Photos by Pat Shortall
In 1979, two courageous entrepreneurs in Kilkenny, Michael Minogue and Liam Carroll, realised their long-held ambitions of getting their beloved Kilkenny connected to the World on the airwave network. Later to be joined by Fr. Gerry Joyce and other Kilkenny businessmen it was a testing ambition from the moment they first contemplated the idea to the day in October 45 years ago , when the famous Station identity –“You are listening to Kilkenny Community Radio” first wafted it’s way into the homes and workplaces of the Kilkenny Community.
The occasion was commemorated with a touching Birthday celebration at their wholly-owned premises recently.
A large number of people who were part of that Radio shared memories of times past. They spoke of former colleagues who had passed to the ethereal World of radio waves, of colleagues still manning the mics and controls, of telling the stories, and of the great thrill it was to be able to inform and share joy, happiness, and sometimes not so with their own Community on their own Community Radio.
The recently appointed Manager of Community Radio Kilkenny City was positively bubbling with pride as she welcomed all of the people to the Birthday celebration. “I am delighted,” said Jackie O’Neill, “to welcome you here and your presence will most certainly give us all a great surge of determination, and courage to march forward to greater things. Our own people, the people of Kilkenny, have been hugely supportive. That factor alone has become hugely obvious to me over the short period of time I have been here. On a day such as this, many people present will travel back to the early times, and how the vision of the founding fathers has manifested itself to what we now have, a thriving media outlet that serves its own Community with an unqualified distinction.” The Manager thanked all her staff who organised the event so brilliantly. She thanked the musicians – the talented siblings in Burnchurch, plus Paul Barry and Julian O’Dwyer. She thanked all the Public dignitaries, the local Clergy, community groups and organisations, and indeed the listeners.
She was also delighted to tell the audience about a message she received from Taoiseach Simon Harris who congratulated the Radio on its great achievement, and its contribution to their own people and further afield. Taoiseach Simon Harris also made a commitment that he most certainly will visit the Radio on the next occasion he will be in the vicinity.
Readers of the Observer may remember back to 1979. Larry Holmes retained his heavyweight world title by stopping Mike Weaver in Maddison Square Gardens in the 12th round; Willie Mullins trained I Am Maximus to win the Aintree Grand National with Paul Townend in the saddle; Art Garfunkel’s Bright Eyes was number one hit in April, knocked off its perch by Hallelujah (Milk and Honey for a week), and got back at the head of the pack again for a further three weeks; Jack Lynch was Taoiseach; the Pittsburgh Steelers beat the Dallas Cowboys to win the Superbowl, and the Shamrocks from Ballyhale won a County Championship against Erins Own of Castlecomer. Meanwhile, a radio acorn was sown by two fearless Kilkenny sons which morphed into Kilkenny’s one and only Community Radio. And boys oh boys did they celebrate.
