Flirt FM

Adapted from Flirt FM website, with thanks

There were the first glimmers of student radio for Galway from the late 80s with the temporary RAG Week “UCG FM”, but the push for a fulltime student radio station for Galway really began in earnest with the founding of a university Radio Society in 1993. The launch of the society happily coincided with the start of Michael D. Higgins’ tenure as Minister with responsibility for broadcasting, as while he was minister he championed community radio in its infancy. At this time an application was made jointly by UCG and Galway RTC (ATU) and 1994-95 was then spent securing the funding and facilities that had been pledged by the two educational establishments and preparing to go on air.

Licensed by the IRTC as part of a pilot scheme in community radio, Flirt FM began broadcasting on 105.6 FM on the 28th of September 1995. One of 11 stations in the scheme, Flirt FM was one of four community of interest stations, all operated by third-level institutions. Billed from the start as ‘radio by students for students’, a competition to name the station was won by future Station Manager Keith Wallace, and “Flirt FM” was accepted by the commission. Backronym or not, Flirt FM stands for Fully Licenced Independent Radio Transmission. During this period, the station celebrated RAG weeks with 24hour live broadcasts.

The station’s first station manager was Andrew Ó Baoill, founder and former auditor of the Radio Society. When he returned to his studies in 1996, he was succeeded by Fiona McNulty, then followed Yvonne Igoe, Keith Wallace, Fiona Ní Lionnáin, Áine Lyne, Ross Cunningham and Paula Healy. Other staff have worked in supporting positions as assistant manager, production manager, head of news or training and outreach officer; Dave Finn, Peter Tiernan, John Walsh, Louise Clarke, Alan Meaney, Padraig McMahon, Eoghan Holland and Heather Hinchon-Quinn.

In 2006 Flirt FM applied for, and were granted, a new ten-year licence and a new frequency – 101.3 FM. The station also moved its transmitter off-campus to Tonabrocky hill, northwest of the city. Broadcast hours rose from 60 to 100 hours per week. Another ten year licence was granted in 2016.

They can be heard across Galway city on 101.3MHz FM 11am to 4am Monday-Friday out of term and 24hours Monday-Friday during term time,

Flirt FM is operated by College Campus Radio DAC with a programme policy that is 60% Music (25% Irish), 40% Talk (20% of which is Current Affairs).

For anoraks, it is home to the excellent Wireless programme.