that would broadcast across seven counties in the northwest and west of Ireland, targeting listeners aged between 15 and 34.
SPIN South West is radio station broadcasting from Raheen in Limerick city to the South West of Ireland. It launched on 23 July 2007, and holds an Independent Regional Radio contract from the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland to broadcast to County Kerry, County Limerick, County Clare, County Tipperary and south-west County Laois.
Cork Community Television (CCTv) is a community access television station on Virgin Media Ireland channel 803, broadcasting programmes made by, about and for Cork communities.
The Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI) is a former broadcasting authority which regulated both public and commercial broadcasting sector in Ireland.
Downtown Radio is a Hot Adult Contemporary music radio station based in Newtownards, County Down, that serves all of Northern Ireland using a network of AM, FM and DAB transmitters.
Newy 87.8 FM is a narrowcast FM radio station targeting Classic Hits music enthusiasts across Newcastle and The Central Coast, Australia on a frequency of 87.8 MHz. The station plays 50s 60s 70s and some 80s music. The station also produces online video content covering local events.