The 1988 Wireless Telegraphy Act
states:
(1)
A broadcast shall not be made from any premises
or vehicle in the State unless it
is made pursuant to and in accordance with a licence issued
by the Minister.
|
Where a broadcast
is made in contravention of subsection (1) of this section,
each of
the following shall be guilty of an offence:
|
|
(a)
any
person who is the owner of, or is in control or is concerned in the
management of, any premises or
vehicle from which the broadcast is
made and who knowingly permits
or suffers the broadcast to take place,
and
|
(2) Where a broadcast is made in
contravention of subsection (1) of this section, each of the
following shall be guilty of an offence:
|
| |
(a)
any person who is the owner of, or is in control or is concerned in the
management of, any premises or vehicle from which the broadcast is made and
who knowingly permits or suffers the broadcast to take place, and
|
|
(3) Where in proceedings for an
offence under this section it is proved that a broadcast took place from a
particular premises or vehicle and that the defendant was, at the time of
the alleged offence, the owner of, or in control or concerned in the
management of, the premises or vehicle, then, unless there is sufficient
other evidence to raise an issue as to whether the defendant knowingly
permitted or suffered the broadcast to be made, he shall be treated as
having so permitted or suffered the broadcast to be made.
|
|
(4) The provisions of subsection
(1) of this section are in addition to those of sections 2 (1) and 3
(1) of the Act of 1968 and nothing in this section shall be construed as
amending the said section 2 (1) or 3 (1).
|
|
4.—(1) A person who does any of the
acts mentioned in subsection (2) of this section, while
satisfying the condition as to knowledge or belief specified in relation to
the act, shall be guilty of an offence
It
also states
(2) The acts, and the conditions as to
knowledge or belief, referred to in subsection (1) of this
section are the following:
(a)
making available to another any premises or vehicle or any other thing
knowing, or having reasonable cause to believe, that broadcasts are to be
made from it in contravention of section
3 (1) of this Act;
( b)
having or keeping, or agreeing to have or to keep, apparatus for wireless
telegraphy knowing, or having reasonable cause to believe, that by means thereof
broadcasts have been, are being or are to be made in contravention of the
said section
3 (1);
(c)
supplying any apparatus for wireless telegraphy for installation on or in,
or installing any such apparatus on or in, any premises or vehicle or any
other thing knowing, or having reasonable cause to believe, that, by means
of that apparatus, broadcasts are to be made in contravention of the
said section
3
(d)
repairing or maintaining any apparatus for wireless telegraphy knowing, or
having reasonable cause to believe, that, by means of that apparatus, broadcasts have been, are being or are to be made in contravention of the said Section 3. | |
Adding,
Publishing dates, times or programme schedules which
relate to broadcasts which, if made, would be made in contravention of the said section3 (1) or
(otherwise than by publishing such particulars) publishing an advertisement of
matter calculated to promote, directly or indirectly, the interests of a
business whose activities consist of or include the operation of a station from
which broadcasts are, or are to be, made in contravention of the said section
3. |
|
In December 1988, this
new Act, which replaced the lax 1926 Act, forced the plethora of pirate radio
stations across Ireland to close and they were subsequently replaced with legal
commercial alternatives. But now over thirty years after the ‘great closedown’
another plethora of pirate radio stations fill the Irish airwaves, the length
and the breath of the country. They are not the type of radio stations that
once populated the airwaves in the 70’s and 80’s but rather a more niche
broadcaster, on air a couple of times a week and despite the availability of a
legal alternative pathway onto the airwaves, these pirates have decided the
break the law and incur the possibility of a €10,000 fine and a possible prison
sentence for illegal broadcasting.
When the race for the new
independent commercial licences was under way in 1988 and 1989, the Catholic
Church made it clear it would not be applying for licences to run
religious radio stations under the new
local radio legislation. A spokesman at the Catholic Press
Office confirmed that the Church was not interested in running any
radio station that would broadcast completely religious programming. However,
the Church said it would consider becoming involved in community radio.
According to the Catholic Press Office, any involvement
in radio would be "ecumenical" and would reflect
"orthodox community broadcasting lines".
Yet by 2020 we are in the
midst of a pirate radio phenomenon that is being led by the clergy of the Irish Catholic Church. Between January and June 2020, 95 low powered unlicensed pirate radio stations were broadcasting services from churches across Ireland and across the FM frequency dial. In the
late 1990’s, churches especially in rural Ireland began to make use of a number
of the now defunct pirate radio transmitters and CB radio systems to install stations
in their churches to broadcast mass to the predominantly Catholic Ireland. These
services were aimed at those who could not make it to the church whether it was
through illness, transport issues or if they were resident in care facilities. They
would broadcast Mass on a Sunday morning, religious services such as the rosary
in the evenings or the Stations of the Cross at Easter but more recently they
have been broadcasting bingo sessions, quiz nights and rather than being on air
just on a Sunday, they are now operating seven days a week.
Symbolic of the time was
the newspaper report in the Mayo News on April 29th 1998 which
reported on a parish radio system being set up in Galway,
‘A parish radio system
has been installed in the Parish Church in Renmore. It enables the
priests to broadcast Mass and all church services to homes who have housebound
people. There is a special portable receiver provided to homes at a cost of
£3.50 per month which is paid half-yearly at £21.50. Anyone interested should
contact the parochial house.’
The amateur pirate
broadcasters were however falling foul of the authorities. The Longford Leader
reported in November 2002 that Annaduff Parish Radio which was the ‘brainchild
of Father Kevin O’Sullivan’ was closed down by the Broadcasting Commission of
Ireland as being an unlicensed operation due to a complaint received by them.
In the Leitrim Observer a listener observed,
‘seems
there was a busybody in our midst who reported the broadcast which was termed
illegal under the Act’.
The service had been broadcasting services
from both Annaduff and Drumsna parish churches aimed at the sick and elderly
parishioners of the parishes.
In 2006, the spectrum
enforcement agency ComReg (Communications Regulator) announced that they had
been receiving complaints from Dublin air traffic control that approaching
pilots to Dublin Airport were encountering interference with air to ground
communications. The pilots reported that they had picked up ‘mass’ on their
headsets. According to an article in the Irish Examiner on May 9th 2006,
‘Churches
broadcasting Mass on the radio to housebound worshippers have unexpectedly
found a new audience, pilots flying transatlantic planes at 30,000ft. Now
churches across the country have had to cease their daily FM broadcasts
following fears over interference with air traffic control communications. But
the ban has come under fire from priests as well as parishioners, who said the
religious broadcasts were a lifeline for the housebound. Father Brendan Quinlan
used to broadcast Mass on the 106.5FM frequency from the Mother of Divine Grace
Church in Finglas, Dublin, to listeners at three nearby nursing homes.’
The issue was immediately
raised on the RTE Joe Duffy’s Liveline radio programme, one caller said,
“These
broadcasts were greatly appreciated, especially by the housebound. It was a
lifeline, they kept in touch with what’s happening but we had no idea it was
causing any interference.”
ComReg swiftly enforced
the closures contacting a number of churches to explain the need to immediately
switch off their transmitters and to comply with the legislation. Many of the
church stations at that time broadcast at the higher end of the FM band between
106mhz and 108mhz. Within months after this move by ComReg, that high end of
the FM band became populated by transmitters for the almost national roll-out
of Newstalk radio in September 2006, which previously had broadcast to Dublin
only, since April 2002. The broadcasts of Newstalk were never reported as
interfering with air band frequencies. In a Seanad debate in Dail Eireann on
May 9th 2006, Independent Senator Joe O’Toole said,
‘Over
the past few days, the might and mass of the State has been brought to bear on
the housebound who cannot attend mass or services. They are generally aged
people who receive a local radio broadcast of mass and religious
service from their churches. They are, however, being treated as villains and
those providing the service are being criminalised. ComReg has ordered the
broadcast services to be stopped as they are interfering with air traffic
control. This kind of action gives politics a bad name. Although ComReg has an
important function to ensure the airwaves are protected, it must also be recognised
that the airwaves are the people's property.’
