Irish Radio Transmitters Society
National amateur radio society representing Ireland in the IARU.
The Irish Radio Transmitters Society (IRTS) is a national non-profit organisation for amateur radio enthusiasts in Ireland. It represents Irish amateur radio operators before Irish and international telecommunications regulators, and, under a 2005 agreement with Comreg, it handles the full examination process for the Experimenter’s Licence—setting, organising, and correcting the tests. The IRTS has no paid staff; all work is done by volunteers. It is Ireland’s national member society in the International Amateur Radio Union.
Radio in Ireland began in the 1800s with Professor George Francis Fitzgerald of Trinity College Dublin. Working with Heinrich Hertz, he confirmed James Clerk Maxwell’s theories on electromagnetic fields. In 1883, Fitzgerald proposed that an oscillating electric current would produce electromagnetic waves, a prediction Hertz verified in 1888, leading to wireless telegraphy. Fitzgerald was the first to suggest a method for generating radio frequency waves, which underpins modern radio. Another early pioneer was Colonel M.J.B. Dennis, who conducted radio transmission experiments at his home in Baltinglass, County Wicklow, in 1898. He helped found the Dublin Wireless Club in 1913. The Radio Society of Ireland was established as a national society in 1922. In 1925, it merged with the Dublin Wireless Club to form the Wireless Society of Ireland. Broadcast radio grew popular, and the first national station, 2RN, began broadcasting a year later. The original Irish Radio Transmitters Society was formed in 1926 by Wireless Society of Ireland members more interested in building amateur transmitters and receivers than broadcast equipment. The current IRTS resulted from a 1932 merger of this group with the Wireless Society of Ireland. Colonel Dennis, then using the call sign EI2B, became the first IRTS president. He held the role for many years and remained active in amateur affairs until 1939, when war halted activities. He died in 1945 in his early eighties.
The IRTS publishes a quarterly magazine, *Echo Ireland*, covering amateur radio activities and information in Ireland. It is available to members by post or online. In months when *Echo Ireland* is not produced, a monthly online magazine, *EI News*, is circulated to members. A weekly news service is broadcast on amateur radio frequencies.
Quick Facts
- Abbreviation
- IRTS
- Formation
- 1932
- Purpose
- Advocacy, Education
- Location
- Dublin, Ireland / 53.39583 · -6.20833 · yes
- Region Served
- Ireland
- Language
- English
- Leader Title
- President
- Leader Name
- Jeffrey Roe EI7IRB
- Affiliations
- International Amateur Radio Union
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Radio experimentation in Ireland traces back to the 1800s, with Professor George Francis Fitzgerald of Trinity College Dublin clarifying Maxwell's electromagnetic theories and suggesting a method of producing radio frequency waves. Early pioneer Colonel M.J.B. Dennis conducted experiments in 1898 at his home in Baltinglass, County Wicklow, and was a founding member of the Dublin Wireless Club in 1913. The Radio Society of Ireland was founded in 1922, merging with the Dublin Wireless Club in 1925 to form the Wireless Society of Ireland.
The original Irish Radio Transmitters Society was formed in 1926 by members of the Wireless Society of Ireland who were more interested in constructing amateur transmitters and receivers. The present IRTS resulted from an amalgamation in 1932 of this group with the Wireless Society of Ireland. Colonel Dennis became the first president, holding office for many years until amateur activities ceased in 1939 due to war; he died in 1945 in his early eighties.
Reader's Guide
The Irish Radio Transmitters Society has played a central role in organizing and supporting amateur radio in Ireland since its formation in 1932. Its significance lies in its formal agreement with Comreg to manage the entire examination process for the Experimenter's Licence, including setting, organizing, and correcting examinations—a responsibility held since 2005. As the national member society of the International Amateur Radio Union, it represents Irish amateur radio interests internationally. The society operates entirely through volunteer effort, with no paid employees. It publishes a quarterly magazine, Echo Ireland, and a monthly online magazine, EI News, and broadcasts a weekly news service on amateur frequencies. Members have access to a QSL card service and a technical panel. The IRTS organizes amateur radio contests on frequencies from 70 cm to 80 m throughout the year. Its legacy includes preserving the tradition of experimental radio construction that distinguished its founding members from broadcast-focused groups in the 1920s.
Did You Know?
- The IRTS has no paid employees; all tasks are performed by volunteers.
- Since 2005, the IRTS supports the entire examination process for the Experimenter's Licence in agreement with Comreg.
- The first president of the IRTS was Colonel M.J.B. Dennis, call sign EI2B, who had conducted early radio experiments in 1898.
- Membership of the IRTS is not required to sit the amateur radio examinations.
More in Amateur Radio Organizations, Part 2 1-24
Spotted an error? Know more?
Reader corrections go straight into our review queue. Suggest an edit · How this site is sourced