Archived News Script
IRTS Radio News Bulletin Sunday August 24th, 2025
IRTS Hamfest 2025
It is just two weeks until IRTS Hamfest 2025 takes place in Mullingar over the weekend of September 6th and 7th. An exciting and very wide array of amateur radio equipment, stations, and related technologies are planned for this event. You will be able to sample many different aspects of amateur radio and learn via practical hands-on learning opportunities from experts on site.
Entry is free for IRTS members. The cost is twenty euro for non-members for the weekend or ten euro per day. Free camping facilities are provided. If you are not yet a member of the IRTS, consider joining to avail of free entry to Hamfest in addition to the many other member benefits. You can find further information about IRTS Hamfest 2025 at www.irts.ie/hamfest .
Automatic Station Coordinator and HF news reader opportunities
The IRTS is seeking candidates for the role of automatic station coordinator. Those interested in learning more about the repeater and automatic station coordinator position are invited to contact the IRTS Honorary Secretary via email to irts_secretary /at/ irts.ie .
The society is also seeking additional HF newsreaders to join our current panel of news readers for the weekly Sunday morning 40m and 80m IRTS news bulletins. There is very little involved in reading a bulletin and no experience is necessary. If any licensed IRTS member living in EI feels like that they would be interested in becoming part of the IRTS newsreaders panel or if you require more information, please get in touch with the IRTS news team via email to newsteam /at/ irts.ie .
Dundalk Amateur Radio Society Update
Dundalk Amateur Radio Society recently held their August club meeting at Marconi House Dundalk on the 6th of this month. Crevan EI3JWB started the event with the weekly Wednesday call-in via the club's repeater network. Jim EI2HJB took over with the IRTS news bulletin at 8 p.m. After the news, Richard MI3CQR and Brian EI8EJB presented a digital information class regarding the digital aspect of the club's repeater network which was enjoyed by all with a well-deserved half time tea and coffee break. Also in attendance were members of the Irish Elf Dx Club, Reuben EI3JRB, Patsy EI9CUB, and recently licenced operator Peter MI7OBW who travelled from Newry to attend.
The next club meeting will be held on the 3rd of September. All are welcome to call in to the club house and say hello. Dundalk Amateur Radio Society will also be attending next month's IRTS Hamfest and hope to see you there.
Galway Radio Experimenters Club Annual Expedition to Inishbofin Island
Members of the GREC will set up island camp on Inishbofin, Co. Galway, from Saturday August 23rd until Saturday August 30th. The callsign used will be EJ4GRC. They will be mainly running on the 40m band for Ireland contacts and can be contacted also locally on VHF S21.
There are good ferry connections from Cleggan for day return trips to visit the station. All are welcome to visit! GREC will also resume their monthly meetings in the Menlo Park Hotel on Tuesday, September 2nd at 8 p.m. All interested licenced operators and SWLs are most welcome to attend.
Update from the Irish Elf DX Group
Seven members of the Irish Elf DX Group travelled to Malin Head over the August Bank Holiday weekend. 166 contacts were logged over the weekend. The club also visited the Dundalk Amateur Radio Society participating in their recent meeting and talk regarding digital operations. The Irish Elf DX Group is planning to get their repeater up and running in the coming weeks. This will provide much-needed coverage to Monaghan, Cavan, and surrounding counties.
Kildare Amateur Radio Club - EI0K
The Kildare Amateur Radio Club, callsign EI0K, was established in 2024 and has experienced steady growth, with membership now exceeding twenty. The club extends an open invitation to all with an interest in amateur radio in Kildare and the neighbouring counties including shortwave listeners.
The club operates a weekly net each Thursday evening at 20:00 local time on the 40-metre band, which has seen increasing activity in recent weeks. Regular monthly meetings are held on the first Wednesday of each month at Jones Bar, Clane, Co. Kildare. The officers of the club are Chairman Peter EI2JIB and Treasurer and Membership Records Officer Paraic EI2LH.
A programme of events is planned for the coming months. The first of these will be a special activation to mark the 300th anniversary of the birth of Arthur Guinness, scheduled for the weekend of 19th to 21st September. Further details will be announced in due course. Additional information about the club and its activities can be found on the website which is kildarearc.com .
Dublin Maker 2025
Dublin Maker returns on 30th and 31st August 2025 at Leopardstown Racecourse. The Eircode is D18 C9V6. It brings together makers, inventors, and technology enthusiasts for two days of hands-on learning, interactive workshops, and cutting-edge projects. Visitors can explore over 80 exhibitors, including 60 maker stands, 15 large-scale outdoor installations, and two full days of workshop programming. With food vendors and plenty of rest areas, the festival provides a welcoming space for both seasoned makers and newcomers.
Radio enthusiasts are in for a treat: South Dublin Radio Club, long-time exhibitors, are back with their popular live demonstrations that always draw a crowd. Tog Hackerspace, a new club in the IRTS, will be demonstrating Meshtastic and SSTV demos, while Spirit of Radio from TU Dublin captures the charm of mid-century radio using 21st-century technology. From robotics and electronics to crafts and scientific experiments, Dublin Maker 2025 celebrates the ingenuity, curiosity, and creativity of makers of all ages. Tickets are free, so secure your place at Leopardstown Racecourse and experience the excitement firsthand. More information may be found at dublinmaker.ie .
Contests and Events
Everyone is invited to the 2025 Oceania DX Contest party! It s time to get ready for the 82nd Oceania DX contest on the first two weekends of October. The focus of the contest is on promoting HF contacts between stations in Oceania and the rest of the world. For operators outside the region, it's a chance to work many Oceania stations, from remote Pacific islands to the outback of Australia and jungles of Indonesia.
The SSB portion of the contest runs from 06:00 UTC on Saturday, the 4th of October to 06:00 UTC on Sunday, the 5th of October 2025. CW operation then runs from 06:00 UTC on Saturday, the 11th of October to 06:00 UTC on Sunday, the 12th of October 2025. 2025 is the 82nd birthday of the contest. It has become the signature event for operators across Oceania and around the world, combining DX excitement, technical capability, and operating skills.
The IRTS SSB Field Day weekend takes place over September 6th and 7th, 2025. Running from 13:00 UTC on Saturday 6th until 13:00 UTC the following day, it is an excellent opportunity to learn more about setting up a station from scratch, refining your skills as an operator or contester, as well as having an enjoyable social occasion involving radio. Further information about this event can be found at www.irts.ie/contests .
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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