{{short description|Irish radio station}} {{About|the Irish radio station|Apple's Internet radio service|iTunes Radio}} {{distinguish|I-Radio}} {{Use dmy dates|date=March 2025}} {{Use Hiberno-English|date=April 2014}} {{Lowercase title}} {{Infobox radio station | name = iRADIO | logo = Iradiologoupdate.png | country = IE | area = Border Region<br /> Mid-East Region<br /> Midland Region<br /> West Region | sister_stations = Newstalk<br /> Today FM<br />Dublin's 98FM<br />Spin 1038<br />Spin South West<br /> Cork's Red FM<br /> Beat 102 103 | airdate = 4 July, 2011 | frequency = 96.9 MHz (East County Donegal, Derry)<br>102.1-104.4 MHz (North-West)<br>104.7-106.7 MHz (North-East) | rds = iRADIO | format = CHR | owner = {{ubl|Bauer Media Audio Ireland {{smaller|(2023–present)}}}} | webcast = [https://www.goloudplayer.com/radio/iradio Listen Live] | website = [https://iradio.ie iradio.ie] | branding = Where Hit Music Lives | language = English, Irish | coordinates = }} '''iRADIO''' is a music-driven youth radio station broadcasting to the Border, West, Mid-East and Midland regions of Ireland. The station is one of four music-driven youth stations that were licensed by the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland now Coimisiún na Meán to challenge the current duopoly in the 15-34 age bracket for those outside Dublin by national stations RTÉ 2FM and Today FM.
The station offers a mix of music, chat, competitions, and topical segments, providing a vibrant alternative to traditional radio. Its presenters are known for their energetic style and strong engagement with listeners through both on-air content and digital platforms.
Based in Athlone and with weekly listenership of 343,000, it was created by the merger of i102-104FM and i105-107FM on 4 July 2011.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2019-02-22|title=iRadio sets its sights on the future|url=https://www.iradio.ie/iradiolicence/|access-date=2020-06-17|website=iRadio|language=en-GB|archive-date=17 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200617224341/https://www.iradio.ie/iradiolicence/|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=25 April 2019|title=Irish Radio Frequency Finder|url=http://www.frequencyfinder.org.uk/Irish_Radio.pdf|access-date=17 June 2019|website=Frequency Finder}}</ref> The combined 15-county franchise was awarded a new ten-year license in 2019.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2019-07-01|title=Ten-year BAI licence renewal for iRadio|url=https://radiotoday.ie/2019/07/ten-year-bai-licence-renewal-for-iradio/|access-date=2020-06-17|website=RadioToday|language=en-GB}}</ref>
In August 2023, it was announced that iRadio would be acquired by Bauer Media Audio Ireland.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Healy |first=Alan |date=2023-08-16 |title=Midlands broadcaster iRadio is acquired by Newstalk owner Bauer |url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/business/companies/arid-41206315.html |access-date=2023-08-16 |website=Irish Examiner |language=en}}</ref> On 4 December, the purchase was completed.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bauermedia.com/news/press-release-bma-completes-acquisition-of-iradio|title=Bauer Media Audio completes acquisition of iRadio|work=Bauer Media Group|access-date=2023-12-12|language=en}}</ref> It adopted a new branding kit in 2025, to closer align with sister stations across the Bauer network.
== Broadcast Area == iRADIO is licenced to cover 15 counties across Ireland:
* Cavan * Donegal * Galway * Kildare * Leitrim * Laois * Longford * Louth * Mayo * Meath * Monaghan * Offaly * Roscommon * Sligo * Westmeath
The station can also be received in parts of Dublin, North Tipperary, Wicklow, Armagh, Fermanagh and Derry via overspill.
This extensive coverage gives iRADIO a strong regional presence, reaching hundreds of thousands of young listeners each week.
==Programming==
iRADIO primarily broadcasts contemporary hit music (Top 40), targeting a core audience of 15- to 34-year-olds. The station features a range of dynamic programming throughout the day, including music, entertainment, and youth-focused content.
News and entertainment bulletins are broadcast hourly, delivering a concise mix of local, national, and international news, sports updates, and a weather summary.
Since 2024, the station has syndicated some programming on Friday and Saturday nights with its sister stations SPIN 1038 and SPIN South West
==Presenters== * Steven Cooper (iMornings with Cooper & Oonagh) * Oonagh O'Carroll (iMornings with Cooper & Oonagh) * Sharron Lynskey (iRadio Daytimes) * Dave Duke (Dave & Fionnuala on iRadio) * Fionnuala Corbett (Dave & Fionnuala on iRadio) * Valerie McHugh (iRadio's Groupchat) * Leona Gilmore (iRadio @ Night / iRadio's Hits & Sport) * Míchéal Kearney (Míchéal, Shane & Ella on iRadio) * Shane O'Loughlin (Míchéal, Shane & Ella on iRadio) * Ella Carey (Míchéal, Shane & Ella on iRadio) * Marty Guilfoyle (iRadio's 6 to 6) * Jen Payne (iRadio's 6 to 6) * Niall Dunne (iRadio's 6 to 6) * Leah Hogarty (iRadio's Big 40) * Ciaran O'Connor (iRadio's All Irish)
==See also== * Radio in Ireland
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== * [https://web.archive.org/web/20110714014714/http://www.iradio.ie/ iRadio]
{{Radio in Ireland}} {{Navboxes | title = Media by county navboxes | state = collapsed | list1 = {{Media in County Cavan}} {{Media in County Donegal}} {{Media in County Galway}} {{Media in County Kildare}} {{Media in County Laois}} {{Media in County Leitrim}} {{Media in County Longford}} {{Media in County Louth}} {{Media in County Mayo}} {{Media in County Meath}} {{Media in County Monaghan}} {{Media in County Offaly}} {{Media in County Roscommon}} {{Media in County Westmeath}} }}
Category:Contemporary hit radio stations in Ireland Category:Radio stations in the Republic of Ireland Category:2023 mergers and acquisitions