Christmas FM, which raised £100k for charity last year, is returning this week with another temporary BAI licence.
Christmas FM will launch at 8am this Thursday, and will offer a smartphone app along with broadcasting on FM in Dublin City and County 94.3FM, Dublin Commuter Belt 88.1FM, Limerick 105.5FM, Galway 89.5FM, Cork 106.7FM, Wexford 103.8FM, North Midlands 99.4FM, North East 101.6FM and North Wicklow is 99.5FM.
The volunteer station raised over €100,000 for the Childline charity after 30 days of broadcasting from a hotel in Dublin in 2012, and this year will support depression charity AWARE.
Presenters this year include Keith Shanley on Breakfast and Enda Caldwell on mid-mornings. Extra FM coverage will be provided in the north Midlands and North East.
Enda Caldwell told RadioToday: “It’s all for a very good cause too in supporting AWARE who in turn work with those suffering from depression in Ireland which at the moment a real “Elephant in the room” of Irish society so it will be great to be publicising their efforts daily and in a fun and interesting way helping people get through what can be a very difficult time of the year for all the fun and celebration that surrounds Christmas Time.”
Station sponsors include Centra, Vodafone Ireland andthe Irish Daily Mail.
Walter Hegarty, Rudolph’s minder and co-founder of Christmas FM, says: “We are delighted to be back on air for our sixth year, with Centra, Vodafone Ireland and the Irish Daily Mail on board as our sponsors. This year, we are looking forward to bringing lots of Christmas cheer to listeners while also raising awareness and money for our charity partner Aware. Since we began broadcasting five years ago, we have raised in excess of €500,000 for charity, which is a wonderful achievement for everyone involved in the initiative.”
Over 50,000 people Like the station on Facebook.