Flirt FM Installs Calrec Type R As Station Marks 30 Years

Flirt FM 101.3, Galway City's student, community and alternative broadcaster based at the University of Galway, has marked three decades on air since it launched in September 1995. Operated by College Campus Radio DAC, the award‑winning station continues to foreground community connection and student-led storytelling.

Part of the 20+ member Community Radio Ireland network, the station runs with two full-time staff, one part-time role, interns and a dedicated team of volunteer heads overseeing operations and compliance. As many as 150 volunteers contribute to up to 96 shows in a typical week.

Flirt FM has chosen Calrec's Type R as its first digital mixing desk, aiming to give new presenters hands-on access to professional broadcast technology and flexible, scalable workflows. "We chose the Calrec Type R as our first digital desk for a number of reasons; the state broadcaster RTE has a number of them – that means our volunteers gain experience on the same surface as the staff use in national radio. We also considered flexibility, modular setup, the potential to add another set of surfaces into the live studio, and crucially, how approachable the interface is for new users.

"We can have up to 50 different student bookings in Studio 2 during the week, then a band session or a drama group might record dialogue and foley in the same studio over the weekend. The desk handles it all – and we're not even using its full potential yet. We'll be adding live video streaming into the mix over the summer too." said Paula Healy, Station Manager at Flirt FM.

The move supports a packed production schedule across Studio 2 and is designed to build confidence and career-ready skills from day one using industry-standard tools.

The station's name was originally set to be "Vox" (Voice of the Students) before "Flirt" was approved by the broadcasting commission; it was later backronymed to "Fully Licensed Independent Radio Transmission".

Flirt FM broadcasts 11am–4am Monday–Friday out of term, 24 hours Monday–Friday in term time, and 1–10pm on Saturdays. A more detailed interview with Healy is due to follow.

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