In the same debate
Senator Tom Kitt added,
‘I
wish to support the comments made regarding
local parish radio masts. I know from personal experience in
my parish that they have been of great benefit to the elderly and the
housebound. Headlines to the effect that radio masts pose a threat to
aircraft and that the regulator would shut down such transmitters are somewhat
over the top. It is a grey area and people have been accused of acting illegally
by broadcasting mass or even possessing broadcasting equipment. I hope this
matter can be clarified and there should be a
dedicated radio frequency for parishes to broadcast mass.
Although the House could hold a debate in this regard, the quickest solution
would be for the regulator to decide on a frequency and allow the resumption
of parish masses on radio.’
In the Dail, the then
Minister for Communications Noel Dempsey informed the chamber,
‘ComReg
has been contacted by the Irish Aviation Authority regarding frequency
interference with Air Traffic Control systems and as result of its inquiries,
ComReg has contacted three churches in counties Kildare, Meath and Kilkenny in
relation to the transmission of religious services. ComReg fully understands
the importance of such local community services and intends to permit wireless
public address systems to meet the needs of religious and other community
organisations.’
Someone is keeping a close eye on the FM aerial at Mountrath
The Catholic Church
station in Kinnegad, Co. Meath was one of the station’s identified as causing
interference. They had been broadcasting on 107.5mhz and when the station was
closed by ComReg the Parish Priest Father Thomas Gilroy said
"I
believe from talking to ComReg that some pilots were complaining. I think
aeroplanes flying at 30,000 feet were picking up sermons from Kinnegad. Personally,
I found ComReg very helpful in all of this. It's no big story, just the usual
thing that comes up at national level. It's just a glitch in the system. We
were broadcasting on 107.5 or 107.6fm and we were asked to stop. It's a
national problem, a fact of the technology. There just don't seem to be enough
airwaves."
While ComReg identified
Kinnegad Parish radio as just one of a number of transmissions
across the country that was interfering with radio frequencies on passing
aircraft, the interference demanded the closure of the stations. The Church community
radio had been broadcasting every day to the Kinnegad parishioners, including
8.30am mass each morning and the Rosary at 7.30pm.
Other parishes took a far
more cavalier approach to the order to close and desist from illegally using the
FM band. According to the Donegal News
‘Churches across
the Raphoe Diocese regularly broadcast Mass within their local area
to allow those who are housebound or ill to hear Sunday Services. Speaking this
week in Letterkenny Father Michael McKeever said that despite reports
of churches stopping this service for fear of legal action by Comreg,
he had received no notification to quit broadcasting.
"As
far as I know most parish churches have a radio transmitter on the
roof and anyone who can tune into the frequency on their ordinary radio can
hear Mass from their local church. It is a service greatly appreciated by
those who are housebound or ill. Comreg have a job to do to protect the
airwaves and if these broadcasts have to be licensed, we will take it
from there,” Fr McKeever said.
He
added that it was only last week a parishioner outside the Letterkenny area had
said to him how much she appreciated having the Mass broadcast from
her own parish church because she had been unable to get out to
attend services one Sunday. It allowed her to feel part of her own praying
community.
Fr
McKeever said that he was aware that churches in Northern Ireland had
already been banned from broadcasting Mass from localised
transmitters because of the interference with other radio waves.’
St. John’s parish in
Kilkenny were very unhappy with having to switch off their illegal transmitter.
‘We
were forced to silence our Church Radio system. Because we were engaging in an
illegal activity, our bishop, Laurence Forristal, instructed us to stop. We
therefore switched off the transmitter after a brief statement to our many
listeners before the 10.30am Mass on that morning. It should be noted, however,
that it is a verifiable and indisputable fact that St John's radio broadcasts
were never and could never be any source of danger to any kind of aircraft,
large or small. Our religious services wert broadcast on 96.8 Mhz.
Nevertheless, it is true to say that we were unlicensed and therefore illegal.
The tragic thing about this new silence is that hundreds of the weak, the
vulnerable, the voiceless, the sick, and the lonely are now deprived of daily
and weekend worship in communion with our parish church. Reflect for one moment
on this if such an action today, in 21st century Ireland, were applied to other
faiths, such as to Jews, Muslims, Hindus, etc, what would the
reaction be? Would they roll over and say, "let's be grateful for any few
crumbs that fall from the master's table" as they were fobbed-off with a
ridiculous alternative, like CB Radio?’
The solution was to
licence churches to broadcast on the CB channels in the 27mhz frequency band. Once
a parish had installed a transmitter and aerial at the church, the parishioners
would then purchase a receiver that would allow them to hear the broadcasts. Noel
O’Flynn, chairman of the Dail’s Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications,
said
“The
move will be a huge relief to thousands of people across the country. They were
left without their Church services while ComReg was investigating complaints
that certain radio frequencies may have been interfering with aircraft
controls.”
This system became known
as ‘The Wireless Public Address System’ (WPAS). According to the ComReg
website,
Wireless
Public Address System
The
Wireless Public Address System (WPAS) licensing scheme allows churches and community-based
organizations throughout the country to cater for parishioners who are
housebound and unable to attend church or other community services.
A
fee of € 100 applies to all WPAS license applications.
Churches, including St.
Munchin’s in Limerick, said that it would cost almost €5,000 to purchased the
transmitter and the aerial to put the CB system on the air and then charges of
between €40 and €70 would be bourne by the parishioner to purchase a receiver
often sold from the Parochial office. Another parish in the Limerick Diocese at
Moyvane parish encouraged a fund raising drive to collect € 10,820 to pay for the
installation of a WPAS radio station in their parish church. That was twice the
amount that its fellow parish said it required to open a similar station at the
same time.
But within three years of
the introduction of the Comreg licensing scheme, newspaper reports were
appearing indicating that the local Catholic churches were migrating back to
FM. In an Irish Examiner article in November 2009 headlined, ‘Priest launches
‘pirate’ station to broadcast Mass to parishioners’ written by Gordon Deegan,
it revealed that Father Brendan Quinlivan of Feakle parish in County Clare had
put an illegal FM transmitter on 104.3mhz to broadcast Mass to an 8km radius of
the church.
The parish priest said
that the radio service is a means of combating rural isolation in the area,
remarking that RTÉ doesn’t broadcast Sunday Mass any more on the FM frequency. Local
Fianna Fail councillor Pat Hayes said: “It is a great initiative, particularly
in the winter time when it is harder for older people to get out.
“Older
people feel that they have missed something, that their weekend has not been
fulfilled if they are unable to get to Mass. It is very valuable what Fr
Quinlivan is doing.”
The article went onto to
say to quote the Pirate Priest,
“I
don’t have a licence, but the service is for less than one hour each week. It
is on a very limited scale and for a very small purpose”.
In response a spokesman
for Comreg said that
“any
broadcast on the FM frequency without a licence is illegal. Anyone who doesn’t
have a licence to broadcast may be causing interference.”
It went back to the
original issue in 2006 when it said that unauthorised broadcasting on the FM
band can cause interference with the emergency services and air traffic
control. As Fr Quinlivan’s broadcast could reach to homes within an 8km radius,
it is also reaching 8km into the air, said the Comreg spokesperson.
