KFM

KFM is the only licensed local radio station in County Kildare. It operates from studios in Naas, a commuter town just outside Dublin, and broadcasts on frequencies 97.3 and 97.6 FM. KFM (Co. Kildare FM Radio Ltd.). KFM was established in 2002 by a group of investors, including Clem Ryan, the current CEO; Séan Ashmore, a well-known radio executive; Billy Mulhern, a Naas-based businessman; and David Mongey of Mongey Communications.

Although established in 2002, KFM did not begin broadcasting until 2004 due to a legal dispute between CKR (Carlow-Kildare Radio Ltd.) and the Broadcasting Commission of Ireland (BCI). The litigation stemmed from the fact that CKR had originally held the broadcasting license for the Carlow/Kildare/Kilkenny catchment area. The granting of a new, singular license for Kildare effectively halved the original catchment area. The lawsuit eventually reached the Irish Supreme Court but was later withdrawn by CKR.

KFM began broadcasting in February 2004. It is worth noting that the reallocation of licenses in the Leinster region during this period extended beyond KFM. A prominent example is that the community radio station, Radio Kilkenny, relinquished its license to newcomer KCLR after 12 years on air.

In 2009, an investor group led by Liam O’Shea (MD of Clare FM and board member of Spin South West) sought a majority (55%) stake in KFM, reportedly for a sum exceeding euro 7 million; however, the deal failed to go through. In 2019, Clem Ryan (then KFM CEO), Seán Ashmore (Director), and Anna May McHugh (then Secretary) bought out the remaining shareholders, including David Mongey (MD Mongey Communications) and Liam Ross, owner of The Buggyman golf cart company, for a sum of euro 3 million.

KFM is operated by Co. Kildare FM Radio Limited. Ownership is structured across several intermediary companies, with Clem Patrick Ryan emerging as the largest beneficial shareholder at 48%. Séan Ashmore and Ciara O'Connor, co-owners of Heart Media Limited, each hold 24% indirectly via Heart Media's subsidiary Fessenden Radio Investments Limited. Anna Mae McHugh holds the remaining 4%. As of December 2025, the directors of Co. Kildare FM Radio Ltd. were listed as Anna May McHugh (Chair), Clem Ryan (Executive), Séan Ashmore, and Catherine Wall (Secretary).

It is worth noting that Ashmore holds stakes in several other Irish radio stations through Heart Media which is the majority (84%) shareholder in East Coast FM in Wicklow, and the largest single shareholder (40%) in Sunshine 106.8 in Dublin. Ashmore was previously CEO of Classic Hits Radio until 2021 (when he was replaced by Kevin Brannigan of Bay Broadcasting) and remains a director of the company. He was also director of Spirit Radio until 2022.

In terms of programming, KFM is an ‘easy listening’ station and provides popular shows, including the 11-3 show with John Dunne and Kildare Today with Hannah Kelly. CEO, Clem Ryan, presents Ceol agus Caint, a once-weekly traditional and folk music programme.

Although KFM has significant airwave competition given its proximity to Dublin, Ipsos/MRBI Joint National Listenership Survey data showed KFM was the most popular radio station in County Kildare in 2025, with a year-over-year increase of 10,000 daily listeners, representing a 7% increase in market share.