Dublin, Cork, Limerick & Galway
Irish-owned, Bay Broadcasting surpasses Onic Wireless Group with landmark move cementing its national reach reinforcing its commitment to independent radio
Thursday 5th June 2025 – For Immediate Release
Bay Broadcasting, owners of Ireland’s leading independent radio stations including Radio Nova, Ireland’s Classic Hits Radio and Sunshine 106.8, has announced its acquisition of Galway Bay FM. The move marks a significant expansion of Bay Broadcasting’s footprint across Ireland and reaffirms its commitment to its radio investments in Ireland.
Galway Bay FM is the licensed broadcaster for Galway City & County, with a market share of 34%. The station has a staff count of 25 at its headquarters at Sandy Road in the city.
The purchase is subject to CCPC (Competition and Consumer Protection Commission) and also subject to Ministerial approval.
In a statement, Kevin Branigan, Director of Bay Broadcasting, said, “Galway Bay FM stands out as one of Ireland’s most respected local stations, with a loyal audience and a strong local identity. It’s one of the most enduring local radio stations in the country and its track record speaks for itself. We look forward to working with the excellent team in Galway Bay FM and to continuing the station’s proud position as the leading radio service in Galway”.
Speaking on behalf of the departing shareholders of Galway Bay FM, Peter Allen, Chairman said, “There were several interested parties, but Bay Broadcasting was the clear choice. Their respect for local radio, strong track record, and Irish ownership aligned with everything we’ve worked to build over decades really stood out. The shareholders – many of whom are families with generations of involvement – wanted to ensure that the station's future remained rooted in Galway. We’re proud of what we’ve achieved and confident that Galway Bay FM will be in excellent hands.”
Galway Bay FM launched in 1989 under the name Radio West, rebranding in 1993. The Connacht Tribune Ltd, which owned a 27% stake, became sole owners in 2006. A family-run business deeply embedded in the west of Ireland, the Tribune Group developed Galway Bay FM into a trusted voice for Galway city and county, serving a licensed audience aged 27–60.
Bay Broadcasting is a privately-owned Irish media company co-founded by Mike Ormonde and Kevin Branigan. It operates Dublin’s top leading music radio stations – Radio Nova and Sunshine 106.8 – along with Ireland’s Classic Hits Radio, which broadcasts to Dublin, Cork, Limerick & Galway, and is Ireland’s only multicity radio station.
With the addition of Galway Bay FM, Bay Broadcasting will become the second largest radio group in Ireland – and the only Irish-owned radio group – now larger than Onic (formerly Wireless), operators of FM104/Q102 in Dublin, 96FM/103FM in Cork, Live 95 in Limerick and LMFM in Louth/Meath.
Bay Broadcasting was founded in 2008 by Mike Ormonde and Kevin Branigan and currently employs a team of 60 at its base in the Dublin Docklands. It owns Classic Hits Radio, Radio Nova and Sunshine 106.8. Radio Nova is the largest music radio station in Dublin (9.4% market share) with Sunshine 106.8 a close second at 8.9%. Meanwhile, Classic Hits Radio has 382,000 listeners across its franchise area of Dublin, Cork, Limerick & Galway and is the only multicity service licenced by the broadcasting regulator.
The purchase of Galway Bay FM will give Bay 810,000 listeners compared to Onic’s 796,000 listeners. The acquisition has already been approved by Coimisiún na Meán.
Established in 1989 as Radio West before rebranding to Galway Bay FM in 1993, the station has been a cornerstone of broadcasting in the west of Ireland for over three decades. With a strong commitment to local news, current affairs, music, and community engagement, Galway Bay FM has built a loyal audience across the region. Today, it reaches an impressive weekly listenership of 132,000 people, making it one of the most influential and trusted media voices in Connacht.
