Cathal Funge has produced an excellent radio documentary on 1977 the year that punk established a foothold in Ireland.
The show includes some great reflections by participants including two of the best bands of the era, the Undertones and the Radiators from Space. You can hear:
Elvera Butler (Reekus Records and Cork Kampus venue)
Smiley Bolger (DJ and promoter of Moran’s, McGonagles and the New Inn)
Fachtna O’Ceallaigh (manager of the Boomtown Rats)
John O’Neill (Undertones)
Pete Holidai (The Radiators from Space, Trouble Pilgrims)
John Creedon (broadcaster)
Donal Gallagher (manager of Rory Gallagher)
and the historian Diarmaid Ferriter.
It is a fascinating piece of work, and really captures the spirit of the times.
Here is a link to the documentary:
https://www.todayfm.com/Music/LISTEN:-1977–The-year-Irish-music-was-reborn
Cathal was kind enough to answer some of our questions about the documentary and what inspired him to delve deeper into the story of punk in Ireland.
