On Tuesday the 6th of December 2016 last, members of the Tipperary Amateur Radio Group met at The Park Hotel in Clonmel at 8pm for their Annual General Meeting. This was a well attended meeting with group members travelling from Countys Kilkenny, Waterford and Cork joining their County Tipperary based colleagues.
Hugh EI2HI chaired this very productive meeting with John EI7IG reading the minutes from last years AGM. The group treasurer Thomas EI2IT reported a healthy financial situation for the radio group which was formed in October 1994. A review of the year and the group activities was then discussed at length as well as the installation of the Groups new UHF Repeater EI7HXR on 430.850MHz which went on air recently from Harney’s Cross near Clonmel.
Particular praise was given to Eddie EI3FFB who over the last number of years had read the weekly IRTS news every Sunday evening at 8.30pm on 145.450mhz FM. His efforts were very much appreciated.
Tommy EI2IT and Ronan EI4KN have taken over from Eddie as the weekly news readers which will continue on 145.450mhz as well as on the EI7HXR repeater at 8.30pm every Sunday. The new incoming committee was then elected and it was agreed that the venue for all group meetings in 2017 will continue to be held at The Park Hotel, Clonmel, Co Tipperary. Paul EI3ENB will continue as the Group QSL Manager and Seamus EI8EPB as Group Technical Advisor. The meeting concluded at 11pm when Hugh EI2HI thanked all for their input and attendance.
The Annual General Meeting of the Tipperary Amatuer Radio Group will be held at The Park Hotel, Clonmel on Tuesday the 6th of December 2016 at 8pm. This is the most important meeting of the calender year and all group members are asked to attend. Short Wave Listeners are in particular very welcome. A number of radio related topics are up for discussion as well as plans for participation in up coming events for 2017.
The next meeting of the Tipperary Amateur Radio Group will take place in The Park Hotel, Clonmel on Wednesday next the 11th of May 2016 at 8pm. This meeting is open to all and Short Wave Listeners are in particular very welcome to attend. A number of radio related topics are up for discussion as well as plans for participation in up coming events for 2016.
On Tuesday the 22nd of March 2016 in Cahir House Hotel, Cahir, Co Tipperary, Olivier ON4EI/EI8GQB gave a very interesting presentation to the members of the Tipperary Amatuer Radio Group. The topic of this presentation was on the use of green energy to power the contest station EI1A which is operated by Olivier in Fethard, Co Tipperary. This was an excellent presentation by Olivier which with the aid of slides and video footage, covered all aspects of contesting from the initial setting up of the station, antennas, equipment and to the operation of EI1A. Olivier travels to Ireland regularly from Belguim to Fethard to participate in various contests. IRTS President Ger EI8CC also attend this meeting and addressed the group on his capacity as president of our national society. TARG would like the thank both Olivier ON4EI/EI8GQB and Ger EI8CC for their attendance.
(standing) John EI7IG, John EI5HDB, Ronan EI5HRB, Paul EI3ENB, Eddie EI3FFB, Eoghan EI5HBB (seated) Andy EI5JF, Olivier ON4EI/EI8GQB, Ger EI8CC, Hugh EI2HI, Tommy EI2IT .
The death of Alfie Coyle EI3BQB occurred suddenly on Friday the 9th of October 2015. He is survived by his wife Teresa, four children Steve, Santina, Nicola and Amanda. Alfie who was originally from Castlederg, County Tyrone lived in Crossroads, and Killygordan, County Donegal before he moved to Cashel in County Tipperary with his family in 1987. He got his licence and call sign EI3BQB in 1984 when he was a member of the DARC (Donegal Amateur Radio Club). Alfie Coyle was one of the founding members of Tipperary Amateur Radio Group which was formed in Grants Hotel, Cashel on the 19th of October 1994. He was elected as the groups first Chairman on the original committee and he was very proactive in the organising of group activities in its early years. Alfie was laid to rest in Rosegreen Cemetery, Cashel, Co Tipperary on Monday the 12th of
October 2015.
The next meeting of the Tipperary Amateur Radio Group will be held at The Park Hotel, Clonmel on Thursday the 3rd of September 2015 at 8.30pm. This meeting is open to all and Short Wave Listeners are in particular very welcome to attend. A number of radio related topics are up for discussion along with plans for participation in the upcoming IRTS SSB Field Day which takes place on the weekend of 5th and 6th of September.
April and May 2015 have been busy months for members of Tipperary Amateur Radio Group who participated in both the recent EI Counties Contests. The club callsign was used to give out points in County Galway on Easter Monday and then County Kilkenny on Sunday the 17th of May. Other group members who participated in the contests from various locations were Eddie EI3FFB, Andy EI5JF, Hugh EI2HI, Tommy EI2IT, John EI7IG and Paul EI3ENB.
At the IRTS AGM in Kilkenny the group were presented with the winning trophies for 80m Counties Contest (Portable section) and VHF section of the UHF/VHF Field Day.
The IRTS news is transmitted every Sunday evening at 8.30pm on 145.450mhz FM and to promote activity on the 2m band there is a net after the news call-in where everyone is welcome to participate.
Finally, congratulations to Eddie EI3FFB who is listed in the credits of the movie The Quiet Hour. Eddie supplied his radio equipment as a ‘prop’ in the making of the movie which was filmed last year in Co Tipperary. This movie was recently nominated for Best UK Feature Film and is a winner of the Kansas Film Festival.
The next meeting of the Tipperary Amateur Radio Group will be held at The Park Hotel, Clonmel on Thursday the 7th of May 2015 at 8.30pm. This meeting is open to all and Short Wave Listeners are in particular very welcome to attend. A number of radio related topics are up for discussion as well as plans for participation in the upcoming IRTS 40m Counties Contest.
Back row: EI2IT, EI5JF, EI7IG, ON4EI/EI8GQB Front row: EI2JB, EI2HI, EI3ENB, EI3FFB
At our recently held March meeting, Oliver, ON4EI/EI8GQB dropped in to say hi. He outlined to the group some of is preparatory work in advance of CQ WW WPX SSB Contest. Fingers crossed he does as well this time as he did last year. The meeting continued quite late into the evening with lots being discussed.
