WLR made its first official broadcast from Rick Whelan's (station director) garage in Butlerstown on June 23rd 1978. The station proved very popular in its fledgling months, broadcasting from 10am to 6pm with original presenters Rick Whelan, Pat Haberlin, Ray O'Brien, Geoff Harris, Jackie O'Keeffe and Tom Mullane.

By October 1978 broadcast hours had extended to 8am - 7.30pm and news bulletins had been introduced.

November 1978 saw the introduction of local community programming and also saw the station's first raid by the P&T on the 8th. Despite the confiscation of their transmitter, WLR were back on air within 40 minutes of the raid with a spare transmitter.

In January 1979 the broadcast hours were extended again from 7.30am to 1.30am.

There was another P&T raid in March 1979 but the station returned the following day.

In September 1979 WLR made the move from Butlerstown to Wellington St in Waterford city and made its first FM broadcast.

The station went from strength to strength over the years but was forced to close at 6pm on December 31st 1988 in compliance with the new broadcasting wireless and telegraphy act.