Archived News Script
IRTS Radio News Bulletin Sunday April 20th, 2025
Silent Key John Gill EI9JO
We start with the sad news regarding the death of John Gill EI9JO from Caherciveen, Co. Kerry on Thursday, the 10th of April 2025. John was a former chairman and long-standing member of Kerry Amateur Radio Group. He was laid to rest in Holy Cross Cemetery, Caherciveen.
We wish to extend our deepest sympathies to his sons Michael and Séan, his brother Michael, his grandchildren, extended family, and large circle of friends. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam - may he rest in peace.
The next HAREC exam is on May 17th
The next HAREC exam will take place on the 17th of May 2025. The location of the exam is the Clayton Hotel Dublin Airport, Stockhole Lane, Clonshagh, Co Dublin, K67 X3H5.
With regards to attending the exam by public transport, a shuttle bus service is available from Dublin Airport to the venue and is complementary.
The morning exam will commence at 11 a.m. and end at 1 p.m. The afternoon exam will then commence at 2 p.m. and concludes at 4 p.m.
There are a limited number of places and the closing date for applications is Monday the 5th of May. For further information, please see the licensing section of the IRTS website or contact Mick EI6IKB at IRTS_exams /at/ irts.ie.
Celebrating 100 Years of the International Amateur Radio Union (IARU)
The International Amateur Radio Union (IARU) proudly celebrates its centenary in 2025 a century of dedication to promoting and safeguarding amateur radio across the globe. To mark this historic milestone, the IRTS will be operating the special event callsign EIØIARU from April 15th to June 15th, 2025.
This special station represents not only Ireland’s involvement in this worldwide celebration, but also the spirit of unity, innovation, and communication that amateur radio has fostered for a century. EIØIARU will celebrate the achievements of the past 100 years and transmit our hopes and enthusiasm for the next century of amateur communications and innovation.
Amateur radio operators around the world are invited to join us on the air and be part of this centennial celebration.
Reminder regarding insurance for IRTS members and clubs
As we enter the busier part of the year regarding radio-related activities, it is worth a reminder that the IRTS provides public liability insurance cover for all paid up IRTS members. This valuable benefit is included as part of the IRTS membership fee.
All clubs affiliated to the IRTS are covered under the policy. However, club members who are not IRTS members are not included in the cover. Further details are available at www.irts.ie/insurance
You can also contact the IRTS insurance officer Pat EI9HX via email to insurance /at/ irts.ie if help is needed regarding any aspect of this.
South Eastern Amateur Radio Group EI2WRC
South Eastern Amateur Radio Group extends a massive thank you to everyone who helped make the 92nd IRTS AGM Weekend such a success. The event took place in the Woodford Dolmen Hotel in Carlow over the weekend of April 12th and 13th.
As it would be impossible to thank everyone here you can find a full thank you notice on either the latest club news page on searg.ie or by going to irtsagm25.blogspot.com.
EI2WRC will be active from Rosslare, Co. Wexford, Ireland next weekend April 26th and 27th for the International Marconi Day. The International Marconi Day activation is a yearly special event call is to celebrate birthday of Marconi. Marconi established a wireless transmitting station on the site where Marconi House now stands in Rosslare in 1901.
The club expresses special thanks to the Cornish Radio Amateur Club G4CRC, to the Rosslare Development Association, Wexford County Council, Eleanor White, Lorna Morris, and EI2WRC’s own Steve Kelly EI2JLB.
For more information about EI2WRC, their activities, and for contact details please see www.searg.ie
Mid Ulster Amateur Radio Club Update
The Mid Ulster Amateur Radio Club meets on the second Sunday of the month except for July and August in Tandragee Golf Club, Tandragee, Co. Armagh at 3 p.m. All are welcome.
The club will be active again as an award station during International Marconi Day over the weekend of the 25th to the 27th of April. They will be operating from Navan Fort in Armagh city. Mid Ulster ARC will be active on all bands and all modes on all three days using the club call GI3VFW.
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 23rd of April 2025 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
Ardgillan Castle Parks on the Air (POTA) Activation by North Dublin Radio Club
North Dublin Radio Club, EI0NDR, will be at Ardgillan Castle on Sunday the 27th of April for a public radio demonstration and Parks on the Air activation. The club will be operating from inside Ardgillan Castle itself. All visitors, listeners, licenced, and passers-by will be welcome to join in or have a look. The club plans to be active on the 20m and 40m bands from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. or later into the afternoon.
South Dublin Radio Club AGM
South Dublin Radio Club’s AGM will take place at 8 p.m. on Tuesday 29th of April 2025 at Ballyroan community centre on the Marian Road in Rathfarnham. All members are asked to attend.
Ye Olde Hurdy Gurdy Museum of Vintage Radio
The Martello tower at Howth houses Ye Olde Hurdy Gurdy Museum of Vintage Radio. This was set up in 2003 by the late Pat Herbert. EI0MAR is the callsign of the amateur radio station in the tower. For the remainder of April, the museum with over 1,000 exhibits is open at weekends. From May, it will open seven days a week for the summer season between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. The Eircode is D13 V099.
IARU Monitoring System Region 1 Newsletter
The March edition of the IARU Monitoring System Region 1 newsletter reports on the increasing sophistication of digital military transmission modes appearing on the amateur radio bands. In the report also, the distribution of all non-amateur transmission modes detected on the bands are discussed. Over the horizon radar tops the leaderboard of non-amateur signals received.
The newsletter may be downloaded from the Monitoring System section of the IARU website located at www.iaru-r1.org
Contest Updates
The IRTS 2m and 70cm Counties Contest will take place tomorrow, Easter Monday, April 21st. The 70cm counties contest starts at 2 p.m. local time and runs for just thirty minutes. The two-metre contest commences immediately afterwards and runs for ninety minutes from 2.30 p.m. until 4 p.m.
The modes used will be FM and SSB. Six different contest sections are supported which include a SWL category. Both are fun and friendly events, and all are encouraged to join in. Further information and the rules may be found at www.irts.ie/contests
The results of the IRTS 80m Counties Contest which took place last month are now available on the contest results section of www.irts.ie Twelve logs were received. Well done to the winners and all who took part in the one-hour event.
Items for Inclusion in Next Week’s Radio News
That is the news for this week. Thanks to everyone for sending items into the weekly IRTS radio news. They are very much appreciated and are a great way to update the rest of the community about activities. If you have any club events, activities, meetings, or other items of interest, you are very welcome to email newsteam /at/ irts.ie with the details. These will be automatically forwarded to the IRTS radio and printed news services. The deadline each week is midnight on Thursdays.
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