By 2016, there were
numerous stations across Ireland broadcasting Mass in the 27mhz waveband. A
DXer and radio listener in Finland picked up many of these stations and both
listed them, recorded them and sought verification from the various Catholic
churches. Harri Kajula’s 2016 list consisted of 219 different Parish radio
stations in the Republic of Ireland. Kujula is located at Naantali in South
West Finland and as one priest wrote to him in reply to a reception report, Fr.
Shane Crombie from Tullamore Parish wrote "Harri!
Congratulations! Such a wonderful and unique project: they say there is a
website for everything; now it is true!"
LOCATION CHURCH ADDRESS LOGGED FREQUENCY
|
Adare Parish
|
Holy
Trinity Abbey Ch.
|
Adare
-
Limerick Co.
|
Oct
2011
|
27.621
/ LW03
|
|
Aughrim
Street Church
|
Aughrim
Street Parish
|
Dublin
7,
Dublin Co.
|
Nov
2014
|
27,612
/ LW02
|
|
Arklow
Parish
|
SS
Mary & Peter Church
|
Arklow
-
Wicklow Co.
|
Oct
2013
|
27.631 / LW04
|
|
Askeaton
Parish
|
St
Mary's Church
|
Askeaton,
Limerick Co.
|
Dec
2014
|
27.332
/ CH
|
|
Athea
Parish
|
St.
Bartholomew´s Church
|
Athea,
Limerick Co.
|
Feb
2014
|
27.025
/ CH
|
|
Balally
Parish
|
Church
of the Ascension
of the Lord
|
Dublin
15,
Dublin Co.
|
Oct
2014
|
27.711
/ LW12
|
|
Balbriggan
Parish
|
SS
Peter & Paul Church
|
Co.
Dublin
|
Nov
2012
|
27.755
/ UW16
|
|
Ballindaggin
Parish
|
St
Patrick's Church
|
Kiltealy
Wexford Co
|
Oct
2013
|
27.675
/ UW08
|
|
Ballintemple
Parish
|
St
Michael's Church,
Potahee
|
Ballinagh,
Cavan Co.
|
Dec
2014
|
27.601
/ LW01
|
|
Ballivor
& Kildalkey
|
Church
of
St.Columbanus'
|
Ballivor,
Meath Co.
|
Feb
2014
|
27.665 / UW07
|
|
Ballybrack
& Killiney P.
|
Church
of the Apostles
|
Ballybrack,
Co. Dublin
|
Nov
2014
|
27.891
/ LW30
|
|
Ballybunion
Parish
|
St
John's Church
|
Ballybunion,
Kerry Co.
|
Nov
2014
|
27.631 / LW04
|
|
Ballyboden
Parish
|
Church
of Our Lady of
Good Counsel
|
Ballyboden
Dublin Co.
|
Feb
2014
|
27.771 / LW18
|
|
Ballycullane
Parish
(Gusserane local)
|
St
John the Baptist
Church
|
Gusserane,
Wexford Co
|
Oct
2013
|
27.305 / CH
|
|
Ballydonoghue
Parish
|
St
Teresa´s Church
|
Ballydonoghue
Kerry Co.
|
Dec
2014
|
27.005
/ CH
|
|
Ballygall
Parish
|
Our
Mother Of
Divine Grace
|
Ballygall,
Dublin Co.
|
Oct
2013
|
27.851 / LW26
|
|
Ballyheigue
Parish
|
St
Mary's Church
|
Ballyheigue,
Kerry Co.
|
Nov
2011
|
27.611 / LW02
|
|
Ballylongford
Parish
|
Church
of St Michael
the Archangel
|
Ballylongford
Kerry Co.
|
Nov
2013
|
27.651
/ LW06
|
|
Ballyragget
Parish
|
St
Patrick's Church
|
Ballyragget,
Kilkenny Co.
|
Nov
2013
|
27.631
/ LW04
|
|
Ballyroan
Parish
|
Church
of the Holy Spirit
|
Marian
Road
Dublin 14
|
Oct
2014
|
27.811
/ LW22
|
|
Beaumont
Parish
|
Church
of the Nativity
of Our Lord
|
Beaumount,
Dublin Co.
|
Oct
2013
|
27.635
/ UW04
|
|
Blarney
Parish
|
Church
of the
Immaculate Conception
|
Blarney,
Cork Co.
|
Dec
2011
|
27.831
/ LW24
|
|
Bluebell
Parish
|
Our
Lady of the Wayside
Church
|
Dublin
12,
Dublin Co.
|
Nov
2015
|
27.305
/ CH
|
|
Boherbue
& Kiskeam
Parish
|
Church
of the
Immaculate Conception
|
Boherbue.
Kerry Co.
|
Oct
2013
|
27.815
/ UW22
|
|
Boherbue
& Kiskeam
Parish
|
Church
of the Sacred Heart
|
Kiskeam,
Kerry Co.
|
Nov
2014
|
27.205
/ CH
|
|
Brackenstown
Parish
|
St.
Cronan´s Church
|
Swords,
Dublin Co.
|
Oct
2013
|
27.891
/ LW30
|
|
Bruff
- Meanus - Grange
Parish
|
St.
Peter & Paul Church
|
Bruff,
Limerick Co.
|
Nov
2013
|
27.601
/ LW01
|
|
Buttevant
Parish
|
St
Mary's Church
|
Buttevant,
Cork Co.
|
Mar
2014
|
27.601
/ LW01
|
|
Cabra
West Parish
|
Church
of the Most
Precious Blood
|
Dublin
7
Dublin Co
|
Oct
2014
|
27.891
/ LW30
|
|
Caherciveen
Parish
|
Daniel
O´Connell
Memorial Church
|
Caherciveen,
Kerry Co.
|
Feb
2014
|
27.601 / LW01
|
|
Caherdavin
Parish
|
Church
of Christ the King
|
Caherdavin,
Limerick Co.
|
Feb
2014
|
27.731 / LW14
|
|
Caltra
Parish
|
Our
Lady of Lourdes Ch.
|
Caltra,
Galway Co.
|
Oct
2013
|
27.365 / CH
|
|
Carlingford
and
Omeath Parish
|
Church
of St. Laurence
|
Omeath,
Louth Co.
|
Dec
2014
|
27.245
/ CH
|
|
Carrickbeg
& Windgap
Parish
|
St.
Molleran's Church
|
Carrick-on-Suir
Tipperary Co.
|
Nov
2014
|
27.781
/ LW09
|
|
Carrick-on-Suir
&
Faugheen Parish
|
St
Nicholas Church
|
Carrick-on-S.
Tipperary Co.
|
Oct
2013
|
27.715 / UW12
|
|
Carrigtwohill
Parish
|
St
Mary's Church
|
Carrigtwohill,
Cork Co.
|
Nov
2013
|
27.811 / LW22
|
|
Castlecomer
Parish
|
Church
of the
ImmaculateConception
|
Castlecomer,
Kilkenny Co .
|
Feb
2014
|
27.601 / LW01
|
|
Castledermot
Parish
|
Church
of the
Assumption
|
Castledermot,
Kildare Co.
|
Feb
2014
|
27.785 / UW19
|
|
Castletown
Parish
|
St
Patrick's Church
|
Gorey,
Wexford Co.
|
Nov
2014
|
27.651
/ LW06
|
|
Castleisland
Parish
|
St.
Stephen &
St. John Church
|
Castleisland,
Kerry Co.
|
Jan
2014
|
27.631 / LW04
|
|
Castlelyons
Parish
|
St
Nichola's Church
|
Castlelyons,
Cork Co.
|
Oct
2013
|
27.345 / CH
|
|
Castletown
-
Geoghedan Parish
|
St
Michael's Church
|
Castletown-
G.
