We asked our community radio broadcasters and friends of the station to put their name into a hat to take part in a one-hour music show call Alpha Beats. It is on Sundays at 3 pm/4 pm and this is Series 4. Drive Time presenters Ciaran Callan and Tony Duffy our Evening Duty Manager drew out the names on Friday 5th February 2021.

What is Alpha Beats?

This is a show with a little difference, as each presenter will be given one letter of the alphabet and they will be asked to come up with 11 or 12 singers, songs or bands that begin with that letter.

So for example, if the letter B is drawn you could be looking for a playlist that includes

Blondie, Billy Holiday, the Beach Boys, Bananarama, the Beatles, Mary Black, Back on the Chain Gang, Broadway, Breathless and so on and on and on…

If you would like to put your name in the hat, for Series 5 – it’s FREE – give us a call at the station 939 5100 or send us an email to info@dundalkfm.com with the header ‘Alpha Beats’.

Alpha Beats SERIES 4
Letter	Sunday	Time	Presenter
A	28 February	3 pm	Orla Crilly
B	7 March	3 pm	Joey McGowan
C	7 March	4 pm	Marian DelDuca
D	14 March	3 pm	Anita Guest
E	14 March	4pm	MaryRose Muckian
F	21 March	3 pm	Pat Hamilton
G	21 March	4 pm	John Englishby
H	28 March	3 pm	Chris Rahill
I	4 April	3 pm	Jason Kelly
J	4 April	4 pm	Pat Byrne
K	11 April	3 pm	Michael Murray
L	11 April	4 pm	Sean Callaghan
M	18 April	3 pm	Dónal Mischo
N	18 April	4 pm	Carole Wardlaw
O	25 April	3 pm	Roy Mackin
P	2 May	3 pm	Gussie Hearty
Q	2 May	4 pm	Daniel Deerey
R	9 May	3 pm	Alan Byrne
S	9 May	4 pm	Cathal McCooey
T	16 May	3 pm	Tony Duffy
U	16 May	4 pm	Dan Pope
V	23 May	3 pm	David Larkin
W	30 May	3 pm	Ciara Byrne
X	6 June	4 pm	Caroline Byrne
Y	6 June	3 pm	Eimear O Kane
Z	13 June	4 pm	Colin Mc Donnell

For presenters recording at home, you can download the theme music and stings on the Alpha Beats show page here.

Good Luck and looking forward to hearing your show on Dundalk FM!

Series 3

2020

Letter	Sundays	Time	Presenter
A	March 1st	3.00 pm	Sean Callaghan
B	March 1st	4.00 pm	Pat Byrne
C	March 8th	3.00 pm	John Englishby
D	March 8th	4.00 pm	Rory Moore
E	March 15th	3.00 pm	Michael Murray
F	March 15th	4.00 pm	Gerry Cunningham
G	March 22nd	3.00 pm	Kathleen Marmion
H	March 22nd	4.00 pm	Philip O Brien
I	March 29th	3.00 pm	Charles Barker
J	March 29th	4.00 pm	Donal Carroll & Margaret Hoey
K	April 5th	3.00 pm	Mark Berkeley
L	April 5th	4.00 pm	Geraldine Kieran
M	April 12th	3.00 pm	Gussie Hearty
N	April 12th	4.00 pm	David Bellew
O	April 19th	3.00 pm	Tara Tine
P	April 19th	4.00 pm	Carole Wardlaw & Eimear O Kane
Q	April 26th	3.00 pm	Marian Del Duca
R	April 26th	4.00 pm	Michael Dowdall
S	May 3rd	3.00 pm	Pat Hamilton
T	May 3rd	4.00 pm	Mary Rose Muckian
U	May 10th	3.00 pm	Mike McMahon
V	May 10th	4.00 pm	Dan Pope
W	May 17th	3.00 pm	Roy Mackin
X	May 17th	4.00 pm	Caroline Byrne
Y	May 24th	3.00 pm	Mary Matthews
Z	May 24th	4.00 pm	Dara Berkeley

