Four groups apply to run new radio station

JANUARY 1989

FOUR groups apply for a licence to run the area’s new radio station. One, involving four Dundalk businessmen, wants to locate the station here.

The Independent Radio and Television Commission announces the four candidates for the franchise for Louth/Meath.

The Dundalk-based bid is in the name of Fergus McArdle, accountant and principal in the firm of Kearney, McArdle & Co., Crowe Street.

He is joined by Eamonn Hiney, Peter Quinn, Eugene Caulfield and a Drogheda builder, Peter Govern.

Mr McArdle’s brothers, Frank and Harry, are involved in another application, that of Louth/Meath radio fronted by Dunleer’s Dónal Kinsella, and also backed by Drogheda accountant, Liam Muldoon and solicitor, Vincent Hoey.

The county’s two former ‘pirate’ stations, Boyneside and Telstar, closed by new legislation, are involved in an application by Town County Radio, which includes Michael Comyn; John Keenan, Bellingham Castle and former owner of Telstar; Concepta McDonnell, wife of Eoibhan McDonnell, former owner of Boyneside; Drogheda Community Services and Drogheda businessman, Joe Keely.

A fourth bid by Community Communications Ltd. is in the name of Jack Davis, managing director of ‘ The Meath Chronicle’, with some fringe participation by other local newspapers.

The commission will adjudicate on the applications in the coming weeks and the new station should be on the air by the middle of summer or the autumn.

All four bids will be examined and the commission may decide to call applicants to give evidence.

The studio will be located in either Dundalk, Drogheda or Navan.