BLB Sounds From The Past

This series takes listeners through the incredible history of a community radio station formerly based in Bray, County Wicklow, Ireland which was launched in 1979. The station began as a pirate radio operation, challenging conventional broadcasting norms and setting the stage for global innovation in community radio. The series, told from the perspective of one of its founders, Mark Quinn, provides a deeply personal account of the station’s journey and its profound impact on everyone who was in its orbit.

Credits:

Sound recording by Mike Quinn

Sound mixing by Luke Conlon

High Wire Post Production, Dublin, Ireland

www.highwire.ie

Artwork by Jody Hogg Design

www.jodyhogg.com

Produced and presented by Mark Quinn

The copyright for this podcast series is owned by Mark Quinn and is hereby reserved.

Host

Mark Quinn

Mark began his broadcasting career in 1978 as a founder of Southside Radio in Bray, County Wicklow, Ireland. In 1979, he helped establish Bray Local Broadcasting (BLB), one of Ireland's pioneering independent radio stations, which remained on air until 1988 when formal local radio licensing was introduced. Following licensing, BLB became Horizon Radio. In 1990, Mark and producer Elaine Keogh received a Bray Chamber of Commerce Endeavour Award for their contribution to the local community through broadcasting. Mark began working in television and film post-production in 1982 and founded High Wire in 1997, specialising in quality post-production for television and film. In 2020, Mark returned to broadcasting as a producer and presenter of podcast series, including a documentary on the history and legacy of BLB. He is co-producer and co-host of the popular podcast Bray Talking Heads, continuing his lifelong commitment to broadcasting, storytelling, and community media.