Weastmeath Co
|
Nov
2011
|
27.665 / UW07
|
|
Charleville
Parish
|
Holy
Cross Church
|
Charleville,
Cork Co.
|
Feb
2015
|
27.025
/ CH
|
|
Churchtown
Parish
|
St
Joseph Church
|
Liscarroll,
Cork Co .
|
Oct
2013
|
27.805 / UW21
|
|
Clane
and Rachcoffey
Parish
|
St.
Patrick and St Brigid
Church
|
Clane,
Kildare Co.
|
Nov
2012
|
27.651
/ LW06
|
|
Clarecastle
& Ballyea
Parish
|
SS
Peter and Paul
Church
|
Clarecastle,
Clare Co.
|
Nov
2013
|
27.795
/ UW20
|
|
Clonaslee
Parish
|
St
Manman's Church
|
Clonaslee,
Co Laois
|
Nov
2014
|
27.681
/ LW09
|
|
Clonskeagh
Parish
|
Church
of the
Miraculous Medal
|
Dublin
14,
Dublin Co.
|
Nov
2015
|
27.405
/ CH
|
|
Cloyne
Parish
|
St
Colmcille Church
|
Churchtown
South, Cork
|
Nov
2011
|
27.911
/ LW32
|
|
Confey
Parish
|
St
Charles Borromeo
Church
|
Leixlip,
Kildare Co.
|
Oct
2013
|
27.841
/ LW25
|
|
Corpus
Christi Parish
|
Corpus
Christi Church
|
Drumcondra,
Dublin 9
|
Nov
2013
|
27.691
/ LW10
|
|
Croagh
Parish
|
St.
John the Baptist
Church
|
Croagh,
Limerick Co.
|
Mar
2014
|
27.735
/ UW14
|
|
Croom
Parish
|
St
Mary's Church
|
Croom,
Limerick Co.
|
Oct
2013
|
27.175
/ CH
|
|
Dolphins
Barn Parish
|
Church
of Our Lady
of Dolours
|
Dolphins
Barn
Dublin 8
|
Oct
2013
|
27.871
/ LW28
|
|
Donaghmede-Clongriffin-
Balgriffin Parish
|
Holy
Trinity Church
|
Donaghmede
Dublin Co.
|
Nov
2011
|
27.711
/ LW12
|
|
Donnybrook
Parish
|
Church
of the Sacred Heart
|
Donnybrook,
Dublin 4
|
Nov
2014
|
27.761
/ LW17
|
|
Dromcollogher
–
Broadford Parish
|
Our
Lady of the Snows
Church
|
Broadford,
Limerick Co.
|
Oct
2013
|
27.365
/ CH
|
|
Dromcollogher
–
Broadford Parish
|
St.
Bartholomew's Church
|
Dromcollogher,
Limerick Co.
|
Nov
2015
|
27.275
/ CH
|
|
Drum
Parish
|
SS
Peter & Paul
Church
|
Athlone,
Roscommon
|
Nov
2012
|
27.611
/ LW02
|
|
Dunlavin
Parish
|
Church
of St. Nicholas
of Myra
|
Dunlavin,
Wexford Co.
|
Oct
2013
|
27185
/ CH
|
|
Durrow
Parish
|
Holy
Trinity Church
|
Durrow,
Co. Laois
|
Dec
2014
|
27.365
/ CH
|
|
Ennis
Parish
|
Ennis
Cathedral
|
Ennis,
Clare Co.
|
Nov
2011
|
27.771
/ LW18
|
|
Fedamore
Parish
|
St
John the Baptist Church
|
Fedamore,
Limerick Co.
|
Dec
2014
|
27.075
/ CH
|
|
Fermoy
Parish
|
St
Patrick Church
|
Fermoy,
Cork Co.
|
Oct
2013
|
27.695
/ UW10
|
|
Finglas
Parish
|
St
Canice´s Church
|
Finglas,
Dublin 11
|
Oct
2013
|
27.405
/ CH
|
|
Francis
Xavier Parish
|
Francis
Xavier Church
|
Gardiner
Str.
Dublin 1
|
Oct
2014
|
27.911
/ LW40
|
|
Glenmore
Parish
|
St
James Chruch
|
Glenmore,
Kilkenny Co.
|
Feb
2014
|
27.185
/ CH
|
|
Glounthaune
Parish
|
Sacred
Heart Church
|
Glounthaune,
Cork Co.
|
Oct
2013
|
27.665
/ UW07
|
|
Good
Sheperd Parish
|
Chruch
of the
Good Sheperd
|
Dublin
14,
Dublin Co.
|
Nov
2014
|
27.991
/ LW40
|
|
Grenagh
Parish
|
St.
Lachteen Church
|
Grenagh,
Cork Co.
|
Oct
2014
|
27.435
/ CH
|
|
Holy
Redeemer Parish
|
Holy
Redeemer Church
|
Bray,
Dublin Co.
|
Nov
2011
|
27.631
/ LW04
|
|
Horeswood
Parish
|
St
James Church
|
Horeswood,
Wexford Co.
|
Oct
2013
|
27.225
/ CH
|
|
Howth
Parish
|
Church
of the
Assumption
|
Howth,
Dublin Co.
|
Oct
2011
|
27.745
/ UW15
|
|
Inagh
and Kilnamona
|
Church
of the
Immaculate Conception
|
Inagh,
Co Clare
|
Nov
2014
|
27.612
/ LW02
|
|
Inniscarra
Parish
|
St
Mary's Church
|
Berrings,
Cork Co.
|
Feb
2014
|
27.605
/ UW01
|
|
Kenmare
Parish
|
Holy
Cross Church
|
Kenmare,
Kerry Co.
|
Oct
2013
|
27.275
/ CH
|
|
Kilbarrack
- Foxfield
Parish
|
St.
John the Evangelist
Church
|
Kilbarrack,
Dublin 5
|
Feb
2014
|
27.601
/ LW01
|
|
Kilfinane
Parish
|
St
Andrew´s Church
|
Kilfinane,
Limerick Co.
|
Oct
2013
|
27.151
/ CH
|
|
Killann
Parish
|
St
Patrick's Church
|
Shercock,
Cavan Co.
|
Dec
2014
|
27.981
/ LW39
|
|
Killarney
Parish
|
St.
Mary's Cathedral
|
Killarney,
Kerry Co.
|
Oct
2013
|
27.991
/ LW40
|
|
Killavullen,
& Annakissa
Parish
|
St.
Nicholas´ Church
|
Killavullen,
Cork Co.
|
Oct
2014
|
27,395
/ CH
|
|
Kill-o’-the-Grange
Parish
|
Church
of the Holy
Family
|
Dun
Laoghaire,
Dublin Co.
|
Oct
2013
|
27.831
/ LW24
|
|
Kilmacud
Parish
|
Church
of St. Laurence
O’Toole
|
Kilmacud,
Dublin Co.
|
Feb
2014
|
27.691
/ LW10
|
|
Kilmaley
Parish
|
St
John the Baptist
Church
|
Kilmaley,
Clare Co.
|
Feb
2014
|
27.185
/ CH
|
|
Kilmallock
Parish
|
SS
Peter & Paul Church
|
Kilmallock,
Limerick Co.
|
Oct
2013
|
27.505
/ CH
|
|
Kilmore
Road West
Parish
|
St.
