Archived News Script
IRTS Radio News Bulletin Sunday June 8th, 2025
Silent Key Monsignor Alan Malone EI3CG
This week, we regret to report the death of Monsignor Alan Malone EI3CG on May 31st, 2025. We wish to extend our deepest sympathies to his sister Vera, extended family, and friends. Alan was a former member of Shannon Basin Radio Club and was laid to rest in Meelick Cemetery in Co. Galway. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam. May he rest in peace.
Successful International Space Station Schools Contact
On Wednesday June the 4th, pupils representing nine Dublin-based DEIS primary schools spoke live with astronaut Takuya Onishi KF5LKS, currently serving as commander of the ISS. The event was a great success and was live streamed globally via the ARISS YouTube channel. The downlink could be heard live on 145.800MHz across most of Ireland. Many congratulations to the hard-working team behind this amazing event who created exciting livelong memories for the children and inspired a new generation!
Dundalk Amateur Radio Society (EI7DAR) Annual General Meeting
Dundalk Amateur Radio Society recently held their AGM at their club house in Marconi House Dundalk Co. Louth last Wednesday on the 4th of June. Proceedings started with the weekly IRTS North East news bulletin. It was followed by a minutes-based meeting discussing the club’s repeater network systems, licencing, club finances, and inhouse equipment upgrades.
The following officers were elected on the night: President Sean EI4IP, Chairman Anthony EI2KC, Secretary and PRO Damien EI7LF, Treasurer Jim EI2HJB, IRTS Liaison Officer/QSL Manager Pat EI2HX, Technical Officer Richard MI3CQR, and Caretaker Ivan EI1166. All club members thanked the outgoing Chairman, Brian EI8EJB, for his dedication and hard work for the society over the last number of years.
The club is planning a number of events in the coming year. Watch this space for further details. The next Dundalk Amateur Society club meeting will be held on the 2nd of July 2025.
Radio Day at TOG Hackerspace
TOG Hackerspace is excited to announce a special event celebrating their recent membership with the Irish Radio Transmitters Society. They are hosting a full day dedicated to radio, electronics, and signal experimentation on Saturday, the 14th of June 2025.
Whether you’re a maker curious about what amateur radio is, a licensed operator interested in digital modes and SDR, or just love to learn how signals fly through the air, Radio Day at TOG has something for you. This is a unique day to connect the local radio and tech communities, explore the fascinating world of wireless communication, and get hands-on with tools and concepts that are often invisible, yet all around us. The location is Unit 1B Motor City, Kylemore Road, Dublin 12, D12 CF6V. Tickets are free, but registration is required at tog.ie
BunkerFest 25
From June 14th to 15th, 2025, history and amateur radio combine at the first-ever worldwide bunkers on the air event called BunkerFest. This a worldwide celebration of bunkers and the stories they tell. Over 13 national Bunker on the Air schemes are coming together for a weekend of non-competitive portable activations and radio fun for WWBOTA. Whether you’re a seasoned operator or a first-time Bunkers on the Air explorer, there’s something for everyone. Hunters, activators and SWLs alike are invited to join in the excitement. You are invited to visit www.wwbota.org/bunkerfest25 for the rules and further information.
VHF/Microwave News
The next 145 Alive event takes place on July 20th, 2025, from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. local time. If any operators are interested in taking part as a net control station, please email 145aliveuk /at/ gmail.com to register. The Sporadic E season is well underway now. Some excellent propagation conditions have been recorded on the bands above 30MHz especially on the 6m band and extending well above the 2m band in recent days. It was also noted that automatic identification system signals on 162MHz from marine traffic almost 2000km away off the coast of Italy were received in EI. If you are able, it is a good time to dust off your VHF equipment and have a go on the bands.
Abbey Theatre stage a play inspired by amateur radio
This summer, the Abbey Theatre in Dublin is bringing the world of ham radio to the stage with their new play called Static. The Peacock stage will be transformed for an interstellar voyage with a Donegal layover in Jimmy McAleavey’s Static, directed by John King. This thrilling world premiere which explores an astronaut’s chance connection with a Donegal radio operator over the airwaves is at the Abbey Theatre from the 20th of June until the 18th of July.
This play is inspired by events at the end of the Soviet Union when a radio operator in Donegal made contact with a cosmonaut on Mir. Jimmy McAleavey has been developing this story about human connection and its challenges since then. The Abbey Theatre is delighted to offer all of the IRTS community 10% off tickets with the discount code Static2025. Tickets are on sale at www.abbeytheatre.ie or or via the box office which can be contacted by phone at 01 87 87 222. We hope you enjoy the show!
Contest and Events
The IRTS CW field day runs until 15:00 UTC today, Sunday June 8th. The deadline for logs is June 22nd and they should be sent to the IRTS contest manager via email to contestmanager /at/ irts.ie
The next IRTS field day focuses on the VHF and UHF bands. It will run over the weekend of July 5th and 6th. Five separate contests take place on each of the 6m, 4m, 2m, 70cm, and 23cm bands. Further details including the rules may be found at www.irts.ie/contests
On Wednesday June 11th, the next RSGB 3.5MHz Club Championship Contest takes place from 19:00 UTC to 20:30 UTC using CW.
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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