Independent Radio Mayo were first heard during July 1987 on several FM frequencies. According to the flyer below they used 96MHz to East and South County Mayo, 100MHz to Castlebar and 102MHz to Ballina. They also announced initial tests on 1044kHz before changing to 738kHz following the purchase of the former 1kW Radio Leinster transmitter that we saw in 1981. That transmitter had been off air since the raids in 1983, when Radio Leinster closed. The AUK lists to hand shows IRM is listed on 738kHz by October of 1987. Although giving good coverage in County Mayo and the West, 738kHz was also used in Dublin by Energy 103 with 10kW at the time, and later Q-102 following the closure of Energy 103. In the West of the UK, Independent Radio Mayo was audible when Energy / Q102 transmitter was off the air. Independent Radio Mayo continued until midnight on Saturday 31st December 1988, signing off just as the new broadcasting legislation became law.

This is a rather poor copy of an early flyer from when IRM was advertising 1044kHz,
and in fact mentions test transmissions available next week (whichever week that was.)
(It is interesting that 1044kHz was also used back in 1981 by WABC which broadcast from
Ballaghadereen, around 30 miles from Castlebar. Perhaps it was the same transmitter?)

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There is a classic six and a half hour recording in the download area of this site, of Q102 Dublin on 738 going off air, and Independent Radio Mayo being clearly audable. It is a long reel to reel track, at nearly 300meg.

(DOWNLOADS - DOWNLOAD INDEX - IRISH - Q102) Date for that was 25th July 1988