Series 2

2019/2020

A	November 24th	3.00 pm	Marissa Lucchesi
B	November 24th	4.00 pm	Jason Kelly
C	tbc	3.00 pm	Peter Kavanagh
D	December 1st	4.00 pm	Martin Trodden
E	December 8th	3.00 pm	Rory Moore
F	tbc	4.00 pm	David Lessard
G	December 15th	3.00 pm	Marian Del Duca
H	December 15th	4.00 pm	Ciara Byrne
I	December 22nd	3.00 pm	Robbie Rafferty
J	December 22nd	4.00 pm	Betty Clarke
K	December 29th	3.00 pm	Marian Del Duca
L	December 29th	4.00 pm	Anita Guest
M	tbc	3.00pm	Ryan O Donnell
N	January 5th	4.00 pm	Ger Cunningham
O	January 12th	3.00 pm	Michael Dowdall
P	January 12th	4.00 pm	Mark Corcoran
Q	January 19th	3.00 pm	Mary Matthews / Eimear O Kane
R	January 19th	4.00 pm	Alison Lennon
S	January 26th	3.00 pm	Hugh McKitterick
T	January 26th	4.00 pm	Gussie Hearty
U	February 2nd	3.00 pm	John Murphy
V	February 2nd	4.00 pm	Tom Gernon
W	February 9th	3.00 pm	Caroline Hughes
X	February 9th	4.00 pm	Brendan Coughlan
Y	February 16th	3.00 pm	Richie Ford
Z	February 16th	4.00 pm	Chris Clarke

Series 1

	Time	Community Radio Broadcaster	Presenter of
A	Aug 18th 3.00 pm	KARL COLLINS	Karl is Rock Steady Rhythms DJ – every Tuesday evening between 7 and 9 and repeated on Saturdays at the same time.
B	Aug 18th 4.00 pm	PAT HAMILTON	Pat was a Board Member for a number of years and is going to give us a musical education with his assigned letter.
C	Aug 25th 3.00 pm	PHILIP O BRIEN	Philip also joined us on an over 50’s course and is a contributor to the Business Brunch, hosts the Monday edition of Town Talk and fills in on the Afternoon Show form time to time.
D	Aug 25th 4.00 pm	MONA DALY	Mona joined us as part of a radio course for over 50’s a few years ago and is now a regular contributor to The Business Brunch.
E	Sept 1st 3.00 pm	CAROLINE & EÓIN BYRNE	Caroline records voice overs for ads and documentaries and will be assisted by her 16 year old son.
F	Sept 1st 4.00 pm	JOHN ENGLISHBY	John’s monthly show Odds and Sods is on the 1st Saturday at 11pm and repeated the following Monday at 8pm. He is also a sound desk op for Outside Broadcasts and soccer matches.
G	Sept 8th 3.00 pm	MARy ROSE MUCKIAN	Marian is our multi talented presenter of Health and Well Being Show, Dundalk Toastmasters and the Drive Time Show on Tuesdays.
H	Sept 8th 4.00 pm	ALAN BYRNE	Alan is the Station Manager and his interests are in training new volunteers and making radio documentaries.
I	Sept 15th 3.00 pm	SEAN CALLAGHAN	Long time presenter, Sean hosts The Beaten Tracks every Tuesday at 6pm and repeated on Saturday at 1pm.
J	Sept 15th 4.00 pm	COLIN GOOSEY MCDONNELL	Saturday afternoon music is provided by Goosey on the first and third Saturday from 2pm with his Brilliant Music radio show.
K	Sept 22nd 3.00 pm	DAVID LARKIN	David is a member of the Dundalk Lion’s Club – At your service programme on Thursdays at 8pm (now off for a Summer break) and he is starting his own Saturday night show. It’s on the 2nd Saturday at 10pm.
L	Sept 22nd 4.00 pm	CATHAL CASSIDY	Cathal is part of the Fadó Fadó Show (Monday at 6pm) and also on The Brunch which broadcast 10am on Saturdays.
M	Sept 29th 3.00 pm	PAUL DONNELLY	Paul is a radio trainee and is interested in News production and programming.
N	Sept 29th 4.00 pm	ANDY MCKENNA	Andy is new to Dundalk FM and has started a show called Saturday Night 80’s which is on the first Saturday at 10pm.
O	Oct 6th 3.00 pm	DONAL CARROLL & MARGARET HOEY	We Rock Your World on the 3rd Saturday at 11pm and Your Song which is on the 4th Saturday at 11pm. Both shows are repeated on the following Monday at 8pm.
P	Oct 6th 4.00 pm	BILLY LYONS	Billy is our Weekend Duty Manager and we are assured that he has a very diverse taste in music.
Q	Oct 13th 3.00 pm	DAVID BELLEW	David is the Evening Duty Manager and he helps presenters with recordings and editing work and hosts the Dundalk FC Soccer show Build up with Bellew on match nights.
R	Oct 13th 4.00 pm	KERRY FEARON	Kerry completed her 2 day radio course in June and will soon begin an American Country programme called Roots and Boots.
S	Oct 20th 3.00 pm	CAOIMHE O MALLEY	Caoimhe is a regular host our weekday morning current affairs show Town Talk.
T	Oct 20th 4.00 pm	ORLA CRILLY	Orla did a Spotlight on the Sunshine Bar and you can hear her chat with players and fans before and after Dundalk FC matches on our Build up with Bellew programme.
U	Oct 27th 3.00 pm	MIKE MCMAHON	Mike’s Music Express with Mike McMahon goes out every Saturday at 12 noon.
V	Oct 27th 4.00 pm	AOIFE MULLEN	Aoife helped out with our Irish Language News Service and contributes to daytime shows.
W	Nov 3rd 3.00 pm	PAT BYRNE	Town Talk presenter on Wednesday and Thursday and also contributor to the Dundalk Lions Club at your service on Thursday at 8pm.
X	Nov 3rd 4.00 pm	CIARAN CALLAN	Ciaran is the Friday afternoon Drive Time   (Friday at 4pm) presenter and has worked on many music, sports and Outside Broadcast programmes with Dundalk FM.
Y	Nov 10th 3.00 pm	CATHAL MCCOOEY	Cathal joined us in February and is a regular presenter of Drive Time, works the sound desk for Fadó Fadó on Monday evening and a contributor to the Saturday Morning Current Affairs show – The Business Brunch.
Z	Nov 10th 4.00 pm	DAN POPE	Dan joined us in February this year and this is his first programme for the station.

