Archived News Script
IRTS Radio News Bulletin Sunday March 3rd, 2024
Silent Key Christopher (Christy) Connolly EI4AB
The IRTS news team only learned late last night of the passing of Christopher (Christy) Connolly, EI4AB late of Marian Park, Waterford and formerly of Kilbricken, Mountrath, Co. Laois. Christopher was a former employee of Posts & Telegraph/Telecom. Christopher passed away yesterday, March 2nd. His removal took place at 10:45 this morning from Thompsons Funeral Home, Barrack Street, Waterford for Requiem Mass in Saint Cuan and St Brogán Church, Clonea at 12 noon. We extend our deepest condolences to his loving wife Mary, son Alan, daughter-in-law Lorraine, grandchildren Kate and Max, sisters, extended family, relatives, neighbours, and friends. May he rest in peace.
IRTS Updates
The IRTS Awards Committee is seeking Nominations for “Awards for Services to the Society or to Amateur Radio”, “Awards to IRTS members for Other Achievements”, and nominations for awards for construction. Details of these awards are available at www.irts.ie under the awards section. Nominations should reach the awards manager, Jim Holohan EI4HH before the newly extended deadline of Friday, March 15th.
The IRTS Contest Manager Mark EI6JK would like to make everyone aware of the following changes to some of the IRTS Contest rules. Firstly, he would like to announce that all IRTS contests are now on the WA7BNM contest website. The following changes have been introduced to the 80m evening contest to encourage participation and to bring the contest in line with other similar contests. The creation of two extra high-power sections, one for SSB/CW and one for SSB only. This is in line with the 80m daytime contest on New Years Day.
Mark would also like to make you all aware of the following rule changes to the general rules. Rule 5.8: CW decoders may not be used, whether local or remote has been changed to Rule 5.8: CW decoders may be used, whether local or remote and Rule 5.9: Unless otherwise stated in the individual contest rules, the use of the DX Cluster or other spotting networks is not permitted has been changed to Rule 5.9: Unless otherwise stated in the individual contest rules, the use of the DX Cluster or other spotting networks is permitted. If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact Mark EI6JK by email to contestmanager /at/ irts.ie.
A reminder about the EIDX Group’s upcoming DXpedition to Lesotho. From March 20th to the 29th 2024, DJ9RR, EI2II, EI2JD, EI3ISB, EI3IXB, EI4HH, EI5GM, EI5GSB, EI6FR, EI8KN, EI9HQ, EI9FBB, and PA3EWP will be QRV as 7P8EI. They will operate up to eight stations from 160m through 10m on CW, SSB, and digital. You will be able to QSL via M0OXO’s online QSL request system.
The IRTS Examinations Board is pleased to announce that they have received approval from Comreg to hold the next HAREC exam on Saturday the 11th of May 2024. The venue will be the Maldron Hotel located in Tallaght, Dublin 24. Registration with commence at 10.30 a.m. and the exam will commence at 11 a.m. It finishes at 1 p.m. An exam may be held in Kerry on the same date and time. A decision will be made in relation to this subject to demand and availability of a suitable premises. Applicants who wish to sit the next exam but have not yet applied, should download, and complete the exam application form from the downloads section of the IRTS website.
Applicants are also advised to consult the “Applying for an Exam” section on the IRTS website for instructions on how to proceed with the application or contact Mick EI6IKB via email at irts.exams /at/ gmail.com. The deadline for applications is the 27th of April 2024.
South Eastern Amateur Radio Group EI2WRC
The 2024 AGM of the South Eastern Amateur Radio Group took place on Monday the 26th of February 2024 at 8 p.m. on the Zoom platform. A large crowd of members and guests were present. The following committee was deemed elected for 2024/2025: Chairman Raymond EI6HFB, Vice Chairman Joe EI8DY, Secretary Mark EI4FNB, Treasurer Ralph EI2KU, Public Relations Officer Seany EI2HZB, Club Officer 1 John EI8JA, Club Officer 2 Pat EI7IUB, and Club Officer 3 Roger EI8KN. A full report can be viewed on the Latest News page on searg.ie. For more information about EI2WRC, their activities, and for contact details please see www.searg.ie
Tipperary Amateur Radio Group
The next meeting of the Tipperary Amateur Radio Group will be held at The Princess Bar, Irishtown Upper, Clonmel, Co Tipperary on Wednesday the 6th of March 2024 at 8 p.m. The Eircode for this venue is E91 PW90. The meeting is open to all, and Short-Wave Listeners are, in particular, very welcome to attend. For more information about Tipperary Amateur Radio Group, visit their group website at www.ei7trg.ie
Southern Ireland Repeater Group
The Southern Ireland Repeater Group asks that if any user of their repeater network or any of their services wish to contact the group with queries or signal reports, etc. they may do by emailing sirnrepeaters /at/ gmail.com. You can also visit their blog page at sirnrepeaters.blogspot.com for more information about the group and the services they provide.
Upcoming Rally Dates
The Shannon Basin Radio Club rally and monster raffle takes place on Sunday April 14th. It will be held in the Shearwater Hotel in Ballinasloe, Co. Galway as part of the 2024 IRTS AGM weekend. Doors will open at 10 a.m. and admission will be €5. Further information may be found at www.sbrc.ie/agmweekend
Lough Erne Amateur Radio Club’s 40th rally will take place on Sunday 5th May 2024. It will take place at the Share Discovery Village located at 221 Lisnaskea Rd, Lisnaskea, Enniskillen BT92 0JZ. Doors will open at 11 a.m. Admission will be five euro or five pound which includes a ticket for the draw on the day.
Contest Updates
The next 80m contest of the UK and Ireland Contest Club 2023-2024 season is on Wednesday 6th March 2024 at 8 p.m. local time on SSB. The bonus stations EI5G operated by Roger EI8KN, and GM5GEI operated by Chris GM3WOJ will be active.
The RSGB Commonwealth Contest is one of the longest-running contests in the HF contesting world. It takes place next weekend, from 10:00 UTC on Saturday March 9th until 10:00 UTC the following day. The mode used is CW. Further information may be found at www.rsgbcc.org
Items for Inclusion in Next Week’s Radio News
That is the news for this week. Items for inclusion in next week’s radio news can be submitted by email to newsteam /at/ irts.ie for automatic forwarding to both the radio and printed news services. The deadline is midnight on Thursday.
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