Luke the Evangelist
Church
|
Kilmore
West
Dublin 5
|
Oct
2013
|
27.921
/ LW33
|
|
Kilrush
Parish
|
St
Senan´s Church
|
Kilrush,
Clare Co.
|
Oct
2013
|
27.891
/ LW30
|
|
Kilsheelan
& Kilcash
Parish
|
St
Mary's Church
|
Gambonsfield,
Tipperary Co
|
Oct
2013
|
27.755
/ UW16
|
|
Kinsale
Parish
|
St
John the Baptist Church
|
Kinsale,
Cork Co.
|
Nov
2014
|
27.791
/ LW20
|
|
Knockbridge
Parish
|
St
Brigid's Church
|
Knockbridge
E.
Cavan Co.
|
Nov
2015
|
27.225
/ CH
|
|
Laragh
Parish
|
St
Brigid's Church
|
Laragh,
Cavan Co.
|
Nov
2014
|
27.751
/ LW16
|
|
Lixnaw
Parish
|
St
Michael's Church
|
Lixnaw,
Kerry Co.
|
Oct
2013
|
27.891
/ LW30
|
|
Mahoonagh
Parish
|
St
John The Baptist
Church
|
Castlemahon,
Limerick Co.
|
Nov
2012
|
27.835
/ UW24
|
|
Mahoonagh
Parish
|
St
Mary's Church
|
Feohanagh,
Limerick Co.
|
Mar
2014
|
27.831
/ LW24
|
|
Mallow
Parish
|
St
Mary's Church
|
Mallow,
Cork Co.
|
Mar
2014
|
27.691
/ LW10
|
|
Manorhamilton
Parish
|
S.
Clare´s Church
|
Manorhamilton,
Leitrim Co.
|
Nov
2014
|
27.891
/ LW30
|
|
Marino
Parish
|
St
Vincent de Paul
Church
|
Marino,
Dublin 3
|
Oct
2013
|
27.035
/ CH
|
|
Marley
Grange Parish
|
Church
of the
Divine Word
|
Dublin
16
Dublin Co.
|
Nov
2014
|
27.701
/ LW11
|
|
Mary
Immaculate Parish
|
Church
of Mary
Immaculate
|
Inchicore,
Dublin 8
|
Nov
2014
|
27.819
/ LW23
|
|
Mayfield
Parish (Upper)
|
Our
Lady Crowned
Church
|
Mayfield,
Cork Co.
|
Nov
2011
|
27.981
/ LW39
|
|
Meadowbrook
Parish
|
St
Attracta’s Church
|
Ballinteer,
Dublin 16
|
Oct
2014
|
27.771
/ LW18
|
|
Midleton
Parish
|
Church
of the Most Holy
Rosary
|
Midleton,
Cork Co.
|
Oct
2013
|
27.651
/ LW06
|
|
Milford
Parish
|
St
Michael´s Church
|
Freemount,
Cork Co.
|
Oct
2013
|
27.301
/ CH
|
|
Milford
Parish
|
Church
of the Assumption
of the BVM
|
Milford,
Cork Co.
|
Nov
2014
|
27.631
/ LW04
|
|
Mitchelstown
Parish
|
Church
of Our Lady
Conceived Without Sin
|
Mitchelstown,
Cork Co.
|
Nov
2014
|
27.375
/ CH
|
|
Mountmellick
Parish
|
St
Joseph's Church
|
Mountmellick,
Laois Co.
|
Oct
2013
|
27.225
/ CH
|
|
Mountrath
Parish
|
St
Fintan's Church
|
Mountrath,
Laois Co.
|
Nov
2014
|
27.601
/ LW01
|
|
Mourne
Road Parish
|
Our
Lady of Good Counsel
Church
|
Mourne
Road,
Dublin 12
|
Oct
2014
|
27.601
/ LW01
|
|
Moyvane
Parish
|
Church
of the
Assumption
|
Moyvane,
Kerry Co.
|
Mar
2014
|
27.065
/ CH
|
|
Mullagh
Parish
|
St
Mary's Church
|
Cross,
Cavan Co.
|
Feb
2014
|
27.
781 / LW19
|
|
Multyfarnham
Parish
|
St
Nicholas Church
|
Multyfarnham,
Westmeath Co
|
Dec
2013
|
27.671
/ LW08
|
|
Mungret
- Crecora -
Raheen Parish
|
St
Nessan Church
|
Raheen,
Limerick Co.
|
Oct
2011
|
27.755
/ UW16
|
|
New
Ross Parish
|
St.Mary
& St.Michael
Church
|
New
Ross,
Wexford Co.
|
Nov
2012
|
27.745
/ UW15
|
|
Newbridge
Parish
|
St
Conleth´s Church
|
Newbridge,
Kildare Co.
|
Oct
2013
|
27.951
/ LW36
|
|
Newcastle
West Parish
|
Church
of the
Immaculate Conception
|
Newcastle
W.
Limerick Co.
|
Oct
2013
|
27.605
/ UW01
|
|
Newmarket
Parish
|
St
Mary's Church
|
Newmarket,
Cork Co.
|
Nov
2011
|
27.315
/ CH
|
|
Newmarket-on
Fergus
Parish
|
Our
Lady Of The
Rosary Church
|
Newmarket-
on F. Clare Co
|
Oct
2013
|
27.025
/ CH
|
|
Newtownshandrum
Parish
|
St
Joseph´s Church
|
Newtownsh.,
Cork Co.
|
Nov
2013
|
27.661
/ LW07
|
|
Our
Lady Help of
Christians Church
|
Our
Lady Help of
Christians Parish
|
Navan
Road,
Dublin 7
|
Nov
2014
|
27.826
/ UW23
|
|
Our
Lady of
Consolation Parish
|
Donnycarney
Church
|
Donnycarney,
Dublin 5
|
Oct
2013
|
27.691
/ LW10
|
|
Our
Lady of the Rosary
Parish
|
Our
Lady of the Rosary
Parish
|
Limerick,
Limerick Co.
|
Mar
2014
|
27.641
/ LW05
|
|
Our
Lady Queen Of
Peace Parish
|
Our
Lady Queen Of
Peace Church
|
Bray,
Dublin Co.
|
Nov
2011
|
27.791
/ LW20
|
|
Our
Lady´s Nativity
Parish
|
Church
of Our Lady´s
Nativity
|
Leixlip,
Kildare Co.
|
Oct
2013
|
27.655
/ UW06
|
|
Parish
of the
Annunciation
|
Church
Of The
Annunciation
|
Rathfarnham,
Dublin 14
|
Feb
2014
|
27.711
/ LW12
|
|
Portmarnock
Parish
|
St
Anne´s Church
|
Portmarnock,
Dublin Co.
|
Nov
2013
|
27.811
/ LW22
|
|
Portarlington
& Emo
Parish
|
St
Michael's Church
|
Portarlington,
Offaly Co.
|
Nov
2014
|
27.319
/ CH
|
|
Rathcormac
Parish
|
St.
