This Week’s News
IRTS Radio News Bulletin Sunday October 25th, 2026
Upcoming HAREC Licence Exam Update
The upcoming amateur radio licence exam is expected to take place on Saturday December 12th in Dublin, with final details currently being confirmed. As places are limited, prospective candidates are invited to apply early. Please visit irts.ie/exam for the application form and the latest updates.
IRTS Thanks Shannon Basin Radio Club for Hosting AGM 2027
We would like to thank the Shannon Basin Radio Club, EI2SBR, for volunteering to host the 2027 IRTS AGM Weekend on Saturday and Sunday, April 24th and 25th, 2027, at the Athlone Springs Hotel in County Roscommon. The weekend will feature presentations, workshops, the IRTS Gala Dinner, the Shannon Basin Radio Club rally, and the AGM. We particularly welcome proposals for interactive, hands-on amateur radio workshops alongside presentations and trader bookings. Presenters, traders, and clubs are invited to contact admin /at/ sbrc.ie for bookings. Visit sbrc.ie/irts for event details, hotel booking guidance, and contact information, and stay tuned for further updates.
JOTA-JOTI 2026 Success Across Ireland
Last weekend saw the airwaves come alive with the sounds of Scouts from all over the world taking part in JOTA-JOTI. Many radio clubs and individual radio amateurs across Ireland helped young people get on the air, make contacts, and experience amateur radio for themselves. IRTS President Jeffrey Roe, EI7IRB, was a guest of Radio Scouting Ireland at their event in Larch Hill, where a wide range of radio activities took place. John Holland, EI3ISB, put Jeffrey straight to work helping groups of Scouts make contacts with fellow Scouts in the UK on the 40-metre band. The IRTS thanks all the radio clubs, operators, and volunteers who gave up their time over the weekend to introduce young people to amateur radio. Events like JOTA-JOTI are a wonderful opportunity to share the hobby with the next generation.
Kildare Amateur Radio Club Buy and Sell Extravaganza
The IRTS Committee extends its congratulations to the Kildare Amateur Radio Club on the success of their Buy and Sell Extravaganza, held last Sunday in Kill, County Kildare. The event was a hive of activity, with traders offering plenty of bargains, clubs showcasing their activities, and lots of opportunities to catch up with fellow operators.
The IRTS Committee took the opportunity of being in County Kildare to hold an in-person committee meeting. It was great to have so many club representatives attend and take part in the discussions. All affiliated clubs are reminded that their representatives are always welcome to attend IRTS Committee meetings, which typically take place every six weeks on Zoom. Clubs should ensure their representative's contact details are up to date with the IRTS so they can receive meeting invitations and updates. A big thank you goes to everyone at the Kildare Amateur Radio Club for organising such a successful event.
5th Mayo Scout Radio Club Thanks Mayo Radio Experimenters Network
The 5th Mayo Scout Radio Club has extended its thanks to the Mayo Radio Experimenters Network for a fantastic JOTA-JOTI event in Belleek Forest. The Scouts had a great day making radio contacts with Scouts across Ireland, the UK, and around the world, while also learning about amateur radio, Morse code, and radio communications. Highlights included building Morse keys, sending Morse code messages, and taking part in fun radio challenges. The club offers a sincere thank you to all the MREN members who gave their time, knowledge, and support to make the day such a memorable experience for the young people, and notes that they look forward to working together again in the future.
Limerick Clare Amateur Radio Club JOTA Success
Limerick Clare Amateur Radio Club teamed up with the 1st Clare Shannon Scout Group for JOTA 2026 at the Shannon Scout Urban Base Camp over the weekend of October 16th to 18th. Led by organizers Harry, EI2KL, and Diarmuid, EI4LF, club members set up multiple HF and VHF/UHF stations under special callsign EI4LCR. Operating on 40 metres and via the local Woodcock Hill 70cm repeater, participating members including Brendan, EI0CZ; Simon, EI7ALB; Mike, EI2IX; and Mike, EI6JFB mentored the young operators through their first radio contacts. By Sunday afternoon, over 30 Scouts and Cubs successfully completed contacts across Ireland and the UK, earning their radio badges. LCARC extends its thanks to the 1st Clare Scout leaders, participating club members, and everyone who called into EI4LCR on the air.
Shannon Basin Radio Club 160m SSB DX Nets
Shannon Basin Radio Club will hold its next SSB DX net this coming Thursday night, October 29th, on the 160-metre band. The net will commence at 9:00 p.m., and all operators and shortwave listeners are very welcome to check in. Further details can be found on sbrc.ie
HF News
In HF news, Fred, DH5FS, is currently active from Dominica as J79FS through October 27th. Operating details and QSL information are available on his QRZ.com profile. Looking ahead to next week, Al, EI2KM, will be operating a solo holiday-style DXpedition from Kigali, Rwanda, as 9X5KM from October 31st to November 11th. QSLs are via LoTW and direct. Also kicking off on Saturday, October 31st, at 12:00 UTC, is the UK and EI International DX SSB Contest. Running for 24 hours across the 80 to 10-metre bands (excluding WARC bands), this well-supported event offers a great opportunity for Irish operators to get on air, try their hand at contesting, and serve as sought-after multipliers for international participants.
VHF/Microwave Updates
Clubs across the country are encouraged to organize regular 2-metre nets over the coming weeks and months to help keep local activity vibrant and maintain regular on-air contact among members. In addition, propagation forecasts from dxinfocentre.com indicate a brief opening for tropospheric ducting on Monday evening, October 26th, around 18:00 UTC. Enhanced ducting conditions extending across the Irish Sea into Wales, England, and western Europe, may make Monday evening a good time to beam east and listen out for longer distance contacts on VHF and higher bands.
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, news, meetings, or other items of interest, please send them via email to newsteam /at/ irts.ie . The deadline is midnight on Thursdays. Items intended for inclusion in Echo Ireland should be sent to echoireland /at/ irts.ie
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