Radiogenic Productions

Back in the mid-1970s, the traffic layout on Bray Seafront was very different from how it is today. To handle the summer tourist rush, the then Bray Urban District Council ran a seasonal system. In the winter, Strand Road was a standard two-way street, but from May to September, it switched to a one-way system. This reliance on drivers noticing temporary signs ultimately led to a tragedy on Bank H...

From Saturday 13th Oct 1990 and the studios of Horizon Radio, Bray, County Wicklow in Ireland. In the studio chairs either side of host Mark Quinn are two men who, in their own unique ways, became guardians of Ireland’s natural world. John Wilson and Éamon de Buitléar. John the trusted Bray vet from the Dublin Road. The man who co-founded Brayvet and to some degree, changed the face of animal care...

In the golden era of the 1950s, Manchester United’s legendary "Busby Babes" dazzled football fans with their youth, talent, and fearless style of play—until tragedy struck in the Munich Air Disaster of 1958, cutting short the lives and careers of many of these gifted young men. But five years before that fateful day, the future icons of English football took to the field in a much humbler setting:...

BLB - Bray Local Broadcasting ceased broadcasting for good at the end of December 1988, bringing to a close more than nine years of service to the local community. Launched in 1979, the station became a beloved fixture in the area, known for its mix of music, local news, interviews, and community-focused programming. As one of the early pioneers of local radio, BLB built strong connections with it...

Despite a nearly ten year on-air and behind the scenes campaign in the 1980's to establish community radio in Bray, County Wicklow and the securing of a legal licence in 1989 by the North Wicklow Community Radio Co-op, we do not have a station such as BLB transmitting community radio in County Wicklow today. In this episode Mark Quinn speaks with John Murphy, Lawrie Hallett and at length, with Pat...

There were tears in the studio at the end of December 1988 when the faders were finally closed on the BLB mixing desk and the transmitter was silenced for good. In this final episode of the series, Mark Quinn muses over the lasting legacy of the radio station. In its nearly ten year life, what did it achieve, what was its legacy and what lasting impression did it make on those who were involved? C...

In this episode Mark Quinn explores when BLB's listeners needed the local community radio station most, it answered the call. At a time when there was no internet or mobile phone services, BLB became the communication channel as Bray suffered two severe weather events in the 1980's. The worst was Hurricane Charley in August 1986 when the River Dargle overflowed, flooding some houses up to a depth...

In episode four of this personal journey through the development of Bray Local Broadcasting, Mark Quinn looks at how, despite the station operating outside the law, local politicians were eager to make appearances on air. The episode also transports us back in time through a collection of radio commercials created for local businesses—many of which have since vanished—providing a rich, nostalgic w...

In the third episode of this series Mark Quinn continues his journey through the history of Bray Local Broadcasting. As the 1980’s progressed BLB experienced significant growth and development, establishing itself as a potent presence in North Wicklow and South County Dublin. The station's programming expanded dramatically, offering a diverse range of shows that catered to various interests and co...

In this second episode we learn how a determined group of young people managed to get their radio station on the air. Before launching, they carefully considered a unique approach to broadcasting. They were determined not to follow in the footsteps of other pirate stations operating at the time. Bray Local Broadcasting was set to stand out, and it very much did when it launched at 11 am on Wednesd...

In an extraordinary life lived to the full, My Auntie Mary is Mary (or Kate) Greenway's life story told openly and honestly to her nephew Mark Quinn. During her life, Mary had 46 different jobs and in later years she put this vast amount of life experience together and created inspirational talks for women that she presented all around the south of England entitled ‘Enjoy being a woman with men in...

BLB Sounds From The Past - Trailer by Mark Quinn

Stories this week: A psychotherapist on how the Irish prison system is dealing with the virus and on the potential mental health impacts arising from the pandemic for the population at large. We revisit Brazil where the number of corona cases has rocketed. We catch up with a couple running a chemist shop in Manhattan, New York City. And the background context from a producer about the making of a...

In the 70s and 80s, an Irish band took the world by storm. The Boomtown Rats fronted by the charismatic, if sometimes controversial singer Bob Geldof. Host Mark Quinn spoke to Bob over the line about the pandemic, life in general and about how the music of The Boomtown Rats continues to have something to say about the times we live in. This is an extended programme. Our photograph of Bob was taken...

12 years ago, Paul Duff left behind the hustle and bustle of Dublin and settled for a new life on Valencia Island, just off the south west tip of Co Kerry. Here he is surrounded by the wild Atlantic Ocean as he tends to his vegetables and a lighthouse. Mark Nevin is model railway enthusiast who can quite easily while away the hours and days building and maintaining his large model railway. It’s a...

'The Older the Fiddle, the Sweeter the Tune' In this one-off special, we feature the words, wisdom and music of John Sheahan. At 80 years of age, John is the last surviving member of the world-renowned band, The Dubliners, who were as famous for their long beards, punishing touring schedules, and it might be said, for their legendary after show drinking sessions! John is a fiddle player of note an...

This week, we're down on our local beach - with a mic on a long boom pole - finding out about the pleasures of all-year-round swimming with Deirdre Fitzgerald and David O’Donoghue, two members of the Bray Sea Bathers. Giulia Rosa talks from Rio de Janeiro about the mixed messages from the government; Alina Starikovich in Minsk talks about the practical steps informed citizens are taking in a count...

85-year-old Joe Bollard is a popular figure and well-known musician around the town of Bray and his hobby as a Internet DJ brings him fans from around the world. Joe who is blind took advice from the Gardai (police) before carrying on with his dauntless daily constitutional to the Seafront. Linda Cullen was the victim of a 'coughing or spitting' attack carried out by a group of intimidating juveni...

Stories about a funeral in Co. Kerry; the young population in Buenos Aires; 93-year-old Josephine Dinan says to put your trust in the Lord; Alpacas in Newtownmountkennedy (the longest town name in Ireland); and the Mountains of Mourne made famous by that Don McLean song (written by Percy French). Instagram @StaySafeStaySane. Twitter @StaySafeIRL. Email StaySafeStaySane@gmail.com Music featured (CC...

Stories from USA and Spain. Brian Truglio is a TV documentary editor based outside of Boston, Massachusetts in the United States. When he spoke with Mark he was right in the eye of the Coronavirus storm in so far as he is editing, from home, a TV documentary for 'Frontline' which airs on PBS later in April. His parents are in Florida where it's pretty much business as usual. Mariana Moncasi is bas...

What's it like to have the Coronavirus? In this episode Mark Quinn speaks with Jenny Ring a Psychologist who lives and works in Glasgow, Scotland and who, although only diagnosed over the phone, had all the symptoms of Coronavirus. She recounts in measured detail the physical and mental stress the effects the virus had on her and of nine days self isolation. Mark spoke with Jenny on day nine. Clém...

In this episode, Mark chats with John Ryan, originally from Bray, in Ireland but now living for the past thirty years in Paris, France; and, to web developer Tim Hennick Heuer, from Germany but for the past twenty years a resident in Palmerstown North in New Zealand. Instagram @StaySafeStaySane. Twitter @StaySafeIRL. Email StaySafeStaySane@gmail.com Music used by CCC licence: Soft and Furious - So...