Bay Broadcasting is the country’s largest Irish-owned radio group and is the operator of Radio Nova, Ireland’s Classic Hits Radio and Sunshine 106.8. It employs a team of 60 at its base in the Dublin Docklands. Radio Nova and Sunshine 106.8 are the no. 1 and no. 2 music radio stations in Dublin respectively, while Ireland’s Classic Hits Radio, which broadcasts in Dublin, Cork, Limerick and Galway, is the largest commercial radio station in Ireland outside the two national radio stations, Today FM and Newstalk. The acquisition of Galway Bay FM brings Bay’s total audience to 810,000 and will increase its staff count to approximately 85.
Nova Classic Rock, the digital radio channel operated by Radio Nova, has launched on DAB+. The radio channel, which plays classic rock from the 60s, 70s & 80s, has launched on the Fáilte DAB platform throughout Dublin and the wider Leinster region on a trial basis for 12 months.
Being on DAB+ means that Nova Classic Rock can now be listened to those with DAB radios and in cars throughout the region. Nova Classic Rock has replaced Nova Xtra, which was operated as a trial channel during the early Fáilte DAB trial.
Radio Nova’s Kevin Branigan said, “Nova Classic Rock is the perfect channel for DAB. It’s an experiment – a clearly-defined niche of the main Radio Nova output, designed to give those into the more classic end of our music output a 24-hour radio service just for them. It’s the perfect channel for the Fáilte DAB trial. It features all the big rock classics from the 60s to the 80s, as well as some specialist programming including ‘Off The Record with Pat James’ every Saturday evening and the world-famous ‘Classic Album at Midnight’.
Nova intends to develop out the Nova Classic Rock channel on DAB and is interested in hearing suggestions from the public and other interested parties.
“DAB is a trial medium in Ireland and we’re happy to be taking part as one of the pioneering stations. Radio Nova was one of the first sttions to appear on the DAB tests, signalling our interest in the trial, and our continuing interest in expanding our audience and reach. With Nova Classic Rock, we’re open to hearing from presenters, producers and any interested party really about how we can develop out the service in the coming weeks and months. It really is a blank canvas. I believe that DAB has the potential to trial new formats and programme output. Interested parties can contact us at dab@nova.ie”, said Branigan.
Nova Classic Rock broadcasts online, on mobile and via DAB+ through Leinster.
Radio Nova Cracks Open a Mad New Campaign for ‘Morning Glory with PJ & Jim’: “A Pair of Mad Yolks”
Radio Nova has just unveiled a bold new marketing campaign to promote its hit breakfast show, Morning Glory with PJ Gallagher and Jim McCabe. The cheeky campaign, created by the award-winning team at Bloom Advertising, features the irrepressible duo reimagined as—you guessed it—boiled eggs.
Entitled “A Pair of Mad Yolks”, the campaign captures the energy, humour, and complete unpredictability that have made PJ Gallagher and Jim McCabe a staple of morning routines across Dublin and beyond. With giant Out of Home placements now live around the city, the creative is designed to make commuters laugh, smile—and maybe rethink their breakfast listening choices.
PJ Gallagher and Jim McCabe of Radio Nova’s Morning Glory were all smiles today as they celebrated the campaign launch, Jim said, “The growth of the morning show has been incredible. Almost four times the audience since we started! Imagine if either one of us actually had any talent… Wow!!”
Cracking wise about their new look, PJ and Jim said: “We’ve always known we were a bit scrambled—but seeing ourselves as eggs really takes the biscuit. Or the toast. Either way, we’re shell-shocked, in a good way.” “It’s not the first time we’ve been called mad yolks to be fair, and now it’s official”.
Kevin Branigan, CEO and Programme Director of Radio Nova, commented: “Morning Glory with PJ & Jim is a stellar breakfast radio show that has had huge growth since it started on Radio Nova four years ago. We wanted a campaign that captured the unique energy and madness that PJ and Jim bring to morning. We love working with Bloom and we think they absolutely nailed it. ‘A Pair of Mad Yolks’ sums them up perfectly. It’s irreverent, fun, and very Radio Nova.”