The Alpha Beats Draw took place on 12^th July 2019

We asked for twenty six of our community radio broadcasters at the station to put their name into the hat to do a one hour music show and to tell our listeners what they do at the station and when they joined us.

This is a show with a little difference, however, as each presenter will be given one letter of the alphabet and they will be asked to come up with 13 or 14 singers, songs or bands that begins with that letter.

1 Rule: No two songs by the same artist! & you get bonus points for Irish bands and musicians.

And we tried to have a fair balance between male and female presenters as you can see.

The draw for the #2nd Series will take place on the Drive Time Show on October 25th.

Caroline Byrne – Alpha Beats Show E

Cathal Cassidy with Billy Lyons on Sound Desk duty with the Alpha Beats Show L.

Tune in each and every Saturday afternoon for an hour of eclectic tunes, musical insights, nostalgic ramblings, fun features and more!
Broadcasting live on 97.7fm and www.dundalkfm.com each Saturday at 12noon GMT
Sponsored by Dundalk Institute of Technology: www.dkit.ie
Follow me on:
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and www.facebook.com/eightiesmike

Alpha Beats Draw 12^th July 2019

We asked for twenty six of our community radio broadcasters at the station to put their name into the hat to do a one hour music show.

This is a show with a little difference, however, as each presenter will be given one letter of the alphabet and they will be asked to come up with 13 or 14 singers, songs or bands that begins with that letter.

