2014 ALTERNATIVE BROADCAST INDUCTEES

DUSTIN THE TURKEY

Perhaps a strange inductee as a non-human puppet but the character has been part of Irish television history, folklore and culture since first appeared on 'The Den' in 1989. He even unofficially garnered a significant amount of spoilled votes in a Irish Presidential election. The puppet has presented his own shows, had number chart singles and albums and represented Ireland in the Eurovision Song Contest in 2008 with 'Irland Douze Points'. The puppet is voiced by John Morrison whose brother Ciaran is part of the team who created Zig and Zag and Podge and Rodge.

ROBIN BANKS

Born in Kilkenny in 1972, he is probably most familiar to Irish viewers as the voice over on Mythbusters on the Discovery Channel. Born Christian Richardson, Robin was bitten by the broadcasting bug at a young age working for a pirate radio station in Kilkenny. He changed name when he joined Atlantic 252 at just seventeen years old. He would go on to work for a number of stations both in Ireland and the UK including Radio Nova, Kiss FM in London and Virgin Radio.

JOHN FRAWLEY

Known as John ‘The Man’ Frawley, this Limerick man began his broadcasting career with pirate radio station RLWE in 1978. He moved on to build his own radio station Radio Luimni and hosted the Breakfast Show until the station closed in accordance with the 1988 Wireless Telegraphy Act on December 23rd 1988. Originally a lead singer with the showband the Monarchs, John’s legacy is perhaps that on most rural independent commercial radio stations today’s the death notices are broadcast each day after the news. Radio Luimni was the first station to do this and gave the station a real sense of community. Six months after the closure of Radio Luimni, John passed away.

THE LATE LATE TOY SHOW

The Late Late Toy Show is an annual TV event since Gay Byrne and Pan Collins created the show in 1975. It has been consistently the most watched TV programme on Irish Television. Usually aired at the end of November the show is a two hour live broadcast featuring the most popular toys of that year. The hosts (Gay Byrne, Pat Kenny and currently Ryan Tubridy) are joined by nearly three hundred children who perform and demonstrate the products.

TONY BOYLAN

Tony began his broadcasting career in the 1940s setting up his own pirate radio station that broadcast under various names. Tony continued to set up his own stations like Radio Galaxy and present shows on stations like Radio Dublin and ARD specialising in playing old 78 records. Tony retired to the Isle of Man with his wife where he continued to be involved in radio setting up Community Radio in Laxey and Ramsey. Tony passed away in 2010.