A Christian group, which includes a former director-general of RTE and a former president of the GAA, is to apply to the Independent Radio and Television Commission for an AM broadcasting licence. The licence was recently advertised by the IRTC, with a closing date of January 19th.
Solas AM includes among its directors Mr Oliver Moloney, former director-general of RTE and chairman of the group; Mr Jack Boothman, former president of the GAA; Mr Michael Carroll, former director of radio at RTE; broadcaster Mr Liam Nolan and businessman Mr Declan Cronin.
Mr Carroll said that the group was ecumenical in outlook, with Mr Boothman representing the Church of Ireland. Discussions are planned with the Presbyterian and Methodist churches. The group intends to accommodate the interests of other religions also.
The station would have studios at Newtownpark Avenue, Blackrock, Co Dublin, on a site donated by the Disciples of the Divine Master order. It would provide a broad-based service with about 75 per cent speech content and music which would be spiritual/religious. It would also broadcast news and current affairs programmes and religious services.
In the expectation that an FM slot would be awarded for religious broadcasting, an interdenominational group was formed last year by the then spokesman for the Dublin archdiocese, Father John Dardis. Dr Kenneth Milne, of the Church of Ireland, was also involved, and discussions took place with the Presbyterian and Methodist churches. However, that group lost interest when the IRTC announced that the licence would be for broadcasting on the AM wave band only.
Mr Carroll acknowledged the inadequacy of AM, but said that the group had taken the view of "let's get on air". They hope the IRTC may yet allocate an FM slot to such a station, particularly when digital broadcasting becomes more available.
The station would be funded by "appropriate advertising", private donation and public subscription. The group recently launched a fund-raising campaign. It is estimated that the set-up costs would be about £750,000, with annual running costs of £500,000.