1 Rule: No two songs by the same artist! & you get bonus points for Irish bands and musicians.

Letter	Community Radio Broadcaster	Presenter of
A	KARL COLLINS	Karl is Rock Steady Rhythms DJ – every Tuesday evening between 7 and 9 and repeated on Saturdays at the same time.
B	PAT HAMILTON	Pat was a Board Member for a number of years and is going to give us a musical education with his assigned letter.
C	PHILIP O BRIEN	Philip also joined us on an over 50’s course and is a contributor to the Business Brunch, hosts the Monday edition of Town Talk and fills in on the Afternoon Show form time to time.
D	MONA DALY	Mona joined us as part of a radio course for over 50’s a few years ago and is now a regular contributor to The Business Brunch.
E	CAROLINE & EÓIN BYRNE	Caroline records voice overs for ads and documentaries and will be assisted by her 16 year old son.
F	JOHN ENGLISHBY	John’s monthly show Odds and Sods is on the 1st Saturday at 11pm and repeated the following Monday at 8pm. He is also a sound desk op for Outside Broadcasts and soccer matches.
G	MARIAN DEL DUCA	Marian is our multi talented presenter of Health and Well Being Show, Dundalk Toastmasters and the Drive Time Show on Tuesdays.
H	GERRY KEANE	Gerry is a regular contributor to Brilliant Music and The Lunchbox.
I	SEAN CALLAGHAN	Long time presenter, Sean hosts The Beaten Tracks every Tuesday at 6pm and repeated on Saturday at 1pm.
J	COLIN GOOSEY MCDONNELL	Saturday afternoon music is provided by Goosey on the first and third Saturday from 2pm with his Brilliant Music radio show.
K	DAVID LARKIN	David is a member of the Dundalk Lion’s Club – At your service programme on Thursdays at 8pm (now off for a Summer break) and he is starting his own Saturday night show. It’s on the 2nd Saturday at 10pm.
L	DERMOT WOODS	Dermot is the presenter of In off the Post which features local GAA News, fixtures and interviews broadcast at 6pm on Thursdays.
M	CIARAN CALLAN	Presenter of Friday’s Drive Time, erstwhile presenter of the Live Wire….
N	ANDY MCKENNA	Andy is new to Dundalk FM and has started a show called Saturday Night 80’s which is on the first Saturday at 10pm.
O	DONAL CARROLL & MARGARET HOEY	We Rock Your World on the 3rd Saturday at 11pm and Your Song which is on the 4th Saturday at 11pm. Both shows are repeated on the following Monday at 8pm.
P	BILLY LYONS	Billy is our Weekend Duty Manager and we are assured that he has a very diverse taste in music.
Q	DAVID BELLEW	David is the Evening Duty Manager and he helps presenters with recordings and editing work and hosts the Dundalk FC Soccer show Build up with Bellew on match nights.
R	KERRY FEARON	Kerry completed her 2 day radio course in June and will soon begin an American Country programme called Roots and Boots.
S	CAOIMHE O MALLEY	Caoimhe is a regular host our weekday morning current affairs show Town Talk.
T	ORLA CRILLY	Orla did a Spotlight on the Sunshine Bar and you can hear her chat with players and fans before and after Dundalk FC matches on our Build up with Bellew programme.
U	MIKE MCMAHON	Mike’s Music Express with Mike McMahon goes out every Saturday at 12 noon.
V	AOIFE MULLEN	Aoife helped out with our Irish Language News Service and contributes to daytime shows.
W	PAT BYRNE	Town Talk presenter on Wednesday and Thursday and also contributor to the Dundalk Lions Club at your service on Thursday at 8pm.
X	TRACEY HANBY	Of The First Cut, 100% Irish and The Takeover show, Tracey is on the third Saturday at 2pm as part of the Brilliant Takeover team with Colin McDonnell.
Y	CATHAL MCCOOEY	Cathal joined us in February and is a regular presenter of Drive Time, works the sound desk for Fadó Fadó on Monday evening and a contributor to the Saturday Morning Current Affairs show – The Business Brunch.
Z	DAN POPE	Dan joined us in February this year and this is his first programme for the station.

And we tried to have a fair balance between male and female presenters as you can see.

The series will begin in August.

Listen out for the broadcast times and promos and wish all our presenters the very best.

Which album by an Irish artist would you like to hear featured on Dundalk FM?

Thanks to Áine Lawless for designing our new Spotlight poster. Do you know someone who has an interest in radio broadcasting and would like to start by doing a one hour show about their favourite band or musician? We have one slot each week for a breakthrough DJ – 3pm – 4pm on Saturday. To get started send us your contact details and we’ll do the rest.

Dundalk FM’s frequency is the inspiration for the 97 second song competition, the Undertones got it right in 1979 when they sang ‘you’ve got my number, why don’t you use it’.

The launch takes place downstairs in the Spirit Store, Dundalk on Tuesday 3rd May at 7 o’clock. We’ll have a few rock n rollers there to play some sample tunes and a chance to meet a few old and new friends.

Maplins Dundalk have come on board to provide a DJ deck for the winner.

Entries can be emailed to 97song@dundalkfm.com and the closing date is Wednesday 25th May.

Good Luck!