Radio75         bbermingham@corkcity.ie    www.bbermingham.com

Ladies & Gentlemen

I am delighted to represent the City of Cork as Deputy Lord Mayor at this your 75th anniversary. From the wireless to the web

May I congratulate you on your beautiful website.

The exhibition, leaflet, reveals some of RTE’s rich heritage - the great programmes of the past, the big themes of the present and the innovating spirit in which we enter the future.

RTE’s landmarks are part of the tapestry of our lives.

We have our collective and individual memories of past programmes, present day likes and dislikes, elation and disappointments, and aspirations for the future of Irish Radio.

As we, discuss and debate these, we say with one voice to RTE management and Staff down the years Congratulations and a big Thank You on a successful project well done.

At this time, may I especially thank and ask you to remember your colleagues who have given their working lives and who have since retired or crossed over, -- having laid the very firm foundation on which your successful Radio rests to-day.

Early History

In 1887 a chap called Hertz, was the first to detect radio waves by causing a spark to leap across a gap that generated electromagnetic waves.

In 1894 as you know Marconi invented his spark transmitter with antenna at his home in Italy.

In 1912 regular broadcasting began in San Jose, America and due to the Titanic disaster all ships were required to have radios with 2 operators and auxiliary power.

By 1915 the first transatlantic radio transmission occurred.

In 1926 Dáil Éireann decreed that broadcasting should be a state service.

When Radio broadcasting began in Ireland, it was essentially a local Dublin station for its first year, but since its formation as a company in 1927, RTE has led the world in a number of programme firsts.

Ø  First live commentary outside the USA of a sporting event,

Ø  First outside broadcast relay from Bohemian Picture Theatre, 5.1.1926

Ø  First Education programme 25.1.1926

Ø  First relay from outside Dublin - concert by Waterford Choral society, 26.3.26

Ø  First relay from overseas - Recital by              Phil-har-monic Quartet, from BBC 1.2.1926.

Ø  First radio commercials

Ø  First technical trouble - 9-minute break at 8.03pm on 4.1.1926. Cause not recorded.

Ø  First Sponsored programme in 1927

Ø  First station to announce Lindberg's crossing of the Atlantic in 1927.

 

This is certainly an impressive list of firsts for the new station.

It quickly grew home “radio stars” & personalities

Micheál O'Hehir had made his broadcasting debut at the age of 18 in 1938, and was now one of the country's most familiar voices associated with GAA football, horseracing and show jumping

In the 1940’s Eamonn Andrews made his broadcasting debut with a boxing commentary from the National Stadium.

People say, it was the Late Show that changed Irelands norms and mores, but RTE Radio played a vital part in education, raising awareness levels on many issues over the decades, reflecting and creating a new society,

The Gay Byrne show became a national institution with its listener involvement, social advice, and its treatment of controversial subjects. It ended in 1998

The first regular phone-call programme was sponsored by Albright and Wilson and featured Gay Byrne chatting with housewives at home.

I’ve selected but a few, -- programme highlights

Ø  In 1932 2RN covered the World Congress in Dublin using a new high-powered transmitter of 100 kilowatt.

Ø  Irish listeners heard the voice of John McCormack singing at High Mass.

Ø  “Take the Floor” was a re-creation of an Irish Ceili dance complete with Din Joe as compare.

Ø  It was the first time that audiences heard Irish dancing, as a featured item on radio.

Ø  Paddy Crosbie's  “The School Around the Corner', where the stars were the schoolchildren.

For many, Radio’s major events were on Sunday, with comedy programmes at lunchtime, A GAA Match shortly afterwards, and in the evening, 'Question Time' and the Sunday Night Play, with the supremely versatile Radio Éireann Players.

Sponsored Programmes began to be taken seriously, to help the station to be self-supporting and lasted until 1981 when they were replaced by station programmes with spot advertising.

The formats included music, drama serials, household hints, travel programmes, quiz shows, comedy, short stories, arts and entertainment, personal advice, sports, news and agricultural updates - all contributed to a growing audience.
 

Some sponsored programmes were eventually taken over by RTÉ in particular,

Ø  The Kennedys of Castleross, the popular drama serial,

Ø  Sunday Miscellany.

News

The outbreak of World War II, and Ireland's neutral stance, meant the Radio Éireann had to be extra careful in its news broadcasts.

In 1945, the entire nation tuned in to hear the Taoiseach, Eamonn De Valera reply with dignity and restraint to British Prime Minister Winston Churchill’s remarks about Ireland.

A newspaper strike in 1952, prompted RTÉ to introduce news bulletins at 8.00am and 9.00am.

To-day Morning Ireland and 5-7 live are tops in professional news presentations

Local Radio

By 1990, RTE ceased to have a monopoly in Irish broadcasting.

A new Independent Radio and Television Commission began to oversee the development of commercial broadcasting.

To day there are 43 local and community radio stations and a national independent service

To-day FM

I would very much like in this atmosphere of celebration and least they be forgotten, to acknowledge these excellent presenters & programmes based in Cork during our Local Radio years.

They pioneered Local Radio and Local public broadcasting.

The quality of personalities and – programmes

in a City immersed in the sea of depression of the 1980’s and early 1990’s, brought spirit and hope to a community on its knees.

RTE Local Radio opened the doors to local commercial radio. Of course we were upset at the demise of Our Local Radio, which is undoubtedly an essential part of RTE’s history.

As time marches on, into the radio digital era hopefully it will bring new opportunities to Local radio and RTE

Finally then, I can assure all, that from <Merconi to Creedon and all in between “VIDEO has not killed the Radio Star”.  Thank you.

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