Ireland Calling started broadcasting on Access Radio in Auckland in August 1990 and now broadcasts every Wednesday on Planet FM 104.6 between 10-11pm. The programme can also be heard on Access Radio Wellington 783AM,   Coast Access Radio 104.7FM and Plains FM96.9 in Christchurch.

The programme includes the latest news from Ireland, the latest Irish music and news of events happening within the Irish community throughout New Zealand. Producer and presenter – Oliver Lee also interviews Irish people of interest who visit New Zealand. Some of Oliver’s guests over the years include Irish President Mary Robinson, Irish Prime Minister Albert Reynolds, Irish businessman Dr. Tony O’Reilly, Lord of the Dance Michael Flatley and numerous Irish singers including Christy Moore, Paddy Moloney, Mary Black and Daniel O’Donnell.

The programme is very popular throughout New Zealand and while its target audience is Irish or Irish / Kiwis – Oliver meets people regularly who have no connection with Ireland – yet tune in on a regular basis to hear about the latest events happening Ireland and many also love to hear the Irish music. With the programme now available online each week Oliver has listeners who tune regularly in Australia, Ireland, UK and USA.

For Irish people living in New Zealand the programme keeps the link for these listeners to their homeland – many of whom have not been back to Ireland for over twenty or thirty years. Every September Oliver also links up with RTE Radio in Ireland to relay a broadcast of the All Ireland Hurling and Football finals around New Zealand.

Oliver is originally from Cloonkeen, Kilkerrin, Co. Galway in the West of Ireland and went to school in Colaiste Seosaimh in Glenamaddy. After school he worked in the Ulster Bank in Dublin from 1980-87. He left Ireland in 1987 and spent time in America and Australia before moving to New Zealand in April 1989. He runs a successful publishing business in Auckland which specializes in publishing magazines which are distributed FREE throughout New Zealand with the leading National papers in New Zealand.

Oliver is well known in the Irish community in New Zealand and is always willing to help out with worthwhile causes involving both Irish and non Irish people and he has worked with members of the Irish community over the last twenty years to help raise funds for worthwhile causes.