Bartholomew's Church
|
Bartlemy,
Cork Co.
|
Nov
2011
|
27.065
/ CH
|
|
Rathcormac
Parish
|
Church
of the
Immaculate Conception
|
Rathcormac,
Cork Co.
|
Dec
2014
|
27.515
/ CH
|
|
Rathgar
Parish
|
The
Church of Three
Patrons
|
Rathgar,
Dublin Co.
|
Nov 2012
|
27.955
/ UW36
|
|
Rathkeale
Parish
|
St
Mary's Church
|
Rathkeale,
Limerick Co
|
Jan
2014
|
27.621
/ LW03
|
|
Rathnure
Parish
|
St
Anne's Church
|
Rathnure,
Wexford Co.
|
Dec
2011
|
27.161
/ CH
|
|
Rockhill-Bruree
Parish
|
Church
of the
Immaculate Conception
|
Bruree,
Limerick Co.
|
Oct
2013
|
27.765
/ UW17
|
|
Rosslare
Parish
|
St
Brigid's Church
|
Rosslare
Strand
Wexford Co.
|
Nov
2014
|
27.285
/ CH
|
|
Sallynoggin
Parish
|
Our
Lady of Victories
Church
|
Sallynoggin,
Dublin Co.
|
Nov
2014
|
27.871
/ LW28
|
|
Sandyford
Parish
|
St
Mary's Church
(or other parish church)
|
Sandyford,
Dublin Co.
|
Nov
2012
|
27.825
/ UW23
|
|
Sandymount
Parish
|
Church
of Our Lady
Star of the Sea
|
Sandymount,
Dublin Co.
|
Oct
2013
|
27.971
/ LW38
|
|
Shanagolden
& Foynes
|
St
Senan Church
|
Shanagolden,
Limerick Co.
|
Oct
2014
|
27.395
/ CH
|
|
Skerries
Parish
|
St
Patrick´s Church
|
Skerries,
Dublin Co.
|
Nov
2013
|
27.855
/ UW26
|
|
Sligo
Cathedral Parish
|
Cathedral
of the Immaculate
Conception
|
Sligo
Co.
|
Oct
2013
|
27.125
/ CH
|
|
Springfield
Parish
|
St
Mark's Church
|
Tallaght,
Dublin Co.
|
Oct
2013
|
27.651
/ LW06
|
|
Shannon
Parish
|
SS
John & Paul
Church
|
Tullyvarraga,
Clare Co.
|
Oct
2011
|
27.621
/ LW03
|
|
Sliverue
Parish
|
Church
of the Assumption
|
Sliverue,
Kilkenny Co.
|
Nov
2014
|
27.205
/ CH
|
|
St
Agatha's Parish
|
St.
Agatha's Church
|
North
Strand
Dublin Co.
|
Dec
2013
|
27.691
/ LW10
|
|
St
Agnes´ Church
|
St
Agnes´ Church
|
Crumlin,
Dublin 12
|
Oct
2013
|
27.661
/ LW07
|
|
St
Anne's and Carraroe P.
|
St
Anne's Church
|
Sligo,
Sligo Co.
|
Nov
2015
|
27.395
/ CH
|
|
St
Bernadette’s Parish
|
St
Bernadette’s Church
|
Clogher,
Dublin 12
|
Jan
2014
|
27.751
/ LW16
|
|
St
Cronan's Parish
|
St
Cronan's Church
|
Roscrea,
Tipperary Co.
|
Oct
2013
|
27.621
/ LW03
|
|
St
Dominic’s Parish
|
St
Dominic's Church
|
Dublin
24
Dublin Co.
|
Oct
2014
|
27.821
/ LW23
|
|
St
Gabriel's Parish
|
St
Gabriel's Church
|
Clontarf
Dublin 3
|
|
27.751
/ LW16
|
|
St
John's Parish
|
St
John's Church
|
Parnell
Str,
Waterford Co.
|
Oct
2013
|
27.601
/ LW01
|
|
Saint
John the Baptist
Catholic Parish
|
St
John the Baptist Church
|
Clontarf
Dublin 3
|
|
27.851
/ LW26
|
|
St
John the Evangelist
Parish
|
St.
John the Evangelist
Church
|
Ballinteer,
Dublin 16
|
Oct
2013
|
27.641
/ LW05
|
|
St.
Joseph & St.Benildus
and St. Mary’s Parish
|
St.Joseph
& St. Benildus
Church
|
Waterford
City
|
Nov
2015
|
27.185
/ CH
|
|
St
Laurence O'Toole
Parish
|
St
Patricks Church
|
Ringsend,
Dublin Co.
|
Oct
2013
|
27.671
/ LW08
|
|
St
Mary's Parish
|
St
Mary's or Our Lady
Queen Church
|
Athlone,
Roscommon
|
Dec
2011
|
27.980a
/ CH?
|
|
St
Mary's Parish
|
St
Mary's Church
|
Lucan,
Dublin Co.
|
Nov
2014
|
27.681
/ LW09
|
|
St Munchin's
& St.
Lelia's Parish
|
St
Munchin´s Church
|
Clancy
Str.
Limerick
|
Oct
2013
|
27.601
/ LW01
|
|
St
Patrick's & St Brigid's
Parish
|
St
Brigid's Church
|
Singland,
Limerick Co.
|
Feb
2014
|
27.615
/ UW02
|
|
St
Peter's Parish Little Bray
|
St
Peter's Church
|
Little
Bray,
Wicklow Co.
|
Jan
2015
|
27.891
/ LW30
|
|
St
Peter's Parish Phibsboro
|
St
Peter's Church
|
Phibsboro,
Dublin 7
|
Nov.
2014
|
27.731
/ LW14
|
|
St Philip
the Apostle
|
St Philip
the Apostle Ch.
|
Mountview
/
Clonsilla,
Dublin 15
|
Jan
2015
|
27.741
/ LW15
|
|
Tarbert
Parish
|
St
Mary's Church
|
Tarbert,
Kerry Co.
|
Oct
2013
|
27.425
/ CH
|
|
Templeglantine
Parish
|
Most
Holy Trinity Church
|
Templeglantine
Limerick Co.
|
Jan
2014
|
27.741
/ LW15
|
|
Tullamore
Parish
|
Church
of the
Assumption
|
Tullamore,
Offaly Co.
|
Feb
2014
|
27.631
/ LW04
|
|
Walkinstown
Parish
|
Assumption
of the
Blessed Virgin Mary
|
Dublin
12,
Dublin Co.
|
Oct
2014
|
27.941
/ LW35
|
|
Watergrasshill
&
Glenville Parish
|
St
Joseph’s Church
|
Glenville,
Cork Co.
|
Jan
2014
|
27.631
/ LW04
|
|
Woodford & Looscaun
Parish
|
St.
Brendan’s Church
|
Looscaun,
Galway Co.
|
Feb
2015
|
27.075
/ CH
|
(c) http://www.parishradio.harriku.com/
In 2020, the Wicklow parish
church informed parishioners on their website,
Channels: You
can hear Mass on the following channels and frequencies: Channel UW 04, Frequency
27.63500 and Channel LW 04, Frequency 27.63125. Receiving radios
were available to purchase from the Parish office, costing €75.00.
You would imagine that
this was an end to the matter but in 2020, Comreg revealed that there were only
61 WPAS licences issued in Ireland and while the majority of them were to
Catholic Churches not all of the 61 belonged to religious broadcasts. The
Broadcasting Authority of Ireland, the licencing body for Broadcast licences,
have since their creation in 1988 as the Independent Radio and Television
Commission issued licences to national, regional, local, community,
institutional and temporary groupings but no licences have been issued to
churches yet as of June 2020 there were more than 100 illegal FM transmitters
operating broadcasting services making the Irish Catholic church the largest
pirate radio operator in the world.
The requirement for a
licence to own a CB receiver in Ireland was abolished in 1998, but this applied
to point to point communications not for the use of CB radio for broadcast
purposes. According to a communications expert,
‘Yes,
some religious and community groups currently transmit on the CB bands and such
users would need to change operating channel to one within the WPAS band.
Licence-exempt Citizen Band radios may be operated in the frequency band
26.96MHz to 27.41 MHz – just below the WPAS band at 27.6 to 27.99 Mhz. While
most equipment can be easily re-tuned, some equipment (transmitter and/or
receivers) may not be capable of being adjusted to the WPAS band. In such cases
replacement equipment may be required.’
