Spirit Radio is an Irish Christian and religious radio station which began broadcasting in January 2011. It is licensed by the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI) to broadcast to the cities of Dublin, Cork, Limerick, Galway, Waterford, Bray, Greystones, Dundalk, Naas Athlone, Carlow, Kilkenny and Newbridge on FM. In July 2012, due to licence obligations, the station extended its coverage by opening a medium wave (AM) channel on 549 kHz.[1] The 10 kW medium wave, 549 kHz transmitter is located Carrickroe, County Monaghan.[2]
 | |
| Broadcast area | Ireland |
|---|---|
| Frequency | 89.8–92.2 MHz
549 kHz |
| Programming | |
| Language(s) | English |
| Format | FM, AM and Online |
| History | |
First air date | 27 January 2011 |
| Links | |
| Webcast | Listen live |
| Website | spiritradio |
The station is in the process of expanding with FM transmitters earmarked for Clonmel, Killarney, Letterkenny and Navan, again using the multi-city licence.
In autumn 2018 the station was launched in Drogheda on 92.1FM. In May 2020 Spirit Radio Now Broadcasting in Letterkenny on 87.7FM in Donegal.
The station was originally based in Hume House, Ballsbridge, and uses the studio formerly used by FM104.[3] In 2012 the station moved its studios to Bray, County Wicklow, taking up residence in what used to be the Sunshine 106.8 (formerly Dublin's Country Mix) studios.
Its format includes news, talk and music.[4] The music tends to be contemporary Christian or soft rock. The current presenter line-up includes Wendy Grace, Amy O'Dwyer, Adrian Nolan, Olga Kaye and Gerry Healy.
Its weekend programs include 'Saturday Magazine' presented by Jackie Ascough, Sounds of Praise Gospel show, The Breeze presented by Ollie Clarke plus both Friday night Music & The Chart Show presented by Brian Farrell.
The station is a registered charity and survives on donations from businesses and listeners along with the work of volunteers. The station has a 50–50 on-air gender split, and its volunteers come from various different Christian churches.[5]
References edit
- ^ BCI Signs contract with Spirit Radio
- ^ Spirit Radio - Passion for Life Church Services Blog, 27 January 2011.
- ^ Spirit Radio by Ann Marie Foley, Thursday, 13 August 2009. Archived 27 September 2013 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Radio Licensing: BAI signs contract with Spirit Radio www.bai.ie, June 2012.
- ^ 'God:FM a spirited success on airwaves' by Darragh McManus, Irish Independent Review, February 13, 2016