International Marconi Day, Co. Kerry, Ireland

The Kerry Amateur Radio Group based in Co. Kerry Ireland will participate as an Award Station in this year's International Marconi Day event on Saturday 21st April 2018.

The station will be set up at Colaiste Brhreanainn on the site of the former Marconi Station at Ballybunnion, Co. Kerry, Ireland by the Expeditionary Radio Team of the radio club.

Operation by club members for the full duration of the event from 0000UTC to 2359UTC on 21st April is planned. HF SSB & CW stations are planned for this year on the site as well as a HF data station.

The special event callsign EI6YXQ will be used to commemorate the original callsign of YXQ used by the Marconi Station in Ballybunnion which made world history by achieving the first transatlantic voice radio transmission in March 1919 to the Marconi Station located at Louisberg, Cape Breton in Nova Scotia, Newfoundland in the East to West direction.

The number 6 is used in the callsign as a tribute to the late John O’Carroll EI6AH who organised the event for many years over two decades ago welcoming many amateur radio operators through the doors and always making sure that everyone had a cup of tea and plenty to eat. The welcome extended by John and his family was legendary, embodying the spirit of amateur radio and friendship.

Our traditional QRZ.com page for EI6YXQ seems to have been taken down by QRZ.com and is unlikely to be re-established in time for this years’ event. The Kerry Amateur Radio Group website has a page with details of operations from the site https://www.kerryamateurradiogroup.com/marconi-station.php 
Once we can get the QRZ.com page re-established we intend to upload the log of contacts to the page also and access permitting we will endeavour to post updates from the station over the course of the event.

The Kerry Amateur Radio Group are looking forward to working as many stations as possible as well as having an enjoyable weekend at the station on this historic site.

More information regarding the Kerry Amateur Radio Group can be found on the club webpage at http://kerryamateurradiogroup.com and the groups QRZ.com page using their callsign EI1K.