Seems like an unlikely pairing admittedly -- pop maestro Neil Hannon with songstress turned Irish Presidential candidate Dana -- but the two performers were appearing together last week all in the name of radio.

They were taking part in the landmark launch by Arqiva of 14 national digital radio stations on DAB at an event held at the Ulster Hall in Belfast.

The event featured exclusive live music performances from Enniskillen-educated Hannon performing with Thomas Walsh of The Duckworth-Lewis Method together with Imagination's Leee John -- also not often seen on the same bill.

The Minister for Culture, Arts and Leisure, Car�l N� Chuil�n, together Dana, switched on the signal at the Ulster Hall, bringing 1.4 million people 14 digital radio stations on digital national commercial radio on for the first time.

This will reach 80 per cent of households in Northern Ireland, with 10 of the stations for the first time on DAB.

The switch-on was marked by a unique collaboration between commercial broadcasters. The switch-on of sixnew DAB digital radio transmitters by Arqiva at Divis, Carnmoney Hill, Derry, Brougher Mountain, Strabane and Limavady means that 1.4 million listeners can now enjoy a full variety of different stations with rock, pop, dance, jazz, classical and decade stations, in addition to religious and sports stations.

Commentary for Premier League matches will be broadcast in Northern Ireland on DAB on both talkSPORT and Absolute Radio, in addition to BBC Radio 5 Live.

The full 14 DAB station line-up is: Absolute Radio, Absolute Radio 80s, Absolute Radio 90s, Smooth Radio, Smooth 70s, Jazz FM, Planet Rock, Team Rock, BFBS and Premier Christian Radio, andClassic FM, talkSPORT, Kiss and UCB. Listeners can check which stations they can receive at getdigitalradio.com