The Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI) is preparing to open its doors to visitors for an exciting celebration of 100 years of radio this Friday, 16th September. The event, which forms part of Culture Night 2016, will run from 6pm to 10pm.
To mark the occasion, the BAI building at 2-5 Warrington Place, Dublin 2, will be transformed into a vintage museum of radio artefacts, paying homage to radio from years gone by. A range of exhibition items from the Hurdy Gurdy Museum of Vintage Radio will be available to view.
The exhibition will also include a listening point where visitors can listen to a variety of audio clips from stations across the country including commercial, community and the RTÉ Radio archives.
Commenting on the event, Joe Guilfoyle from the Hurdy Gurdy Museum of Vintage Radio said: “Visitors to the BAI will be able to experience the development of Irish radio since 1916 at first hand. Beside interesting stories and archived recordings from radio stations, several items from the Hurdy Gurdy Museum collection will be on display.
“In addition to a selection of valve and transistor radios, the exhibition will include crystal radios from the 1920s, the earliest type of broadcast receivers; and a working induction coil which would have been used as a spark transmitter over 100 years ago.”
Michael O’Keeffe, BAI Chief Executive, added: “Irish radio has played a very important part in the cultural, social and political life in Ireland over the last century and we hope that this exhibition will add to our enjoyment and understanding of this medium. While the two cultural talks hosted by radio personality and historian Brendan Balfe are booked out, there will still be plenty to see and experience in the BAI offices on the night.”
Ends
Media Queries to: Sebastian Enke / Louise Archbold, DHR Communications, Tel: 01-4200580 / 087-9881837 / 087-2601145.