Freedom FM

maniac2003 · 10-09-2021 6:39am #1

Congrats to all at freedom FM ahead of going national on the 18th.

A station thats ingrained in my youth best of luck to all the folks there for what I'm sure is going to be a great success.

10-09-2021 9:06am

Not really national, only Dublin,Cork,Galway and Limerick.Nothing for the southeast,southwest and northwest!

Lord Nelson · 10-09-2021 10:22pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117871292#Comment_117871292

Hardly surprising in fairness. Every TX site incurs rental cost as well as a transmitter, antenna array, STL, installation and derigging. Also, the PPI charge a fee per site so it all mounts up and becomes quite costly. Probably not easy to find sponsors to cover the cost of a 30 day licence in the absence of a large promotion/PR campaign?

Fair play to all involved, if it’s even half as good as the original we should be in for a treat!!

Losty Dublin · 11-09-2021 4:44pm

Freedom are using sites that have or will be used for other multi region temporary operators. As LN has said, it's pricey stuff for a lot of reasons and it can't be done with the old Veronica tin box transmitters that were commonly used during the 90's.

Anyhow, they are streaming online which some posters like to tell us is the only way to do it and that it's killing FM altogether and it's only a matter of time before FM is a dead duck 🤪

Declan A Walsh · 12-09-2021 5:49pm

As soon as a schedule is released, could somebody put it up here? It will be interesting to see how many former Freedom FM presenters from its pirate days will be on it. I would imagine that those involved with its current online version will feature for starters. A few Freedom FM presenters were in the lineup for the recent temporary license run for Easy Radio - I would say that they will be involved with this.

Losty Dublin · 12-09-2021 8:44pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117881710#Comment_117881710

Virtually all of the old crew will feature at some stage over the 30 days; I only know of one who definitely won't be involved. However, between full time jobs and time zones (A few are based in North America.) and devoted spouses and kids and general old age 👳 a formal schedule will be a day or two away.

Former Former Former · 13-09-2021 1:52pm

Has anyone a link to any info on this?

Losty Dublin · 13-09-2021 5:15pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117885268#Comment_117885268

Information about the station receiving a licence is up on their Facebook page along with some photos. Their website should be updated ahead of the weekend.

13-09-2021 6:37pm

How does one go about getting one of these temporary licences from the bai ? Is there much red tape involved? I think the original idea for 4fm evolved from a temp station in the mid 00s called Choice FM

JethroC · 15-09-2021 9:51am

https://www.limerickleader.ie/news/tv---radio/664228/new-radio-station-to-begin-broadcasting-in-limerick.html

DavidJC · 15-09-2021 6:28pm

105.2 in Dublin..

marcbrophy · 16-09-2021 9:15am

It's on air in Limerick this morning on 105.5 🙂

radioguru02 · 17-09-2021 12:26pm

Interesting feature on how the station operates at present etc posted here today, fair play to them for seemingly putting out as much live content as possible during their license term.

https://radioland.org/author/davidrednagle/

Losty Dublin · 17-09-2021 1:28pm

A modest signal this morning in the west Dublin commuter hinterlands.

Losty Dublin · 17-09-2021 1:43pm

A mole inside Freedom House tells me that any decent anorak needs to get the tape deck readied from 11:48AM onwards tomorrow.

You have been warned 😊

Declan A Walsh · 17-09-2021 2:01pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117904275#Comment_117904275

Is it not starting live broadcasts at midnight tonight, i.e. the start of the 18th September?

Losty Dublin · 17-09-2021 2:04pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117904431#Comment_117904431

No.

Ger Roe · 17-09-2021 3:39pm

Listening to the test on 105.2 in Bray - all sounds great. Brilliant to hear Freedom FM jingles on air again.

Best of luck to Sean and the crew, it's good to have you back.

😀

Declan A Walsh · 18-09-2021 8:22pm

I presume that all the presenters so far on the schedule go back to Freedom FM as a pirate, or at the very least its online state since last year. I would be interested if there any new presenters to Freedom in its current run.

At least two of the people involved with Freedom FM were presenters on the recent temporary license run of Easy Radio: Mike O'Brien and Sean Power, aka Simon Davis. At least three of the people involved in Freedom FM were involved with the temporary license runs for The 90s Network: Mike O'Brien, Ralph McGarry and Greg Browne. Mike O'Brien also turned up on Heartbeat's only temporary license run, and he was involved with a couple of temp. licenses for youth-oriented stations outside Dublin. Busy man!