The campaign also marks a significant creative milestone for Yvonne Caplice, recently appointed Managing Partner at Bloom. Yvonne Caplice, Managing Partner, Bloom, said: “We’re thrilled to bring some humour and a big visual punch to the streets with this campaign. Radio Nova gave us the creative freedom to lean into the personality of the show—and of PJ and Jim—and have a bit of fun. The result is a campaign that’s as mad, memorable and loveable as the presenters themselves.”
Morning Glory with PJ Gallagher and Jim McCabe airs weekdays from 6am–10am on Radio Nova, bringing listeners the perfect mix of music, mischief, and madness to start the day.
Radio Nova recently surged ahead of all other music stations with a market share of 9.4% in Dublin, cementing its position as the largest music radio station in the Dublin region.
For media enquiries to talk to Bloom or Radio Nova, please contact:
Ann-Marie Sheehan, Aspire PR & Marketing
📞 +353 87 298 5569 | 📧 annmarie@aspire-pr.com
Editors Notes
Radio Nova
Radio Nova broadcasts to Dublin, Kildare, Meath & Wicklow with 264,000 listeners throughout the region. It’s also available nationally via its smartphone apps (iPhone & Android), its website Nova.ie and via the Irish Radio Player.
About Bloom Advertising
Bloom is a full-service creative agency known for bold, idea-driven campaigns that resonate with audiences and help brands grow.
Congratulations to journalist Ken Sweeney, whose documentary for Radio Nova, ‘The Trashcan Sinatras’, has won Finalist at this year’s ‘New York Festival Radio Awards’!
The band who were formed in Irvine on the west coast of Scotland in 1986, are renowned for albums such as, Cake, I’ve Seen Everything, and Weightlifting. Presented by Ken Sweeney, the documentary also saw guitarist John Douglas head back to Shabby Road in Kilmarnock, former music studio of The Trashcan Sinatras.
It’s the second major award for the documentary, having won Silver at the 2024 IMRO Radio Awards for ‘Music, Arts & Culture Documentary’.
Ken Sweeney has been a journalist for over a decade working with the Herald, Irish Star, Sunday Tribune, and Irish Independent. From Dublin’s Navan Road, he first worked in advertising and trained as a copywriter.
Classic Hits 80s, the temporary radio service run each January by Ireland’s Classic Hits Radio, has launched on DAB throughout Dublin and the wider Leinster area. Classic Hits 80s has received a licence from Coimissiun na Mean to operate on the Failte DAB trial for 12 months.
DAB is the latest technology in radio listening. Alongside FM radio, DAB can bring more channels, more choice and, most importantly, Classic Hits 80s! The 80s radio station will now available on car radios and homes on DAB across a wide part of Ireland including Dublin, Kildare, Meath, Wicklow, Louth, Wexford, Westmeath and Longford – as well as nationwide on Classichits.ie, via the Classic Hits app and on smart speaker.
Classic Hits 80s immerses listeners into the greatest decade in music, where they can live in the 80’s, travel back in time and enjoy the best music ever made!
CEO, Kevin Branigan, said, “It’s an exciting time for Classic Hits 80s! We’ve trialed it on FM around the country on four occasions and the listener reaction has been great. Now we have an opportunity to bring it to listeners in Leinster on a permanent basis on DAB. We intend to develop our Classic Hits 80s over the coming weeks and we’re looking forward to bringing the Home of 80s in Ireland to a wider audience on terrestrial radio via DAB”.
More information:
Kevin Branigan
t: 01 4255 440
e: hello@classichits.ie
Ireland’s Classic Hits Radio celebrated achieving 382,000 listeners in the latest JNLR ratings by welcoming An Taoiseach Simon Harris to launch its new radio broadcasting studios at its HQ at Castleforbes House in Dublin 1 today. An Taoiseach dropped into the station’s breakfast show, ‘Colm & Lucy in the Morning’ to chat with hosts Colm Hayes & Lucy Kennedy about listening to Classic Hits Radio and his favourite songs from the Classic Hits playlist.
Ireland’s Classic Hits Radio completed a recent refurb of its facilities at Castleforbes House, giving it access to six new state-of-the-art radio studios. Planning and design of the studios was carried out internally but the station’s team of Elaine Leonard and Kevin Branigan while expert design and construction was carried out by Dublin company Fineprint, Broadcast Technical Services and MMS Ltd.
