KFM was set up by Shane Martin and John Brown in the village of Moycullen, County Galway, launching in November 1986.

Test transmissions ran for three weeks with on-air personnel told to remove all UK/Irish songs from the rota and to replace these with American Hits only!
The main studio microphone was disconnected from the console during the test period and the station’s presenters had to wait until the official launch to speak on air. Why?

Word quickly spread around Galway that a new pirate had set up and that it “must be American” because of the American hits only test broadcasts and, as a result, the official launch was a tremendous success.

UK/Irish songs were put back in the rota and on-air personnel were Shane Martin, Barry Williams and Tony Henry.