I am also pretty sure that Greg Browne turned up for the last temporary license of Premier FM in the '00s.

Incidentally, that 105.2 Dublin frequency is pretty powerful - I could pick it up loud and clear this evening in Drogheda!

Declan A Walsh · 19-09-2021 7:52pm

Further to my previous post, Paul Duffy, aka Paul Dee, was one of the operators of The 90s Network, along with Mike O'Brien. Paul also was a presenter on the recent Easy Radio temporary license run. Robbie Dunbar and Wayne Scales were also presenters on The 90s Network for its temporary license runs. Basically, there's a lot of crossover with Freedom FM!

onmia · 19-09-2021 8:09pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117912715#Comment_117912715

They all were involved with the original Freedom 92Fm and have a genuine love of all things radio.

Declan A Walsh · 19-09-2021 8:17pm

Here are a few former Freedom FM presenters from its pirate days, which, judging by its schedule, do not seemed to be involved with its temporary license run: Ronan Scanlan, Tony MacNamara, Fergal Rigby, Gareth Skelly and Jason Dee - the latter was involved with The 90s Network.

onmia · 19-09-2021 8:21pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117909380#Comment_117909380

Yes , New presenters added to the station line up before the Fm run and more to come.

Siobhan O'Connor

Emma Ryan

Oisín Langan

Adrienne O'Hora

To Name a few

Declan A Walsh · 20-09-2021 11:23am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117912838#Comment_117912838

It's interesting to see Oisin Langan getting involved. He used to be a commentator and reporter for Off the Ball (Newstalk and Today FM), and is currently a commentator and reporter for BBC Northern Ireland. Along the way, he had the same role for Setanta Sports. His involvement with Freedom FM as a presenter is quite a change for him.

Declan A Walsh · 21-09-2021 2:33pm

Some more info about Ralph McGarry, courtesy of the website: temporary licensed youth based radio stations in west Wicklow, Kildare and south west Dublin during the noughties, consulted on the set up of a temporary arts based station in Cork in 2007.

Declan A Walsh · 21-09-2021 3:50pm

Dublin pirate Sugar FM emerged from the ashes of Freedom FM, after it closed down as a pirate. Sugar FM was around from its initial test transmissions in October 2003 until it called it a day in July 2004. A number of ex-Freedom FM presenters from that time, and involved with its current run, were on Sugar FM. They include: Andy Walker, Simon Davis, Paul Duffy, Mike O'Brien, Elaine Kane, Louise Scott, Refiq, Wayne Scales and Al Murray. The latter was one of the station owners.

zoobizoo · 22-09-2021 8:03am

It's a breath of fresh air...

I heard Stakka Bo on the radio for the first time in 20 years.

The other day I heard Darius's "Colour Blind" which went to No 1 (according to Wikipedia) which I hadn't heard since it came out.

Nice mix of music from the era without relying on the hits from the year.

Declan A Walsh · 22-09-2021 5:05pm

Many of those in the current lineup have dabbled in pure dance pirates: Darren Stevens, Al Murray, Mike O'Brien, Vinny S, Ronan Devitt, Greg Browne, Chris Ryan, Rafiq and Ryan Philips.

I did not realise that Cork's 96FM's Keith Cunningham, aka KC, was with Freedom FM at one stage during its pirate era.

tinytobe · 25-09-2021 10:12am

Part of the music played on Freedom FM sounds a bit like the former "Atlantic 252" to me. Lot's of 90ies dance from the Celtig Tiger area.

Declan A Walsh · 27-09-2021 2:00pm

When you go into their website now, a message is displayed saying "This Account has been suspended." Any ideas why?

ford fiesta · 27-09-2021 4:52pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117936798#Comment_117936798

the celtic tiger era was not really in the 1990's

Declan A Walsh · 27-09-2021 5:13pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117945774#Comment_117945774

It's okay now.

I mentioned in a previous post about the presenters who turned up on dance pirates. Another one from the current lineup is Adrienne O'Hora. She has also been a presenter on temporary-licensed (and online) Christmas FM.