CEO Kevin Branigan said, “We’re delighted to welcome Taoiseach Simon Harris to Ireland’s Classic Hits Radio to cut the ribbon on our new studios. As one of the largest radio stations in the country, we’re delighted to look into the future with the capacity to further develop our output into the social and video arenas”.
Classic Hits Radio is one of the largest commercial radio services in Ireland, with a total coverage area of almost 2.5M people. We broadcast to nine of the most-populated counties in Ireland – from Dublin, Kildare, Meath & Wicklow on the east coast to Cork, Limerick, Clare & Galway on the south and west coasts.
Get Ready to Kickstart Your Health Journey: The 40 Day Health Challenge is Here!
Thursday 10th October 2024 – For Immediate Release
It’s time to start making healthier choices now! Ireland’s Classic Hits Radio is spearheading ‘The 40 Day Health Challenge’, an inspiring new initiative that’s all about getting you moving, eating well, and improving your mental wellbeing!
The 40 Day Health Challenge, brought by the makers of Operation Transformation, is a free public health initiative aimed at inspiring people across Ireland to make sustainable lifestyle changes. With expert guidance and a supportive community, the challenge will help you eat well, move more, and improve your mental wellbeing over 40 days.
Ireland’s Classic Hits Radio are the premium radio partner for ‘The 40 Day Health Challenge’, along with ‘The Irish Sun’ as premium print partner.
Operation Transformation, the award-winning annual fitness initiative, ran on RTE radio and television for 16 years until its retirement from the schedules in 2023. It empowered people to connect and follow people who were transforming their lives, copy their plans and share the journeys. The 40 Day Health Challenge is produced by Vision Independent Productions, producers of Operation Transformation.
As part of the initiative, Ireland’s Classic Hits Radio will be recruiting participants who are ready to dedicate 40 days to transforming their health, guided by experts from the popular RTE Operation Transformation TV series – GP Dr. Sumi Dunne, Clinical Psychologist Dr. Eddie Murphy, Personal Trainer Karl Henry, and Dietician Sophie Pratt.
Trina Mara will be keeping listeners engaged and motivated throughout the 40 Day Health Challenge with daily updates on Ireland’s Classic Hits Radio. She’ll be sharing exclusive interviews with the experts and participants, providing insights into their progress and tips for staying on track. Plus, Trina will offer listeners sneak peeks at upcoming episodes, hours before they air, giving everyone an inside look at what’s to come in the challenge and how they too can join in on the journey to better health.
Trina Mara is thrilled to be part of the challenge. “I’m incredibly excited to be involved in The 40 Day Health Challenge,” she says. “It’s an amazing opportunity to speak with the experts, connect with participants, and live this journey with them every day for 40 days. We’ll be sharing real stories and motivating our listeners to take action for their health.”
The challenge aims to get participants from Dublin, Cork, Limerick, Galway, and surrounding areas moving, eating well, and focusing on their mental health, with weekly episodes streamed online and daily features across Ireland’s Classic Hits Radio.
In addition, the GAA and Get Ireland Walking will be switching on floodlights in GAA clubs across the country, allowing communities to walk safely together during the dark winter evenings. Cameras will be there to capture inspirational stories as people share their journey to better health.
A 40 Day Plan for Success
Each day of the 40 Day Health Challenge will feature a specially designed meal, exercise, and mental wellbeing plan. With expert advice and simple, practical tips, participants will be supported in making sustainable changes that can last well beyond the challenge.
Dr. Sumi Dunne emphasises that the challenge is “not a quick fix” but a perfect opportunity to set realistic health goals. “Forty days is a nice length of time to look at where you want to make changes. It’s not too long, but it gives enough time to start putting those changes in place,” she says.
Karl Henry, the personal trainer leading the exercise plan, ensures that “participants will start to see results very quickly.” He adds, “It’s about living healthier, living better, and living stronger – and showing people that real progress can happen in just 40 days.”
