Christmas FM
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2020}}
{{Use Hiberno-English|date=April 2014}}
{{independent sources|date=May 2025}}
{{Infobox radio station
| name = Christmas FM
| country = Ireland
| city = Dublin
| branding = The Magic of Christmas
| logo = Christmas_FM_Ireland_logo.png
| logo_size = 200px
| logo_alt = Ireland's Christmas Station — Christmas FM — Bringing you the Magic of Christmas
| sister_stations = Halloween FM, Sound of Ireland, Rewind DAB+
| airdate = November 2008
| frequency = Various
| rds = XMAS
| area = Ireland
| language = English
| format = Christmas Music
| subchannels = {{ubl|Christmas FM Classics| Christmas FM Classical}}
| network = Radiohub
| website = [https://christmasfm.com/ christmasfm.com]
}}
Christmas FM is a seasonal radio station based in Ireland dedicated to Christmas-themed music, billed as "Ireland's Christmas Station". Airing during the Christmas season, it is a temporary licensed station, traditionally broadcasting from 28 November until 27 December since 2008. The station streams over the internet and maintains social media presence.jjk
History
It began broadcasting in Dublin in 2008. Cork was added in 2009. Limerick, Galway and the South East of Ireland were added in 2010.{{cite web|url = http://www.mecglobal.ie/news-desk/mec-news/christmas-fm-the-charity-seasonal-radio-station-now-in-its-third-year/ | website = mecglobal.ie | title = Christmas FM, the charity seasonal radio station now in its third year | archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20131203061543/http://www.mecglobal.ie/news-desk/mec-news/christmas-fm-the-charity-seasonal-radio-station-now-in-its-third-year/ |archive-date=3 December 2013 }} With the inclusion of an additional transmitter, Kildare was added in 2011 and 2012. In 2013, transmitters were added in the North Midlands, in the North East and in North Wicklow.
In 2018 the station broadcast network was in Sligo 95.0, Dublin 105.2, Cork 106.7, Galway 87.7, Naas 88.1, South East 103.8, Nth East 99.4, Nth Midlands 101.6, Kilkenny 104.3, Wicklow 106.6, Nth Wicklow 99.5, Limerick 105.5, Ennis/Clare 105.2, Letterkenny 105.7, Kllarney/Tralee 105.0.
The format is music driven with the addition of Christmas-themed content, billed as trying to bring the 'Magic of Christmas'.{{cite web|url= http://entertainment.ie/music/news/Christmas-FM-song-contest-voting-open-to-the-public-on-Saturday/156853.htm | website =entertainment.ie | title = Christmas FM song contest voting open to the public on Saturday}} As a temporary licensed station it does not carry commercial advertising but does have both on-air and online sponsors to cover operational costs each year.
Dunnes Stores and Cadbury were the main sponsors of the station for 2017, and in 2018 Coca-Cola joined these two main sponsors.
Charity work
The station has chosen charity partners in each of its broadcast years with the objective of raising awareness and funds for the partner. Funds are raised through a mixture of premium SMS, on-line and in-branch donation. 100% of listener donations go directly to the chosen charity. Charity partners are listed below:
- 2008: ISPCC, raising €35,000{{cite web |title=Our History |url=https://christmasfm.com/our-history/ |website=Christmas FM |ref=history}}
- 2009: Simon Communities Dublin and Cork, raising €70,000
- 2010: Barnardos, raising €86,000
- 2011: Focus Ireland, raising €117,000
- 2012: ISPCC/Childline,{{Cite web |url=http://www.ispcc.ie/news-media/past-press-releases/press-releases-2012/childline-1212-calls-texts-and-messages-from-children-and-young-people-on-christmas-day/3070 |title=Childline: 1,212 calls, texts and messages from children on Christmas Day |access-date=14 November 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203023449/http://www.ispcc.ie/news-media/past-press-releases/press-releases-2012/childline-1212-calls-texts-and-messages-from-children-and-young-people-on-christmas-day/3070 |archive-date=3 December 2013 |url-status=dead }} raising €100,000
- 2013: Aware{{cite web|title=Christmas FM|url=http://www.christmasfm.com/|accessdate=28 November 2013 | website = Christmas FM }} raising €85,000
- 2014: Age Action, raising €107,000
- 2015: Make-A-Wish Foundation, raising €278,000