There are some in the lineup who have been involved with oldies pirates. They include Mike O'Brien with Breeze FM - '00s pirate playing '90s music, Al Murray with Pirate FM last year and Louise Jordan with Non Stop Nineties a few years ago.

onmia · 27-09-2021 5:26pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117945774#Comment_117945774

Nothing to worry about , this will be resolved shortly , we have had to change servers due to demand. This results in DNS delays which will be resolved shortly.

Trebor176 · 29-09-2021 8:57pm

I am really enjoying the station. Not only am I hearing songs that I haven't heard on the radio in ages, but I am also hearing tracks that I never heard before. I am glad that the artist and song title come up as a song is playing. It means I can jot down the names, if I have been unsure before.

Losty Dublin · 30-09-2021 1:23pm

My mole that lives inside of Freedom House was onto me last night. She says that there's a rumour a brewing that the rascals in Freedom are planning an OB real soon. I'd take this one seriously; such a party will surely be hopping....

30-09-2021 4:37pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117946558#Comment_117946558

They say the real Celtic Tiger was 1994 to 2001, the fake Celtic Tiger based on a property bubble was 2002 to 2007.

Losty Dublin · 08-10-2021 11:41pm

My mole was back onto me this evening. She says that there's one more OB lined up for next Saturday. No word on the location yet but apparently Aidan Power will be live on eyre for it.....

maniac2003 · 10-10-2021 9:47am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117996152#Comment_117996152

Ob from candyland in galway I think

thejuggler · 10-10-2021 12:14pm

The playlist could do with some pruning IMO. Have tuned in at various times and every 3rd or 4th song seems quite obscure. There were plenty of radio friendly hits in the 90s and 00s to choose from.

maniac2003 · 11-10-2021 10:08am

I like the obscureness it sets them aside from the others

LiveRadio.ie · 11-10-2021 10:18am

If Freedom FM is not available in your town, listen to it online 24/7 https://www.liveradio.ie/stations/freedom-fm

11-10-2021 10:43am

You can never please everyone, I remember when 4fm opened some people were saying that the music they were playing was too old while others were saying it was too new. When 2fm had older presenters and played music going back to the 60s, most people were saying it should become a proper youth station and target Spin/Iradio/Beat listeners, when Dan Healy took over the running of the station and filled it up with ex Iradio/Spin presenters, most people started saying that 2fm should go Golden oldies and forget about the crowded youth market.

RINO87 · 13-10-2021 12:06pm

I'm really enjoying this. The playlist very much reminds me of 2fm growing up! Picking up loud and clear in north tipp from Galway on 87.9 Reception from Limerick on 105.5 not great even tho it's a lot closer, but i guess the Silvermines are in the way.

Declan A Walsh · 13-10-2021 4:26pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117912820#Comment_117912820

Here are two more names from its pirate days that I don't think are involved this time: Sarah Baybay and Robbie Chase.

Glaceon · 17-10-2021 11:28pm

And it’s gone! Last song they played in full was Angels by Robbie Williams. I think their breakdown tape tried to kick in after that because after a few seconds of silence, SOS by Rihanna played for a bit then stopped. Then Greatest Day by Take That played for a few seconds too. I’ll miss it, was a real breath of fresh air on FM. I enjoyed the obscurity because I heard a lot of stuff that I hadn’t heard for years or had forgotten about completely.

brianregan09 · 18-10-2021 5:06pm

Any reason why it's gone ?

thejuggler · 18-10-2021 5:13pm

Their 30 day license period ended. Available only via the app or website now. I wonder how much the license cost them to put on air? It was a good way to raise awareness and drive listeners to their streaming platforms.

listermint · 18-10-2021 5:13pm

Still streaming on the Net though.

ForestFire · 18-10-2021 5:14pm

Heard it for the first time on Sunday in the car (And the last it seems on FM)

Was just giving an early check out for the XMAS FM Station and its on the same frequency they used last year.

I gather the idea was to always have a brief period on FM to gather an audience and promote the station, but the final idea was always to switch to online steaming, and hope to bring as many people with them??

18-10-2021 5:18pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118037809#Comment_118037809

Think the fee to the Bai for such a licence is about 5k

thejuggler · 18-10-2021 5:24pm

Yes but there are other costs too - rental of transmission sites, rigging and derigging etc. I would think this is substantial. Music rights too.

Freedom FM

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