A Century of Irish
Radio 1900 -2000
This new book tells the story of how this popular medium with much of
its early history centered in Ireland, has revolutionised and changed Irish
society more than any other medium.
“An excellent work, this book is a must”, Ian Biggar,
The DX Archive (Scotland)
“An excellent read”, Amazon 5* review by Premier Radio
“If you’ve an interest in broadcasting, this book is
for you. Well worth the money”, Aidan Cooney Q102 Presenter and former Ireland
AM (TV3) host
“Eddie’s magnus opus is the most comprehensive work on the history and evolution of radio in Ireland. Historically important record” Eoin Morgan News4 Newspaper
“A great book”, Ralph McGarry radio presenter
“A great book”, Ralph McGarry radio presenter
“A superb read” E. Burbage on Goodreads
“A great read” Rob Allen 96FM Cork
This comprehensive story begins when Ireland became the first nation in
the world to be declared by radio during the iconic events of the 1916 Easter
Rising. It charts the birth of legal radio in 1926 which is shrouded in scandal
and reports of corruption with fatal consequences. Irish radio while born in
the twenties, the evolutionary 1930's would change how the Irish listener
consumed and interacted with the’ wireless’. The book tells why Radio Eireann’s
revenue in 1932 was £220 but a year later they reported revenues of £22,000. In
the 1930’s you could learn to swim on the radio or listen to commentaries on
the International Fishing competitions held on the rivers and lakes of Ireland.
You can read about an anti-Jazz movement whose legal ramifications are still
felt today and how the Church and State battled both for and on the airwaves.
We unravel an urban myth that the first ever radio broadcast of ‘The Saint’ was
on Radio Eireann in 1940. The book tells the story of the first man in the
world to die on hunger strike, Sean McNeela having been convicted of pirate
radio broadcasting. The book acknowledges the real success of Radio Eireann as
it transformed rural Ireland on limited resources and offered women a new
independence and perspective.
The Irish language was relegated to third place for a time on the
official airwaves but the radio battle for our native language to have access
to the ether has been long, protracted and eventful. Irish radio has been a conduit
for propaganda and has become Americanised with men like Bill Cunningham
changing how we consume radio, the giveaways, the profits and even the success
and failure of Atlantic 252. The book tells how this nation interacts with the
rest of the world through radio and how ironically it was two Englishmen
Leonard Plugge and Chris Cary who revolutionised radio in Ireland.
For the first time ever, the book lists and offers station histories of
over one thousand illegal pirate radio stations from the first conviction of
Michael Madden in 1935 to the commercial successes of the so called super
pirates of the 80’s with Nova and ERI. The book examines the impact of
political pirate radio in Northern Ireland at the beginning of the troubles and
how paramilitary pirate stations brought down a Government and accelerated the
end of a major political career. It documents how pirate radio and TV both
threatened Government policy and led to dramatic change. As an avalanche of
pirate radio stations across the country forced new legislation creating legal
independent radio and television, commercial interests would dominate and cause
further controversy with stories of fraud and corruption.
Learn about the good and evil within pirate radio, how this illegal
activity created today’s radio industry. ‘A Century of Irish Radio 1900-2000’
covers the border blasters, the innovators, the urban myths are dismantled, and
we reveal the careers of characters and presenters from Michael O’Hehir and Larry
Gogan to Dave Fanning and Andy Preston. The first full comprehensive history of
Irish radio in decades is detailed in this 595-page book.
Copies of the book can be purchased here:
