One More Thing:Businessman Michael McNamara and Radio Ireland have enlisted the help of jiggy trad accordion virtuoso Sharon Shannon in its bid for the multi-city radio licence on offer from the Broadcasting Commission of Ireland (BCI).
Shannon, we're told, has agreed to become a non-executive director of the station but will not be a shareholder.
It's an interesting move by the Cream consortium. The group is led by McNamara, who hails from Limerick and is a former RTÉ broadcaster. McNamara's Heart FM consortium had an unsuccessful tilt recently for the Limerick licence held by UTV.
Dublin-based Radio Ireland is the majority shareholder with a 45 per cent stake and the station would broadcast from the capital.
Tony Barry, of the well known Cork tea family, gives a rebel twist while Shannon adds a west of Ireland dimension. Riverdance supremo John McColgan is also on board.
Cream, so named because Radio Ireland boss Willie O'Reilly liked the 1960s British rock band of the same name, is planning to invest about €2.5 million in the new station, aimed at over-45s, and expects it to break even after four years.
If successful, it will reside with Today FM and FM104 in their new studios in Diggs Lane, which are due to open at the end of this year. Cream's bid document will land with the BCI today.
