Author ORCID Identifier
0000-0001-5603-9412
Abstract
The current paper critically interrogates the predictions made by experts in Irish radio in 2017 and analyses how they align with the reality of the evolved radio landscape in the Republic of Ireland in 2025. In doing so, the article examines developments in radio media in Ireland from 2017 to 2025, situating this national case study within broader European patterns of technological transition and media evolution, and looking ahead to likely developments in the near future. Drawing on longitudinal data from industry analyses, media coverage and regulatory frameworks, it investigates the persistence of FM broadcasting alongside the development of digital streaming platforms. The Irish scenario usefully demonstrates how combinations of institutional configurations, cultural contexts, regulatory frameworks, economic imperatives, and audience behaviours interact to shape technological adoption patterns. This analysis contributes to a broader theorisation of media transformation by demonstrating how technological transitions often follow non-linear pathways that reflect complex socio-technical and political-economic considerations rather than simple technological imperatives.
Recommended Citation
Murphy, Kenneth
(2026)
"Irish Radio's Digital Transition: Back to the Future,"
Irish Communication Review:
Vol. 19:
Iss.
1, Article 18.
Available at:
https://arrow.tudublin.ie/icr/vol19/iss1/18