The Broadcasting
Authority of Ireland (BAI) who issues licences for the FM band, could issue
licences to the Catholic Church under their Institutional Licences category but
as of June 2020 the only stations licensed under that title which can be
licensed for up to ten years were Dreamtime Radio (Kilkenny), CUHFM Hospital
Radio (Cork), Regional Hospital Radio (Limerick), St. Ita’s Hospital Radio
(Dublin), South Tipperary General Hospital Radio and Reflink operated by the Irish
Rugby Football Union to allow spectators to listen to the match referee.
While Ireland is regarded
as a Catholic nation, other denominations including the various Protestant
churches (the largest being the Church of Ireland), Jewish and Muslim faiths do
not use illegal FM transmitters to reach their congregations. The Catholic church
appear to ignore the law and any threat of a €10,000 fine which could approach
a fine of almost one million euro if all the transmitter sites were raided, is
not a deterrent. The frequencies used are all along the FM band from 88 to
108mhz, despite the fact that a legal alternative has been provided for. In an
interview with one County Galway priest, his rationale for using an illegal
transmitter on FM was that his elderly parishioners were unable to afford the
€40 -€70 cost of a CB receiver and that they all had access to a transistor
radio which allowed FM programming. He pointed out to its importance of
broadcasting funeral Masses during the pandemic when parishioners were excluded
from their parish churches. While there seems to be a need and desire for
parish churches to broadcast their services via the radio, despite the fact
that many of them now use live video either via Facebook or purposely designed
websites, moving these stations from the illegal to legal would be productive
in terms of purchasing of licences and enforcement of non-interference and
bringing some of these broadcasts under the BAI complaints commission
jurisdiction. The ‘blind- eye’ being turned towards these broadcasters is
contributed to by the fact that they are not encroaching on the advertising
revenue generated by the legal stations across Ireland.
The following list has
been compiled from various sources including, Church newsletters, local area
news reports and death notices published in regional newspapers, ‘In Memoriam’
website sections of local radio stations including Galway Bay FM and Northern
Sound, www.rip.ie
and Church Facebook pages. The list has been compiled for the period from 2005
– 2020 and while some of the Churches have abandoned the FM band in favour of
online services, the vast majority have continued on FM expressly for their
sick and infirm listeners. With Catholic churches closed to the public during
the Coronavirus pandemic and mourners banned from funerals, the number of
Catholic churches taking to the FM band to broadcast their services has
significantly increased. The fact that both Churches and newspaper websites
openly advertise these illegal broadcasts is also a cause for concern as it
provides a precedent for other illegal broadcasters. Recently during the
Coronavirus lockdown, one County Louth Catholic church was broadcasting Mass
seven days a week in the mornings, rosary recitals in the afternoons and both
Bingo and Quiz night events during the week.
LOCATION FREQUENCY
St
Patrick’s, Skerries 87.5
MHz
St Lastra’s, Donaghmoyne, Monaghan 87.5 MHz
Mullagh, Cavan 87.6
MHz
Moone,
Kildare 88 MHz
Drumconrath,
Meath 89.7
MHz
Carrickmacross,
Monaghan 92.1 MHz
Clonard,
Co Wexford 92.9 MHz
Castlerea,
Roscommon 94.5 MHz
Belclare,
Clare 95
MHz
Fivemilehouse,
Roscommon 95 MHz
Kilbride,
Wicklow 95 MHz
Urlingford,
Kilkenny 95.2
MHz
Newmarket
on Fergus, Clare 97.9 MHz
Oldcastle,
Cavan 98
MHz (previously 108 MHz)
Dungarvin,
Waterford 98.5
MHz
Monasterevin,
Loais 99
Mhz
Ardagh,
Longford 99.7
MHz
Baltinglass,
Wicklow 100.2
MHz
Ballymacward,
Galway 101.4
MHz
Immaculate
Conception, Glencorrib 101.4 MHz
Shrule,
Galway 101.4 MHz
Newcastle
West, Limerick 102 MHz
St
Patricks, Broomfield, Monaghan 102.4 MHz
Burrishoole,
Mayo 102.4
MHz
St.
Bridget’s Portumna, Galway 102.8
MHz
Knocknacarra,
Galway 102.8 MHz
St
Enda’s Killanny, Monaghan 103
MHz
Ferrybank,
Waterford 103.9
MHz
Lismore,
Waterford 103.9
MHz
Gort,
Galway 104
MHz
Burrishoole,
Mayo 104.2
MHz
Newport,
Mayo 104.2
MHz
Ballycorick,
Clare 104.4
MHz
Ballynacally,
Clare 104.4
MHz
Mountrath,
Laois 104.5 MHz
New
Ross, Co. Wexford 104.7 MHz
Kill,
Waterford 104.8
MHz
Westport,
Mayo 104.8
MHz
Ballycommon,
Offaly 105
MHz
Ennistymon,
Clare 105
MHz
Quilty,
Clare 105
MHz
Robeen
Parish, Mayo 105
MHz
St
Joseph’s, Milltown Malbay, Clare 105 MHz
Woodford,
Galway 105
MHz
Doon.
Limerick 105.1
MHz
Moylough,
Galway 105.1
MHz
Ballyhaunis,
Mayo 105.2 MHz
Cloughjordan,
Tipperary 105.2
MHz
Newtown,
Waterford 105.2
MHz
St.
Nicholas, Carrick-on-Suir 105.2 MHz
Castlebar,
Mayo 105.3 MHz
Lorrha/Dorrha,
Tipperary 105.4
MHz
Tramore,
Waterford 105.4
MHz
St
Senan’s, Shannon, Limerick 105.6 MHz
Roundfort,
Mayo 105.75
MHz
Corofin,
Galway 105.8
MHz
Crooke,
Waterford 105.8
MHz
Kilmoylan,
Galway 105.8 MHz
Virginia,
Cavan 105.8
MHz
Kilteevan,
Roscommon Town 105.9
MHz
Abbeynocmoy,
Galway 106 MHz
Birr,
Co. Offaly 106
MHz
Castlemaine,
Kerry 106 MHz
Milltown,
Killarney, Kerry 106
MHz
Monivea,
Galway 106
MHz
St.
Coleman’s Claremorris 106 MHz
St
Michael’s Gorey, Wexford 106
MHz
Wexford
Parish 106
MHz
Clarinbridge,
Galway 106.2
MHz
Nenagh,
Tipperary 106.2 MHz
St
Marys, Cahir, Tipperary 106.2 MHz (Previously
107mhz to 2011)
Castleconnell,
Limerick 106.3 MHz
Easkey,
Sligo 106.3
MHz
Claregalway,
Galway 106.4 MHz
Ennis
Cathedral, Clare 106.4 MHz
Kilconly,
Galway 106.4
MHz
Killea
& Faithleg, Waterford 106.4
MHz
Thurles,
Tipperary 106.4 MHz
St
Mary’s Ballyhaise, Cavan 106.4 MHz
Ballintubber,
Sligo 106.5 MHz
Carrigaline,
Cork 106.5 MHz
Cloughaneely,
Donegal 106.5
MHz
Easkey,
Sligo 106.5
MHz
Ferbane,
Offaly 106.5
MHz
Goresbridge,
Kilkenny 106.5
MHz
Kilasser,
Sligo 106.5
MHz
Kilbegnet,
Roscommon 106.5 MHz
Kilbehenney,
Limerick 106.5
MHz
Kilimor,
Mayo 106.5
MHz
Kilronan,
Sligo 106.5
MHz
Kilteely,
Limerick 106.5
MHz
Lacken,
Mayo 106.5
MHz
Naomh
Fionán, an Fál Carrach Dun na Gal 106.5
MHz
Portlaoise,
Laois 106.5 MHz
Rockfield,
Coolaney, Sligo 106.5
MHz
Roskey,
Leitrim 106.5
MHz
St.
