WITH CHRISTMAS MARKETS open for business and lights now on throughout the country, the season is well and truly underway as Christmas FM comes back to bring festive songs to the airwaves.

Christmas lights on O'Connell Street Source: Leon Farrell/Photocall Ireland

Returning at lunchtime today, the radio station will play Christmas songs round-the-clock right up to 25 December and will donate all of the funds raised to Focus Ireland.

Every cent raised this year will go towards the charity’s aim of supporting 300 families out of homelessness this year. Recent figures have shown that the number of homeless families has increased sharply in recent years.

Sinead Price, co-director fundraising at Focus Ireland, said their aim of helping 300 families out of homelessness would “make a real and lasting difference” to those involved.

Funded entirely through sponsorship and supported by over 100 volunteers who assist with on-air production and promotion, Christmas FM will be broadcast from the Ballsbridge Hotel in Dublin, who has given the studio space for free.

It's official! @Christmasfm FM broadcasts begin on Nov 28th @ 1pm with our charity partner @FocusIreland Full FM freq list TBC. Please RT — Christmas FM (@christmasfm) November 13, 2016 Source: Christmas FM /Twitter

Last year, the radio station broke its own fundraising record by raising over €265,000 for Make-a-Wish Ireland. To date it has raised €850,000 for charities around the country.

The main radio frequencies for Christmas FM are:

Dublin City and County 105.2FM,

Limerick 105.5FM,

Galway 87.7FM,

Kildare 88.1FM,

Kilkenny 104.3FM,

North Midlands 101.6FM,

Cork 106.7FM,

South East 103.8 FM,

North East 99.4FM,

South Wicklow 106.6FM and

North Wicklow is 107.3FM.

Source: Leon Farrell/Photocall Ireland

Check out the station’s website for digital and online listening options.