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This Week's News
IRTS Radio News Bulletin Sunday June 8th, 2025
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Silent Key Monsignor Alan Malone EI3CG
This week, we regret to report the death of Monsignor Alan Malone EI3CG
on May 31st, 2025. We wish to extend our deepest sympathies to his
sister Vera, extended family, and friends. Alan was a former member of
Shannon Basin Radio Club and was laid to rest in Meelick Cemetery in
Co. Galway. Ar dheis D� go raibh a anam. May he rest in peace.
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Successful International Space Station Schools Contact
On Wednesday June the 4th, pupils representing nine Dublin-based DEIS
primary schools spoke live with astronaut Takuya Onishi KF5LKS,
currently serving as commander of the ISS. The event was a great
success and was live streamed globally via the ARISS YouTube channel.
The downlink could be heard live on 145.800MHz across most of Ireland.
Many congratulations to the hard-working team behind this amazing event
who created exciting livelong memories for the children and inspired a
new generation!
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Dundalk Amateur Radio Society (EI7DAR) Annual General Meeting
Dundalk Amateur Radio Society recently held their AGM at their club
house in Marconi House Dundalk Co. Louth last Wednesday on the 4th of
June. Proceedings started with the weekly IRTS North East news
bulletin. It was followed by a minutes-based meeting discussing the
club's repeater network systems, licencing, club finances, and inhouse
equipment upgrades.
The following officers were elected on the night: President Sean
EI4IP, Chairman Anthony EI2KC, Secretary and PRO Damien
EI7LF, Treasurer Jim EI2HJB, IRTS Liaison Officer/QSL Manager Pat
EI2HX, Technical Officer Richard MI3CQR, and Caretaker Ivan EI1166. All
club members thanked the outgoing Chairman, Brian EI8EJB, for his
dedication and hard work for the society over the last number of
years.
The club is planning a number of events in the coming year. Watch this
space for further details. The next Dundalk Amateur Society club
meeting will be held on the 2nd of July 2025.
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Radio Day at TOG Hackerspace
TOG Hackerspace is excited to announce a special event celebrating
their recent membership with the Irish Radio Transmitters Society. They
are hosting a full day dedicated to radio, electronics, and signal
experimentation on Saturday, the 14th of June 2025.
Whether you're a maker curious about what amateur radio is, a licensed
operator interested in digital modes and SDR, or just love to learn how
signals fly through the air, Radio Day at TOG has something for you.
This is a unique day to connect the local radio and tech communities,
explore the fascinating world of wireless communication, and get
hands-on with tools and concepts that are often invisible, yet all
around us. The location is Unit 1B Motor City, Kylemore Road, Dublin
12, D12 CF6V. Tickets are free, but registration is required at tog.ie
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BunkerFest 25
From June 14th to 15th, 2025, history and amateur radio combine at the
first-ever worldwide bunkers on the air event called BunkerFest. This a
worldwide celebration of bunkers and the stories they tell. Over 13
national Bunker on the Air schemes are coming together for a weekend of
non-competitive portable activations and radio fun for WWBOTA. Whether
you're a seasoned operator or a first-time Bunkers on the Air explorer,
there's something for everyone. Hunters, activators and SWLs alike are
invited to join in the excitement. You are invited to
visit
www.wwbota.org/bunke rfest25 for the rules and further
information.
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VHF/Microwave News
The next 145 Alive event takes place on July 20th, 2025, from 12 p.m.
to 3 p.m. local time. If any operators are interested in taking part as
a net control station, please email 145aliveuk /at/ gmail.com to
register. The Sporadic E season is well underway now. Some excellent
propagation conditions have been recorded on the bands above 30MHz
especially on the 6m band and extending well above the 2m band in
recent days. It was also noted that automatic identification system
signals on 162MHz from marine traffic almost 2000km away off the coast
of Italy were received in EI. If you are able, it is a good time to
dust off your VHF equipment and have a go on the bands.
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Abbey Theatre stage a play inspired by amateur radio
This summer, the Abbey Theatre in Dublin is bringing the world of ham
radio to the stage with their new play called Static. The Peacock stage
will be transformed for an interstellar voyage with a Donegal layover
in Jimmy McAleavey's Static, directed by John King. This thrilling
world premiere which explores an astronaut's chance connection with a
Donegal radio operator over the airwaves is at the Abbey Theatre from
the 20th of June until the 18th of July.
This play is inspired by events at the end of the Soviet Union when a
radio operator in Donegal made contact with a cosmonaut on Mir. Jimmy
McAleavey has been developing this story about human connection and its
challenges since then. The Abbey Theatre is delighted to offer all of
the IRTS community 10% off tickets with the discount code Static2025.
Tickets are on sale at www.abbeytheatre.ie or or via the box office
which can be contacted by phone at 01 87 87 222. We hope you enjoy the
show!
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Contest and Events
The IRTS CW field day runs until 15:00 UTC today, Sunday June 8th. The
deadline for logs is June 22nd and they should be sent to the IRTS
contest manager via email to contestmanager /at/ irts.ie
The next IRTS field day focuses on the VHF and UHF bands. It will run
over the weekend of July 5th and 6th. Five separate contests take place
on each of the 6m, 4m, 2m, 70cm, and 23cm bands. Further details
including the rules may be found at www.irts.ie/contests
On Wednesday June 11th, the next RSGB 3.5MHz Club Championship Contest
takes place from 19:00 UTC to 20:30 UTC using CW.
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Items for Inclusion in Next Week's Radio News
That is the news for this week. Thanks to everyone for sending items
into the weekly IRTS radio news. They are very much appreciated and are
a great way to update the rest of the community about activities. If
you have any club events, activities, meetings, or other items of
interest, you are very welcome to email newsteam /at/ irts.ie with the
details. These will be automatically forwarded to the IRTS radio and
printed news services. The deadline each week is midnight on Thursdays.
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News Archives
IRTS Radio News Bulletin Sunday June 8th, 2025