Limerick city and county continues to receive Radio 95FM, which had its licence withdrawn by the Independent Radio and Television Commission from July 31st. The local radio station, which broadcasts national and local news as well as obituaries, as it has always done, is now operating on 99FM.
The local radio station, according to its chief executive, Mr Gerard Madden, is broadcasting legally on the Astra satellite on the FM band under a licence granted by the British authorities.
"The fact that it is being rebroadcast locally on the FM band has nothing to do with me," said Mr Madden, a local businessman. The service on the Astra satellite has always been available to anyone with a satellite service, he said.
Mr Madden said his company has applied to the Department of Communications for a licence to rebroadcast on the UHF television band.
The independent radio licence for Limerick has now been granted to Limerick 2000 Broadcasting Group. This is headed by the Cranberries business management team of Mr P.J. O'Riordan, Delores O'Riordan's brother, and Mr Alan McEvoy of Artwest Business Management.
A spokesman for the IRTC said: "The future of Radio Limerick 95 is now out of the hands of the commission." However, a warning was given by the Office of the Director of Telecommunications Regulation to those broadcasting into the FM waveband that they are breaking the law and can be prosecuted.
Limerick 2000 Broadcasting Group has as its chairman Mr James Deegan, senior lecturer in economics and director of the National Centre for Tourism Policy Studies at the University of Limerick. Its list of advisers includes the comedy group, d'Unbelievables; Sister Joan Bowles, a sociologist; Ms Barbara Hartigan, an artist; and Father Joe Young, Southill.