Joesph’s Killimor, Galway 106.5
MHz
St
Mary’s Athenry, Galway 106.5 MHz
St
Mary’s Clonmel Tipperary 106.5 MHz
Toomevara,
Tipperary 106.5
MHz
Tourmakeady,
Mayo 106.5
MHz
Williamstown,
Mayo 106.5
MHz
Barna
Furbo, Galway 106.6 MHz
Bearna,
Galway 106.6 MHz
Corrandula,
Galway 106.6 MHz
Glenamaddy,
Mayo 106.6
MHz
Glengoole,
Tipperary 106.6 MHz
Kill,
Co. Kildare 106.6 MHz
Kilkerrin,
Mayo 106.6 MHz
Skehana,
Galway 106.6
MHz
St,
Mary’s, Cloghan, Offaly 106.6 MHz
Ardrahan,
Galway 106.7 mhz
St
Mary’s Killenaule, Tipperary 106.7 MHz
Lackagh,
Athenry, Galway 106.8 MHz
St.
John’s, Kilkenny 106.8 MHz
Lackagh,
Galway 106.9
MHz
St.
Andrew’s Bagenalstown 106.9 MHz
Ballinakill,
Mayo 107
MHz
Cromane,
Co. Kerry 107
MHz
Curraroe,
Sligo 107
MHz
Duagh,
Kerry 107
MHz
Gormanstown,
Meath 107
MHz
Kincasslagh,
Donegal 107
MHz
Kilcullen,
Co. Kildare 107
MHz
Kinlough,
Leitrim 107
MHz
St
Marys, Crookstown, Kildare 107 MHz
Naas,
Kildare 107.3 MHz
Ballingarry
Parish Church, Kilkenny 107.5
MHz
Laytown,
Co. Meath 107.6
MHz
Piltdown,
Kilkenny 107.6
MHz
St.
Michael’s Athy, Kildare 107.6
MHz
Mary
Mother of Mercy Inniskeen 107.7 MHz
Trim
Parish, Meath 107.7 MHz
Athy,
Kildare 107.9
MHz
Carlow
Cathedral 107.9 MHz
Kilflan,
Mayo 107.9 MHz
Killaloe,
Clare 107.9
MHz
St
Mary’s, Quin, Clare 107.9 MHz
St
Peter & Paul, Clonmel, Tipperary 107.9
MHz
St
Pauls, Butlerstown, Waterford 107.9 MHz
Cathedral
of the Assumption Tuam 108 MHz
Rasharkin,
Co. Down 108
MHz
St.
Naul’s, Ardaghey, Donegal 108 MHz
Thomastown,
Co. Kilkenny 108 MHz
Stradbally
Laois 108 MHz
Caltra,
Galway 108 MHz
Crosserlough,
Cavan 108 MHz
Danesfort,
Kilkenny 108
MHz
Dunmore,
Wexford 108
MHz
Foxford,
Mayo 108 MHz
Headford,
Mayo 108
MHz
Keadue,
Leitrim 108
MHz
Kilbarron,
Ballyshannon, Donegal 108
MHz
St
Bridget’s, Suncroft, Kildare 108
MHz
St
Canice’s, Kilkenny 108
MHz
Mooncoin,
Kilkenny 108
MHz (Previously 107.9)
(There are 155
Stations listed above compiled from various sources during the period 2005 -2020, but this may not be the entire network. Some however may have closed since
they were first identified, as churches began to use other broadcast forms
including YouTube, Facebook Live or dedicated websites. Of the 155 listed above, 96 were identified as being on air from January - June 2020)
The overwhelming majority
of these FM pirates are located outside the Dublin area, as there are a limited
number of frequencies available in the capital with national, local, community,
temporary licensed and music pirate stations filling the FM waveband. In Dublin
and with Churches in major cities, access for parishioners is more often than
not through vision rather than sound. Parishioners can access livestreams via
website cameras, Facebook Live broadcasts or via two major stream providers for
the churches, www.mcnmedia.tv
or www.churchservices.tv.
Dublin parishes also direct listeners to Radio Maria online or Vatican
broadcasting services. There are over 1,000 Catholic parishes in the Republic
of Ireland serving 80% of the five million population, the other 20% made up on
various faith including 200,000 Protestants.
In January and February
2020 and June 2020, I visited a number of parishes across the country in
Tipperary, Meath, Laois, Limerick and Clare and I was provided access to the
equipment used at the churches. The photograph montage of aerials are a
combination of personally taken photographs on my tour, Google map images and
from parish websites. I also interviewed Parish Priests, curates and sacristans,
who wished not be named, about using the radio equipment in their churches. I
visited both CB and FM using stations. Some curates inherited the FM systems
when they took up their posting to a parish and have continued to use FM
unaware that it is illegal to broadcast without a licence. Others told me that
they maintained the option of an FM transmitter as the online service that they
used to connect with their parishioners was often unreliable. One church had
been broadcasting on FM for almost eighteen years and neither priest attached
to the Parish were aware that a licence was required. For one curate it was
simply pushing two electric switches and he was on air and he knew little about
the technology he was using. I spoke at three parishes to some of the
congregation leaving, on the basis of anonymity and they congratulated the
church for maintaining the contact for Mass for some of the older parishioners.
Some churches used both web-cam based systems to broadcast Mass augmented with
FM radio and they anecdotally told me that from visiting rural parishioners
that FM proved very popular.
A Parish Church Transmitter
One Sacristan spoke about
the cost of purchasing a CB receiver for the locals and their reduced
availability both on the Irish market and online. One Tipperary priest told me
how an eighty two year old man was swindled out of €250 attempting to purchase
a CB receiver online. The money was recovered thanks to the gentleman’s bank.
The radio broadcasts have proved invaluable during the Covid 19 crisis when
Churches were closed to the public and socially distanced Mass including
funeral services were the only avenue for receiving the Churches broadcasts. A
couple of churches in County Clare organised drive in Masses, whereby
parishioners drove to the church carpark and as a priest conducted Mass from
the back of a tractor and trailer, the faithful tuned in their car radios to a
FM frequency to follow proceedings.
The broadcasting of
Catholic Church services, especially in rural Ireland, is a vital tool and an
invaluable asset for the listening parishioners. While it is an important
service for locals unable to reach their church building, it is not a right to
broadcast illegally, without oversight or without recourse for the listener to
complain about interference or content. They should be maintained. However the
use of FM in the Republic of Ireland without a licence from the BAI is illegal
but perhaps with some lobbying from the Church hierarchy, parishioner groups
and rural TD’s, a way could be found whereby these stations could be licensed and
not simply ignored. Perhaps a system such as the ‘Low Power FM’ access to the
airwaves that is licensed by the FCC in the United States is an avenue worth
exploring.
As you have read, there
are a large number of parish radio stations broadcasting on the 27mhz waveband
yet only 61 licences have been purchased from ComReg meaning that over half of
these Parish Radio stations have not purchased a licence and are therefore
broadcasting illegally. There are also over 100 low powered unlicensed FM based
Parish Radio stations broadcasting illegally, that is a total of approximately
200 illegal broadcasting radio stations being operated by members of the
Catholic clergy making the Irish Catholic Church the largest pirate radio
operator in the world.
Tramore, Waterford Drumcondrath, Meath Abbeyknockmoy, Galway
A recording of Mass on 106.5mhz from St. Peter & St. Paul's Parish Church Portlaoise
Emails were sent to the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland, ComReg, the Independent Broadcasters of Ireland and the Catholic Hierarchy for a comment on this subject but only the BAI have replied to date and they said that the issue should be addressed to ComReg. If there are any relevant responses I will update this post.
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