Revealed - The World's Largest Pirate Radio Operator, The Irish Catholic Church

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 29^th 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 9^th 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.

Application Form : To apply for a license please download the application form - Wireless Public Address System (WPAS) Application Form - 06 / 26a.

Applications should be submitted via email to licensing@comreg.ie .

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[1] 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[2] 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 [3]

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. 

Links

http://www.udxf.nl/WPAS-List-February-2016.pdf

https://www.bai.ie/en/broadcasting/licensing-2/

http://www.parishradio.harriku.com/

https://www.comreg.ie/industry/licensing/

https://www.rte.ie/archives/2013/0605/454655-illegal-citizensband-radio-in-1981/

https://www.comreg.ie/csv/downloads/SI436of1998.pdf

---

[1] Limerick Leader August 2^nd 2003

[2] Limerick Leader June 14^th 2003

[3] Advertised on the Galway Bay FM website