The street lights are up, the shop window displays are at full-tilt, and now the airwaves have been invaded by yuletide cheer.

Christmas FM, Ireland’s only dedicated Christmas radio station, went on air in Dublin (100.3FM), Cork (106.7FM) and online this week for the second year running. The station will broadcast a mixture of Christmas songs and chat

24 hours a day under a temporary licence until December 28th. It hopes to raise more than €35,000 for the Simon Community through online donations, texts and corporate sponsorship.

What’s more, the station is also running a nationwide song contest to find the best original Christmas ditty. The gauntlet was thrown down to musicians in October. A panel of judges (including yours truly) whittled down the entries to five songs, which will be unveiled today on www.christmasfm.ie.

The shortlisted songs will be played on the station and made available online this weekend, and listeners can vote for their favourite by text before the winner is announced next Wednesday.

Joint programme director Daragh O’Sullivan said that musicians had risen to the challenge with aplomb.

“We’re now calling on the public and Christmas FM’s listeners to join in the festive spirit by texting in and by doing so, helping the Simon Communities of Dublin and Cork.”