Paddy EJ7GK and Declan EJ9HQ activated three islands off the West Coast last week.
They travelled to Inishmore, the largest of the Aran Islands, on Wednesday and on the following day activated all four Worked All Ireland squares on 40, 20 and 2 metres.
On Friday they travelled back to EI where Paddy was interviewed live in studio on Raidio na Gaeltachta about the DXpedition. Then they activated all squares from Rossaveel to Westport when a severe thunder storm forced them to go QRT. They then travelled to Inishturk where both squares were activated on Saturday morning and on Saturday afternoon they travelled by curragh to Caher Island for it’s first ever activation.
On Sunday they activated squares in Mayo, Roscommon and Longford on the way home.
Sean EI4GK’s recent expedition to the Aran Islands for the annual Islands on the Air Contest generated quite a bit of publicity for the hobby.
Sean did an interview via mobile phone from the Island for local radio station Galway Bay FM on the Saturday and this was followed by an interview on Monday on Raidio na Gaeltachta.
He was subsequently interviewed by a reporter from the Examiner and an article appeared on that paper during the following week.
Finally, Sean was interviewed on the Alan Short Show on RTE Radio Cork on the Saturday following the contest.
In all cases the hobby got great positive exposure and our thanks go to Sean EI4GK for a job very well done.
The IRTS Autumn Counties Contest on 2 Metres will be held in two weeks time on Sunday August the 29th running from 1500 local time until 1700 local time.
There are five sections; low and high power portable, low and high power fixed and FM only.
The low power category allows a maximum of 10 watts only.
The exchange is signal report, serial number and county and the scoring is 1 point for your own county, 2 points for adjoining counties and 6 points for all other counties. Contacts outside EI and GI get 1 point.
The final score is the total number of points multiplied by the total number of different EI and GI counties worked.
Logs should be sent to the Contest Manager John McDonnell EI6IR at QTHR within 30 days of the event.
We will have the results of the Spring Counties Contest in next week’s bulletin.
The International Lighthouse/Lightship Weekend will take place next Saturday and Sunday, August 21st and 22nd.
There were more than 150 special event stations in 38 countries active for this event last year and even more are expected this year.
Running in parallel with this event will be the Northern Lighthouse weekend with stations established at lighthouses in Scotland and the Isle of Man. For further information, contact Mike GM4SUC via e-mail at gm4suc@compuserve.com
Serious DXers or indeed anyone who enjoys a good social occasion might be interested in the 1999 GM DX Convention and DX Dinner which will be held on Saturday 18th September at the King Robert Hotel, Bannockburn, Stirling in Scotland starting at 1230.
The afternoon programme should include presentations on ZL9CI by Declan EI6FR; C21SX by Roger G3SXW; The Andaman Islands by VK9NS; Antennas for DXing and Contesting by GM3WOJ.
A DX Dinner and International DX Quiz will be held in the evening at 7.30p.m. Thereafter there will be much rag chewing in the bar.
Tickets are available from GM4FDM on 01505-343790 or QTHR.
A good Scottish welcome awaits overseas visitors.
Accommodation is available at the Hotel and other nearby Hotels.
The Telford Rally, will be held next Sunday August the 22nd.
The Coleraine Rally will be held in the Bohill Hotel, Cloyfin Road in Coleraine on August the 29th. Contact Jonathan GI7TMQ on 01265-822502.
The Counties Contest will be held as usual on Sunday August the 29th and the SSB Field Day will take place on September the 4th and 5th.
The Cork Radio Club annual rally will be held on Sunday September the 19th in the Blarney Park Hotel in Blarney.
Enquiries to Con EI7DJB QTHR or on the telephone at 021-270136.
The Leicester Amateur Radio and Electronics Exhibition will be held on September the 24th and 25th The RSGB International HF and IOTA Convention will be held at the Beaumont Conference Centre, near Windsor, over the weekend of 8th to the 10th of October.
The London Amateur Radio and Computer Show will be held this year on November the 27th and 28.
Input for the radio news should be sent to Dave EI4BZ at 021-883555 in the evenings only. You may E-mail to EI4BZ@tinet.ie or to EI8IR@tinet.ie
Input for the Newsletter should be sent to Kevin EI7IM at QTHR or on the phone at 01-4509514 or by E-mail to EI7IM@qsl.net Input to either the radio news or newsletter can also be sent by e-mail to news@irts.ie for automatic forwarding to both news services.
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