After a break of over four months, local radio returned to Kilkenny and Carlow yesterday.
At 11 a.m., presenter Alan Swan officially launched KCLR 96FM, the new station which replaced the old Radio Kilkenny and CKR (Carlow-Kildare Radio).
The opening was delayed by months because of legal action take by Radio Kilkenny and CKR over the granting of the new licence for Carlow-Kilkenny by the Broadcasting Commission of Ireland.
Chief executive of the new radio station Mr John Purcell said he was delighted the station was finally on air.
"We applied for this new licence two years ago and it has been a long road with preparations delayed by the legal challenges to the decision to award the licence to us," he said.
He promised KCLR 96FM would be a fresh, local and contemporary voice that would connect with listeners across the two counties.
Former head of news at Radio Kilkenny Ms Sue Nunn takes up the same position in the new station with journalists from the old station, Clara Walsh and Naoise O'Donovan, joining her in the newsroom.