Newstalk is Ireland's commercial talk radio station, broadcasting news, current affairs, opinion and sport across the country as Newstalk 106-108 FM. It is a national station aimed at listeners who like a good argument, and you can hear it live on Radio Shuffle for free, whether you are in Dublin or anywhere else in the world.
What Newstalk Broadcasts
According to newstalk.com, the station offers news updates, talk shows, sport, podcasts and video, with programmes including The Hard Shoulder, The Pat Kenny Show, Lunchtime Live and The Claire Byrne Show, and it can be heard on 106-108 FM, on DAB and through its app. Wikipedia's entry adds a weekday breakfast programme, a midday show with Seán Moncrieff, sports coverage in Off The Ball and a weekly Irish-language segment. Line-ups change over time, so check the station's site for who is on air now.
From NewsTalk 106 to a National Voice
Newstalk first aired on 9 April 2002 as NewsTalk 106, launched as Ireland's only commercial all-talk station broadcasting opinion, analysis, entertainment and sport, and it went national on 29 September 2006, according to Wikipedia. The station is operated by News 106 Limited, part of Bauer Media Audio Ireland, under contract with the media regulator. Its owners changed along the way: as summarised in sources on Denis O'Brien, Communicorp bought a majority stake in 2004, and in 2021 the group was sold to Bauer Media Audio.
Sport With Attitude
Newstalk's sports show Off The Ball, described on Wikipedia as an Irish media company founded in 2002 with a podcast network, website and daily radio show, gives GAA, rugby and football fans a place to argue in the evening. That mix of fast talk and dry humour is a big part of the station's identity.
Why Listen From Abroad
If you want to follow Irish politics, business and sport in real time, or hear how Ireland talks about itself when the microphone is on, Newstalk is the commercial counterpart to the public broadcaster's Radio 1. It sits within a family that includes Today FM, 98FM, Spin 1038 and Red FM.
Listen to Newstalk Free on Radio Shuffle
Tune in to Newstalk on Radio Shuffle. No account, no app, no fee. Press play and join the conversation.