Sunshine 106.8 is an easy listening radio station, targeting an over-35s audience, that broadcasts to the Dublin area.

The station emerged from a highly competitive Broadcasting Commission of Ireland call for applicants to operate a special interest music service for Dublin in 2001. There were nine application in total with the Star Broadcasting consortium proposing a station focused on country music. The consortium was led by the independent television producer and presenter Dave Harvey, supported by the country music promoter and then Fianna Fail senator, Pascal Mooney, Paul Coulson, founder of the aircraft leasing firm Yeoman International and Hugh Brown, the former chief executive of Carlow Kilkenny Radio. The Star consortium prevailed and 'Dublin's Country 106.8FM’ went on air in October 2001

Country Mix struggled for profitability for several. By 2003, its share of the Dublin market was just 4%. It recapitalised in 2002/2003 to fund extensive marketing campaigns bringing additional investors -  notably Tyrone businessman Gerry Carron whose 28% stake made him the largest shareholder and publican Peter Norton – on board. In 2004 the station appointed former head (and still shareholder) of East Coast Radio, Sean Ashmore, as its new chief executive.  

Under Ashmore’s leadership the company made a number of unsuccessful applications to the Broadcasting Commission of Ireland  to change its name and consequently broaden its music policy. In 2005, the BCI permitted a minor – but telling – name change to 'Country Mix 106.8'. 

In 2014, at a point when the special interest music service licence was re-advertised for applications, Star Broadcasting informed the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland that their experience demonstrated that any radio service focusing exclusively on a 'pure country' format was not financially viable. The BAI approved decision to rebrand in 2010 as Sunshine 106.8 appeared to reflect this logic. The title “Sunshine” evoked one of the most successful Dublin pirate stations of the 1980s and hinted at a further dilution of the focus on country music towards a more “mellow” easy-listening playlist. 

The name change was followed by further changes in ownership. The existing shareholders had retained Merrion Stockbrokers in 2006 in a bid to sell the station but it appears they were unable to attract meaningful interest. In 2012, however, Sean Ashmore’s Heart Media (via Broadcast Investments Limited) and Bay Broadcasting each took a 45.2% share in Star Broadcasting (following the issuing of an additional 20 million B class shares). Ashmore also had a small personal shareholding equivalent to just over 2% of the total number of shares. The effect of this was to dilute the holdings of previously dominant shareholders   like Gerry Carron and Paul Coulson to less than 2% each. 

Subsequent shifts in shareholdings have seen Broadcast Investments Limited and Bay Broadcasting’s holding move to 40.77% and 38.14% respectively as of close 2025. 

As of March 2025, the station has an audience share of listening of 8.9% in the Dublin area, making it the second most listened to Dublin-licenced station, behind Radio Nova. 

(Last updated in April 2026)