As we look towards 2024 already, there are two items where expressions of interest are being sought for. The first is the 2024 IRTS AGM Weekend. Clubs interested in hosting next year’s event are invited to contact the IRTS secretary, Owen EI4GGB, at irts_secretary /at/ irts.ie as soon as possible. The second item combines music and amateur radio. The Milwaukee Irish Fest, which promotes and celebrate all aspects of Irish, Irish American, and Celtic cultures is held in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA during August. For IrishFest 2024, the organisers are seeking clubs in Ireland that might be interested in linking up a station from Ireland to a station in the USA during the event. Interested clubs are invited to also contact the IRTS secretary, Owen EI4GGB, who is coordinating the response, via email to irts_secretary /at/ irts.ie to learn more.
A recent news bulletin featured a new initiative to connect amateur radio and related construction enthusiasts in Ireland. As a gentle reminder, if you enjoy equipment construction in all its forms, we would like to hear from you and the projects you are working on. Please contact construction /at/ irts.ie and/or post on the IRTS email group which can be found at groups.io/g/IRTS.
On the 23rd and 24th of September, EI2WRC will be active from The Waterford and Suir Valley Railway (WSVR) station in Kilmeaden, Co. Waterford for the annual Railways on The Air event. WSVR is a community heritage project. The project has enabled the magic of rails golden age to be brought to life in Kilmeaden. It is a heritage narrow gauge railway running along 17 kilometres of the abandoned Waterford to Dungarvan line. This year will celebrate EI2WRC’s tenth anniversary of doing this great event from Kilmeaden and the group would like to thank the manager Maria Kyte and all the staff of The Waterford and Suir Valley Railway for all their help and allowing us access to the station to do this event again this year. For more information about the WSVR please see www.wsvrailway.ie To find out more about EI2WRC and their activities and for contact details please see www.searg.ie
Shannon Basin Radio Club will be operating from The Cavan and Leitrim Railway in Dromod Co. Leitrim over the weekend of the 23rd and 24th of September as part of the Railways on the Air weekend. The railway museum is operated completely by volunteers who are dedicated to preserving Irish transport and railway history. It is open to the public from 11.30 a.m. on the Saturday and 1 p.m. on the Sunday. The club welcome everyone to come by and say hello. Visitors can also enjoy a trip on their narrow-gauge railway. Further information about Shannon Basin Radio Club may be found at www.sbrc.ie
Keith EI5KJ reports on behalf of Collective Communication and wishes to say "Thank You" to all who have sent them messages of congratulations and goodwill regarding EI3CC's first birthday. He states that they have done so much during their first year and they have much more planned. "Where there's a will, there's a way," is their motto and Collective Communication will be at Stradbally Hall for Railways on the Air and are way ahead in planning further activations for the remainder of the year. Please keep the 23rd and 24th of September in mind at Stradbally Hall Co. Laois R32 YC5X for Railways on the Air. EI3CC will be fully operational on both days. You are invited to please join them to enjoy a cuppa, a chat, and a chocolate biscuit or two. If the urge takes you then you could have a go of their radio communication equipment yourself. They always welcome newcomers and experienced amateurs alike. If you would like to know more, please phone John EI3HQB on 086-8709265 or check out their QRZ.com and Facebook pages as well as their Youtube channel.
The RSGB 3.5MHz Autumn Series Contests resume this week starting with an SSB event on Monday September 4th from 19:00-20:30 UTC. Their CW contest will take place on Wednesday 13th, and it will be followed by a data modes event on Thursday 28th. There will be a 100W and 10W maximum power sections available to enter. Further details may be found at www.rsgbcc.org
The FISTS CW Club which has been promoting Morse Code for almost four decades announce a 30m band activity this month. Three weeks of CW QSOs with anyone on the band are encouraged. This is not a contest and there are no points. However, the organisers are seeking the number of QSOs from operators to help assess the success of the event. It runs from Monday September 4th until Monday 25th September and further information may be found at www.fists.co.uk
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/dot/ie for automatic forwarding to both the radio and printed news services. The deadline is midnight on Thursday.
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