Kildare's new radio station, KFM, has been told it can begin broadcasting on February 1st after a recent legal battle with CKR and the Broadcasting Commission of Ireland (BCI) was resolved.
CKR has withdrawn its appeal to the Supreme Court and will be permitted to continue broadcasting until January 2004.
The settlement came after an agreement was reached between the BCI and CKR regarding a Supreme Court appeal on the awarding of licences for the franchises in the Kildare and Carlow/Kilkenny areas to KFM and KCLR FM.
KFM said in a recent statement that it was "extremely pleased that the closure has been achieved in the legal proceedings between CKR and the BCI".
KFM chairman Mr Billy Mulhern said the station "will provide the people of Co Kildare with a very innovative and entertaining radio service".
KFM, Kildare's first local station was awarded the sound broadcasting licence for Kildare in October 2002 but was unable to begin broadcasting, as hoped, last September.
The station was awarded a broadcasting licence following a competition that saw KFM competing with bidders backed by companies such as UTV and Radio Kerry.
KFM will broadcast from a purpose-built broadcast centre in Naas, Co Kildare. Up to 20 people will initially be employed by the company. This figure is expected to rise to around 40.