The Sound of Ireland - St. Patricks Week Radio Station

Declan A Walsh

I discovered yesterday that there is a temporary licensed station on 105.2 FM in Dublin called The Sound of Ireland, and is of course also online. It plays all kinds of Irish music. It started yesterday and will run until the 18th of March.

Here are two links I found about it.

https://thesoundofireland.com/

https://www.goldenplec.com/pop-up-radio-station-the-sound-of-ireland-set-to-broadcast-on-105-2fm/

I included the second link as it actually mentions its' spokesperson Ann Marie Walsh. She has been involved in other temporary licensed stations on 105.2, namely 8Radio.com and Christmas FM. I heard a couple of voices today, none of whom I could identify. Any idea who is else involved with the station? Is is connected to the people behind Christmas FM?

Declan A Walsh

I found another name associated with the station - Mark Zeno. Anybody know anything about him - I can't find much, other than him promoting the station on Twitter?

ford fiesta

It has voiceovers from Karl Tsigdinos ...I suspect that Christmas FM are behind this holiday station

Declan A Walsh

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118780561#Comment_118780561

I think I heard Karl's voice alright.

Declan A Walsh

I heard a presenter at some stage yesterday that sounded vaguely familiar. A Google check brought me in an indirect way to Lar Flynn of Christmas FM. I think it was him I heard on The Sound of Ireland. He also is a presenter on Dublin City FM. Edit: I'm even more convinced now that it was Lar Flynn, having seen that he contributes to Irish Music Magazine!

Declan A Walsh

I briefly heard a presenter tonight identifying himself as Brian, and he thanked Greg for the previous program. I didn't recognise their voices - could they be Brian Boyle and Greg Mananhan, who are both listed as presenters on Christmas FM?

Declan A Walsh

John Loftus from 8Radio.com is also a presenter on The Sound of Ireland.

Edit: Rather appropriately, he presents an Irish music show (Sounds from a Green World) on 8Radio.com.

Declan A Walsh

I briefly heard Declan Ralph on at lunchtime - he identified himself. He is a seasoned presenter of Christmas FM.

Losty Dublin

Had the station on for about 90 minutes yesterday. It was mediocre stuff all round; a playlist over safe bland music, meh presenters and sloppy VO's and idents. If you get a chance, don't bother tuning in unless you literally want something in the background and out of audible ear shot.

Declan A Walsh

The Sound of Ireland is returning to FM in Dublin this Saturday (11th March) for a one week stint. It will be on 94.3 FM this time with unrelated Raidió Rí-Rá being on 105.2 FM for much of that period. It will of course be also available online for all of Ireland.

https://thesoundofireland.com/

JDxtra

They are also using Christmas FM streaming servers, so it is related.

Declan A Walsh

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120338604#Comment_120338604

It was established since my posts last year that they are very much related. It is an offshoot station by the Christmas FM team. They also ran an online station in October over the last two years called Halloween FM!

Declan A Walsh

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120338655#Comment_120338655

Further to my previous post - as per twitter:

Declan A Walsh

Like last year, it is a mixture of folk, trad, rock and pop. Did anybody hear it? Anne-Marie Walsh is currently on. I heard a few voices over the weekend that sounded vaguely familiar - I'm guessing I heard them on Christmas FM like Anne-Marie Walsh.

I wonder do those temp stations find it very difficult nowadays to pick up any listeners who find them by accidental ? Years ago average Joe public used to tune around and explore the FM and AM bands, I doubt many non-anoraks explore the dial these days.

Declan A Walsh

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120353259#Comment_120353259

Copied into here:

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058287646/which-temporary-licensed-stations-have-you-heard#latest

JDxtra

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120353259#Comment_120353259

Absolutely I expect this to be true. Occasional FM broadcasters like this will reach only a limited audience.

People will generally stick to their presets. They won’t be found by the majority if only broadcasting for a few days.

dxhound2005

I can hear it fairly well in Dundalk. Came up on the car RDS as 94.3, later as Ireland.

Declan A Walsh

I heard The Waterboys on at least one occasion. How are they Irish? Main man Mike Scott, and the only constant member in the band, is Scottish. There have been various Irish musicians officially in the line up over the years, often for short periods. The Irish musician most associated with The Waterboys is violinist Steve Wickham. In fairness he has been associated with the band a long time but he was not involved in their early albums, and was not an official member during the This is The Sea album (the one with The Whole of The Moon).

ford fiesta

The Waterboys have been regularly featured in lists, Top 100s etc of Irish artists / songs.

Something I never understood either.

behanator

Deleted

Ger Roe

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120365206#Comment_120365206

The definition of 'Irish' for BCI/BAI music quota purposes, was always very broad. A piece of music could be classified as Irish if it featured an amount of Irish performers, or if the work itself was recorded, or produced in Ireland (so giving employment within the Irish music industry).

It was the broadcast equivalent of the FAI Granny Rule that Jack Charlton used so well :)

Hodges

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120365123#Comment_120365123

Anthony Thistletwaite is an Irish citizen.

Declan A Walsh

The Sound of Ireland was back on today on 94.3 FM on what I think was a test transmission.