Limerick academic and author turns the dial to radio

AN ACADEMIC from Mary Immaculate College (MIC) has launched a new book looking at the history and influence of radio on everyday life in Ireland.

Dr Rosemary Day is head of the department of media and communications studies at MIC.

Her new book ‘On the Air: 100 Years of Irish Radio’ looks at the history of Irish radio from the very first RTE broadcast on January 1, 1926.

Dr Day said: “I always loved radio and I realised how little is written about it. It’s the first book that has tried to look at the development of radio.

“It’s a cliche but it’s true, Irish people love to talk and love to chat, we like to hear what other people think and we like debate.”

While researching the book, Dr Day quickly realised that RTE didn’t have recording machines until the 1930’s, but Letters to the Editor were a great resource for her and showed a trend in the way conversations were going.

Dr Day said: “People talked about their habits, they might listen to the radio every day, but don’t remember someone who was on the radio, but they might remember listening to a particular station while doing their homework.”

Dr Day, rather than making this an academic book, wanted to make it accessible - it’s for people who love radio in various ways.