A special project designed to encourage radio stations to play more Irish music is being given a trial run on Galway Bay FM over the coming weeks.

Play Irish has been formulated by the recently established Iasca (The Irish Association of Songwriters, Composers and Authors). The organisation's ultimate plan is to target the local stations in each county in a bid to build networks and increase the amount of Irish music of all genres being played on daytime radio. Their eventual aim is to reach the national broadcasters.

The first county being pursued is Galway, and Iasca have put the call out to local artists and bands to take various steps to raise their profile, including registering themselves on the Breaking Tunes website and with Imro, as well as contacting Galway Bay FM with their music.

The Jon Richards show, which can be streamed at galwaybayfm.ie on weekdays from 3.30pm, is the first show to participate in the project. Iasca will be launching for membership soon, but for more info on the Play Irish project, see iasca.ie.