- 2016: Focus Ireland, raising €365,000{{cite news |last1=Russell |first1=Cliodhna |title=Christmas FM raised more than €360,000 for Focus Ireland |url=https://www.thejournal.ie/christmas-fm-raise-funds-focus-ireland-3179168-Jan2017/ |accessdate=6 November 2019 |work=The Journal |date=10 January 2017}}
- 2017: Sightsavers Ireland, raising €214,000{{cite web |title=€214,000 raised for Sightsavers in 2017 |url=https://christmasfm.com/together-raised-e214000-sightsavers-providing-5000-people-sight-restoring-operations/ |website=Christmas FM |accessdate=6 November 2019}}{{cite web |title=Christmas FM listeners fund thousands of sight-saving operations |url=https://www.sightsavers.org/news/2018/02/christmas-fm-listeners-fund-operations/ |website=Sightsavers |accessdate=6 November 2019}}{{cite news |last1=O'Brien |first1=Cillian |title=Christmas FM raised more than €200,000 for Sightsavers |url=https://www.irishmirror.ie/news/irish-news/christmas-fm-raised-more-200000-11824881 |accessdate=6 November 2019 |work=Irish Mirror |date=9 January 2018}}
- 2018: Temple Street Children's University Hospital, raising €404,551{{cite web |title=Christmas FM raises over €400,000 in 2018 |url=https://christmasfm.com/christmas-fm-raises-over-e400000-for-temple-street-childrens-university-hospital/ |website=Christmas FM |accessdate=6 November 2019}}{{cite news |last1=Hanratty |first1=Dave |title=Christmas FM raises over €400,000 for Temple Street Children's Hospital |url=https://www.joe.ie/news/christmas-fm-temple-street-childrens-hospital-400000-euro-655254 |accessdate=6 November 2019 |work=Joe.ie |publisher=Joe.ie}}{{cite news |title=Christmas FM raises over €400k for Temple Street Children's Hospital |url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/discover/christmas-fm-raises-over-400k-for-temple-street-childrens-hospital-898223.html |accessdate=6 November 2019 |work=Irish Examiner |date=17 January 2019}}
- 2019: Barretstown, raising €412,021 {{cite web | url=https://christmasfm.com/thanks-for-helping-us-raise-e412021-for-barretstown/ | title=Thanks for helping us raise €412,021 for Barretstown! | work = Christmas FM }}
- 2020: ALONE, raising €284,000{{cite web|url=https://christmasfm.com/christmas-fm-announces-alone-as-official-charity-partner-for-2020/|title=Christmas FM announces ALONE as official charity partner for 2020 |work=Christmas FM |accessdate=12 December 2020}}{{cite web | url=https://christmasfm.com/christmas-fm-raises-e284000-for-alone/ | title=Christmas FM raises €284,000 for ALONE | work = Christmas FM }}
- 2021: Barnardos raising €331.515 {{cite web | url=https://christmasfm.com/christmas-fm-raises-e331515-for-barnardos/ | title=Christmas FM raises €331,515 for Barnardos | work = Christmas FM }}
- 2022 - 2025: The Magic of Christmas Initiative - Barnardos, Barretstown, Make-A-Wish Foundation, {{cite web | url=https://christmasfm.com/themagicofchristmas/ | title=The Magic of Christmas Appeal | work = Christmas FM }}
Christmas FM also operates a song competition in the run up to the broadcast period with the short list being aired for a listener voted winner to be selected.{{cite web|url = http://entertainment.ie/music/news/Christmas-FM-to-return-song-contest-announced/149891.htm | website = entertainment.ie | title = Christmas FM to return, song contest announced]}}
Online stations
Christmas FM also operates two online-only Christmas themed music stations: Christmas FM Classical and Christmas FM Classics.{{cite web|url=https://play.christmasfm.com/classical/|title=Classical Christmas FM|website=Christmas FM|accessdate=5 January 2022}}
Staff
The station is staffed by approximately 100 volunteers and provides a 24-hour service during the license period. The voice-over used in many of Christmas FM's charity promotional appeals since 2008 belonged to Bob Gallico (1930–2013).{{fact|date=May 2025}}
The founders of the station were Paul Shepard, Walter Hegarty, Garvan Rigby and Daragh O'Sullivan. It was conceived by Garvan Rigby. All had previous experience in pirate radio and in temporary licensed stations, with the first two having been among the principals of temporary licensed Premier FM.{{fact|date=May 2025}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{Official|https://christmasfm.com/}}
{{coord missing|Ireland}}