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Tralee Town Welcomes You!


Tralee Town Radio Station Launched!

R2K Comes On Air

If you're living in the Tralee area then you'll be interested to know that there is a brand new radio station based in Tralee and it's called R2K.

Broadcasting on 96.2FM, (Radio Kerry's Tralee transmitter), R2K, Kerry's brand new music station for 15 - 24 year olds, was launched in Tralee on Friday, 21st April 2000. The station will initially be available only in the greater Tralee area from Monday to Friday between 6pm and midnight.

Paul Sheehan, General Manager, Radio Kerry, with DJ Kieran Horan (seated) all ready to go at the launch of R2K

Paul Sheehan, General Manager, Radio Kerry, with DJ Kieran Horan (seated) all ready to go at the launch of R2K

Speaking at the launch, Radio Kerry's general manager, Paul Sheehan, said that it is a very exciting time for the station with R2K providing the building blocks for the future audience of Radio Kerry. He said that with increased competition for this audience, from Today FM and 2FM, the need to be proactive in reaching them has become a priority and that provides the perfect local antidote to the loss of 15 to 24 year olds to national competitors.

Results of JNLR/MRBI 2000 and private research, have indicated increases in the number of 15 - 24 year olds listening to Radio Kerry, with an average 36% of this group tuning to the station between 6 and 12pm nightly. The decision to launch R2K in Tralee is due to the fact that it is the centre of greatest population in this age group, with the existence of six second-level chools and the Institute of Technology.

DJ Pat Cunnane presenting his first 'Outer Limits' programme on R2K on FridayThe R2K logo combines youthful exuberance with the traditional radio bands binding old and new for a fresh look and sound.Eileen Fitzgerald hard at work on the phones at the launch of R2K on launch night
DJ Pat Cunnane presenting his first 'Outer Limits' programme on R2K on launch night. The R2K logo combines youthful exuberance with the traditional radio bands binding old and new for a fresh look and sound. Eileen Fitzgerald hard at work on the phones at the launch of R2K on launch night.

R2K programming will be targetted specifically at the 15 - 24 year old age bracket with a mixture of music and talk in a series of three two-hour programmes. The music policy aims to cover local, national and international acts. Speech programming will cover issues relevant to this age group such as accommodation tips and availability for college students, local and national entertainment news, study tips, financial and career advice, etc.

Kieran Horan will present two programmes: from 6 - 8pm he will play a selection from the latest Top 40 singles and album charts in "Cruise Control", and he will follow this later with his popular "Into the Night" programme. Pat Cunnane, a former Radio Kerry favourite, will then bring his own eccentric and alternative mixture of music to the discerning R2K listener from 8 - 10pm nightly in the "Outer Limits".


For the record:

  • The very first competition winner on R2K was Tracy McGough, Oakpark, Tralee.
  • The very first studio guests on R2K were on Pat Cunnane's programme; Simon Renardson, Billy Harney and Jason Looney (all from Tralee).
  • The very first voice on the switchboard on R2K handling the hundreds of calls on launch night was Eileen Fitzgerald, Tralee.
R2K can be contacted through the Radio Kerry studios, Maine St., Tralee
Tel: (066) 71 23667
Fax: (066) 71 23467
Web:
www.radiokerry.ie

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