Ireland's Classic Hits Radio is an Irish independent multi-region radio station based in Dublin, and broadcasting to that city as well as Cork, Limerick, Galway, County Clare, County Wicklow, County Kildare, County Meath. It can also be picked up in parts of County Kerry, County Tipperary, County Waterford, County Wexford and County Mayo.[1]
 | |
| Broadcast area | Greater Dublin, County Cork, County Limerick, County Clare and Galway |
|---|---|
| Frequency | 94.9 FM (Dublin) 94.8 FM (Cork) 94.6–97.4 MHz, 104.2–104.9 MHz |
| RDS | CLASSIC |
| Programming | |
| Language(s) | English |
| Format | Adult contemporary/classic hits |
| Ownership | |
| Owner | Choice Broadcasting Ltd |
| History | |
First air date | 27 February 2009 |
Former names | 4FM, Classic Hits 4FM |
| Links | |
| Webcast | Listen Live |
| Website | classichits |
The station broadcasts under a sound broadcasting contract from the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland, aimed at Ireland's four main commuter belts, hence its original name of "4FM". It later went by "Classic Hits 4FM", dropping the "4FM" part in 2018 and becoming Ireland's Classic Hits Radio in 2021.[1][2]
The station is part of Bay Broadcasting Limited, which also has interests in Radio Nova and Sunshine 106.8.
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Programming
Ireland's Classic Hits's slogan is The Home of The 80s and 90s and it has mainly adult contemporary/classic hits focused driven format with music from the 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, and 2000s, with occasional songs from the 2010s and small amounts of classic country and hot adult contemporary titles.
The station's flagship breakfast show, The Colm & Lucy Breakfast Show, is presented by Colm Hayes and Lucy Kennedy with other presenters including Trina Mara, Niall Boylan, Damien Farrelly, Gareth O'Callaghan, Ruth Scott, Adrian Kennedy, Barry Lang, Enda Murphy, Lisa Gernon and Meghann Scully. Niall Boylan hosts two daily phone-in shows from 12:00-14:00 and 21:00-23:00. The show won the best talk show award at the New York Festivals International Radio Program Awards Gala in June 2017.
A four-hour drivetime show is hosted by former 2FM presenter Damian Farrelly.
The station has a commitment to regularly playing Irish music, which it promotes under the slogan Guaranteed Irish. A specialist Irish-language programme is hosted on Sunday nights by Meghann Scully.
Additional specialist programming includes the twice-daily segment Classic Song Investigation, Classic Love Songs and Club Classics
In 2021 the station announced that Kim Wilde would present a custom version of 'The Kim Wilde 80s Show' each weekday evening at 6pm. In addition, the station announced the return of broadcaster Gareth O'Callaghan to its schedule in January 2022.
Programming is broadcast from its digital studios located at Castleforbes House in Dublin's Docklands area.
Former Presenters
The breakfast show was previously presented by PJ and Damien Farrelly, before that Jim McCabe and originally Gareth O'Callaghan.
Awards
| Year | Recipient/Nominated work | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | Classic Hits 4FM | PPI Radio Awards Community/Social Action | Gold |
| 2012 | Classic Hits 4FM | PPI Radio Awards Station Imaging | Bronze |
| 2015 | The Niall Boylan Show | PPI Radio Awards Interactive Speech Programme | Gold |
| 2012 | The Niall Boylan Show | New York Radio Awards Human Interest | Silver |
| 2013 | Classic Hits 4FM | New York Radio Awards Community Service | Bronze |
| 2013 | The Niall Boylan Show | New York Radio Awards Best Scheduled Talk Show | Bronze |
| 2014 | Niall Boylan | New York Radio Awards Speech Broadcaster of the Year | Silver |
| 2013 | Classic Hits 4FM | The Love Radio Awards Best Radio Station Ad (National) | Silver |
| 2013 | Classic Hits 4FM | The Love Radio Awards Best Government/Public Sector | Silver |
| 2013 | Classic Hits 4FM | The Love Radio Awards Best Retail | Silver |
| 2013 | Classic Hits 4FM | The Love Radio Awards Best Radio Station Ad (National) | Gold |
| 2014 | Classic Hits 4FM | The Love Radio Awards Best Motor Trade | Gold |
| 2014 | Classic Hits 4FM | The Love Radio Awards Best Radio Station Ad (National) | Bronze |
| 2014 | Classic Hits 4FM | The Love Radio Awards Best Radio Station Ad (National) | Gold |
| 2014 | Classic Hits 4FM | The Love Radio Awards Best Radio Station Ad (National) | Silver |
| 2016 | Classic Hits 4FM | The Love Radio Awards Best Motor Trade | Silver |
Frequencies
Cork
| Frequency | Transmitter | Service area | Power |
|---|---|---|---|
| 94.8 MHz | Farmer's Cross | Cork City and SE Cork | 1.6 kW |
| 94.8 MHz | Seskin (Bantry) | Bantry and SW Cork | N/A |
| 95.2 MHz | Fermoy | Fermoy | 0.1 kW |
| 95.4 MHz | Nowen Hill | West Cork | 5 kW |
| 97.2 MHz | Youghal | Youghal | 0.1 kW |
| 97.4 MHz | Bweeng Mountain | North Cork, North East Cork and parts of South and East Limerick | 2.5 kW |
| 97.4 MHz | Carrigaline | Carrigaline, Crosshaven, Cobh and surrounding areas | 0.1 kW |
Limerick/Clare
| Frequency | Transmitter | Service area | Power |
|---|---|---|---|
| 104.2 MHz | Woodcock Hill | Limerick City and County | 5 kW |
| 104.6 MHz | Maghera | County Clare, parts of County Limerick, County Galway and some parts of County Kerry and parts of County Mayo | 50 kW |
Galway
| Frequency | Transmitter | Service area | Power |
|---|---|---|---|
| 104.2 MHz | Clifden | West Galway | 1 kW |
| 104.9 MHz | Tonabrocky | Galway city, parts of County Mayo and surrounding areas | 10 kW |
| 95.1 MHz | Redmount Hill | East Galway and surrounding areas. Commencement date: June 2024 | 1 kW |
Greater Dublin
| Frequency | Transmitter | Service area | Power |
|---|---|---|---|
| 94.6 MHz | Saggart Hill | Commuter belt areas of north County Kildare and east County Meath | 0.5 kW |
| 94.9 MHz | Three Rock Mountain | Dublin city and county | 1.5 kW |
| 94.6 MHz | Bray Head | Bray, Greystones and North Wicklow | 0.2 kW |
| 94.1 MHz | Balbriggan | Balbriggan, Skerries, Laytown, Bettystown, Rush and North County Dublin | 0.2 kW |