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This Week's News

IRTS Radio News Bulletin Sunday February 15th, 2026
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Meet Megan EI5LA - Deputy Youth Officer

We are delighted to introduce Megan Lorenz EI5LA as both a relatively
new IRTS committee member and as Deputy Youth Officer within the newly
formed youth subcommittee. As our newest and youngest committee member,
Megan brings a unique perspective alongside a contesting record that
would put many of us to shame - and she's only getting started!

Licensed at 14, Megan began contesting at 15 and has since competed in
close to 100 contests across CW, SSB and digital modes. She is
recognised as one of the leading youth contesters worldwide, having
already competed in one WRTC event, and has qualified to compete at
WRTC 2026 as part of the Youth Team in the United Kingdom in July 2026.
She has also proudly represented Ireland at YOTA Camp on four
occasions. Megan's appointment reflects the society's commitment to
long-term modernisation, stainability, and talent retention. In her
deputy youth officer role, she is already making a strong contribution
to promoting amateur radio among young operators.
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Limerick Clare Amateur Radio Club AGM

The Limerick Clare Amateur Radio Club report they held their annual
general meeting for 2026 on Thursday February 12th. This well attended
meeting discussed a range of issues of local and national interest.
They also looked forward to celebrations for the 80th anniversary of
the founding of the club throughout 2026. At the AGM the following
officers and committee members were elected for the coming year:
Chairman Dermot Gleeson EI2GT. Secretary Joe Ryan EI9HG, and
Treasurer Harry O'Loughlin EI2KL. The committee also includes Michael
Kingston EI2IX, Diarmuid O'Briain EI4LF, Liam Rainfort EI7DSB, and
Gerry Gervin EI8CC.
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News from Kerry Amateur Radio Group

Kerry Amateur Radio Group took part in the recent 145 Alive event. Net
controller was Mike EI2LF, who operated on this occasion from his home
QTH due to inclement weather. Unfortunately, this was reflected in the
logbook consequently. There were 6 entries in the log from north of the
peninsula and none from the south. The shielding mountains of his QTH
was the cause of this. Due to adverse propagation, no log entries from
outside the county were recorded. Despite this, the event a useful
learning exercise and it proved that simplex VHF operations are
dependent on location. They will put this learning experience to good
use in the future, hopefully in the IRTS 2m Counties contest in April.
The next KARG monthly meeting will be held on Saturday, the 28th of
February 2026, at the Meadowlands Hotel Tralee, Co. Kerry. All are
welcome.
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South Eastern Amateur Radio Group EI2WRC

The 2026 Annual General Meeting of the South Eastern Amateur Radio
Group EI2WRC will take place at 8.00 p.m. sharp on Monday the 23rd of
February 2026 in the South East Technological University, Netlabs
Research and Innovation Building, SETU West Campus, Carriganore,
Waterford. The Eircode is X91 WR86. All members are asked to please
attend. Any new members or anyone interested in radio communications in
general or finding out more about the group are welcome also. For more
information about EI2WRC, their activities, and for contact details
please see www.searg.ie
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Galway Radio Experimenters Club Visit to Bletchley Park

Galway Radio Experimenters Club (GREC) are visiting the UK National
Museum of Computing and the RSGB National Radio Centre in Bletchley
Park, Milton Keynes, on Thursday, the 5th of March 2026. These are
exceptional sites to visit if you have an interest in computing history
and ham radio. They would like to extend an invite to any radio
amateurs or SWLs who might like to join them there for guided tours of
both centres. Please contact Enda Folan, EI6JZB on 086-8108118 for
further details of travel and access.
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Silent Key - Noel Lafferty EI9FM

We regret to report the passing of Noel Lafferty EI9FM on February 5th,
2026. Noel was an active member for many years of the Tirconaill
Amateur Radio Society, the forerunner to the Donegal Amateur Radio
Club. We extend our deepest sympathies to his wife Margaret, sons Glyn
and David, daughter Elaine, to his five grandchildren, and to the
extended family circle. Ar dheis Do go raibh a anam. May he rest in
peace.
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Patriot Radio Communications Club Bulletin Schedule

For operators with 4m band capabilities, make sure to listen out for
Patriot Radio Communications Club EI7PRC on Sunday nights. Tonight, the
IRTS news bulletin will also be transmitted at 8.30 p.m. on 70.350MHz
covering the Limerick, Clare, and Tipperary regions. The reader will be
David EI6IQB.
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The Titanic Memorial

Carlos EA1PJ, who is president of a local section of the national
association for amateur radio enthusiasts in Spain got in touch to
alert us of a special Titanic memorial station. During April 2026, a
memorial to the passengers and crew of the Titanic, and to the
Titanic's telegraph operators will take the form of a special station
with the call sign EG1912T. EG identifies Spain, 1912 is the year the
ship sank, and T stands for Titanic. The event will take place from
00:00 UTC on April 10th, 2026 - the date on which the Titanic set sail
from Southampton - until 23:59 on April 15th, 2026 - the date on which
it sank. All modes will be used, but with special emphasis on
telegraphy. All stations that contact EG1912T in CW will receive a
special card for telegraphy contacts only.
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Young Ladies Worldwide Award

The Young Ladies Worldwide Award is the first international radio
project bringing together young ladies worldwide in a single event. The
event takes place every year in March and lasts one week, from Monday,
the 9th to Sunday, the 15th of March 2026. You can find out more at
hamaward.cloud
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Contest Calendar

The next UK and Ireland Contest Club contest in the 2025-26 series of
80m contests is on Wednesday 25th February 2026 at 20:00 UTC on CW.
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Items for Inclusion in Next Week's Radio News

That is the news for this week. Thanks to everyone for sending items
into the weekly IRTS radio news. They are very much appreciated and are
a great way to update the rest of the community about activities. If
you have any club events, activities, meetings, or other items of
interest, you are very welcome to email the radio news editor Keith
EI5IN via email to newsteam /at/ irts.ie with the details. These will
be automatically forwarded to the IRTS radio and printed news services.
The deadline each week is midnight on Thursdays.

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