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| Broadcast area | CountiesLouth &Meath |
|---|---|
| Frequencies | 95.5 MHz (Saggart) 95.8 MHz (Mount Oriel) 96.5 MHz (Athboy, Dundalk, Carlingford) |
| Programming | |
| Languages | English, Irish |
| Format | AC/talk |
| Ownership | |
| Owner | |
| History | |
First air date | April 17, 1989[dubious –discuss] |
| Links | |
| Website | lmfm |
LMFM is an independent local radio station based inDrogheda,Ireland. In terms of listenership, It is the largest radio station in Ireland outside ofDublin andCork[2] broadcasting to a population in excess of 300,000 adults. Media group UTV Media, nowNews Broadcasting, bought the station in a deal worth about €10 million in 2005.[3]
LMFM broadcasts on a number of frequencies, the main being either 95.8FM or 95.5FM. The station is licensed by theBroadcasting Authority of Ireland to service both CountiesLouth &Meath. The station also has a strong listenership in countiesDublin,Kildare,Cavan,Monaghan andArmagh inNorthern Ireland. Its 95.5 MHz transmitter is notable significantly outside its franchise area, in County Dublin.
LMFM came to be in 1989 with the awarding of a legal licence to cover the Louth/Meath area. This was obtained by Peter Govern with the assistance of the late Tom Savage of Carr Communications. Independent Media Broadcasting won the licence to provide the service. Most of the on-air staff they went on to hire such as Ray Stone, Eddie Caffrey, Daire Nelson, Dermot Finglas & Michael Gerrard were DJs from thepirate days of Radio Carousel, Telstar Radio and Boyneside Radio.
In 1997 LMFM attempted to attract a larger volume of listeners in the North Dublin & East Meath area by offering an opt-out station with studios in Clonee, County Meath. The new venture was called "Fresh 95.5FM".
LMFM was successful when it reapplied to keep its current licence in 2003 and was again awarded a licence to providing a radio service to the Louth/Meath area. LMFM is currently based in purpose studios inDrogheda, County Louth.
In 2009 it was the centre of controversy when a call-in programme discussed tensions in theDrogheda taxi industry between native Irish andimmigrant African drivers. Kevin Faulkner of the Drogheda Taxi Drivers' Association complained about foreign drivers who "speak little English, don't know the geography of the area, have lost their photographic ID or claim it has been stolen" and that complaints could not be pursued because "they all look much the same to the general public." This led to protests outside the station by African drivers.[4][5]
Centre half forward on that All-Ireland winning team and well known LMFM analyst Mattie Kerrigan acted as MC while members of the team recalled highlights of the tour.
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