Dietician Sophie Pratt is excited about helping people improve their nutritional habits over the challenge. “It’s 40 days to change your diet and lifestyle. By the end, small consistent changes will have become second nature,” she explains.
And for those focusing on their mental wellbeing, Dr. Eddie Murphy believes the challenge is a chance for a “reset.” It’s a great opportunity – new challenges, new goals. You can’t progress physically unless you progress emotionally and mentally,” he says.
Kevin Branigan, Chief Executive, Ireland’s Classic Hits Radio, said, “We’re delighted to be the national radio partner for The 40 Day Health Challenge’. Health and wellbeing are very much at the forefront of the national mindset, particularly so at the at the start of the new year to come. We’re very happy to be working with Vision Independent Productions and The Irish Sun on this new initiative and to bring the power and audience connection of radio to the mix”.
Partnerships & Media Coverage
The 40 Day Health Challenge will be widely accessible through various platforms.
Weekly episodes will be streamed online, giving everyone the chance to follow along and stay motivated. Ireland’s Classic Hits Radio to Broadcast Daily Updates where listeners will be able to follow the journey every day with Trina Mara on Ireland’s Classic Hits Radio from 10 am to 2 pm. The Irish Sun will feature daily updates and stories from the challenge, providing practical tips and insights.
How to Get Involved
If you’re ready to start making positive changes, apply to be one of the 20 participants in The 40 Day Health Challenge by visiting classichits.ie or https://register-form.vipvids.ie/dhc-40. The challenge is open to everyone, and you can follow along online, in print, and on Ireland’s Classic Hits Radio.
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Ireland's Classic Hits Radio has scooped multiple awards at the 2024 IMRO Radio Awards. The awards, held at the Lyrath Estate in Kilkenny, last night saw us awarded four Silver and one Bronze awards a the prestigious ceremony.
Gareth O'Callaghan won Silver for 'General Music Porgramme'. Meanwhile, Lauren O'Sullivan won Silver for 'Interactive Speech Programme' for 'Nighttime Talk'. In addition, we scooped Silver for 'On-Air Competition / Promotion' for 'Back to the Future - Simon Harris Day'; Harris - named this year as Ireland’s youngest Taoiseach - was born in 1986, and to mark the occasion, we spent all day Wednesday 10th April highlighting iconic music releases, memorable events, and significant cultural moments from that year.
Finally, two of our presenters, Gary Brennan and Nikki Manley, won Silver and Bronze respectively in the 'The Gay Byrne Award - Newcomer of the Year' category.
Kevin Branigan, CEO Ireland's Classic Hits Radio, said, "What a great night for us at the IMRO Radio Awards. We're thrilled to bits to win these prestigious awards and it's a credit to our team of great broadcasters, producers and programmers".
Bay Broadcasting is one of Ireland’s most exciting radio groups and the operators of Radio Nova, Ireland’s Classic Hits Radio and Sunshine 106.8. We employ a team of 55 across multiple departments with a strong focus of programming, innovation, commercial and digital /
social. We’re based at Castleforbes House in Dublin’s iconic Docklands area.
The Role
An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced Social Media Executive to join our team. We are looking for an enthusiastic and creative individual who will be responsible for managing our social media platforms and creating engaging and visually appealing content
to connect with our audience. This is a fantastic opportunity for someone who is passionate about social media.
You will have a good appreciation and understanding of the tone and personality of our radio brands and the ability to capture that in social media output. Ideally, you will also have a good knowledge of the radio and entertainment industry and possess creative ideas on how brands like Radio Nova, Ireland’s Classic Hits Radio and Sunshine 106.8 can grow our appeal to our audiences in Dublin and nationwide.
This is an exciting role for an experienced social media executive, allowing you the creative scope to build on an already highly engaged and loyal social and on-air audience.
In this exciting and fast-paced role, you will:
Qualifications
Interested parties can should apply with their CV and examples of their work to hr@nova.ie. Closing date for applications is Friday 17th November at 5pm.