Radio Milinda
Encyclopedia
Radio Milinda was the first pirate radio
station in the Ireland
to be raided by police and prosecuted. On Sunday, December 17, 1972 almost 100 police raided the station at 5 North Gloucester Place, Dublin (better known as The Diamond). Seven people were arrested and taken to Store Street police station, where they were later fined £2. The equipment and all records and tapes were confiscated.
The station first began test transmissions early on in 1972 from the upstairs of a youth club in Dublin 1. with a very small transmitter. Ger Wallace designed the Big Transmitter. Jimmy McCabe constructed it in a biscuit tin and the chassis of a broken E.C.G. machine. The aerial was spread from the roof of the tenements in Summerhill to the roof of the tenements in Sean Mc Dermott Street “No Mean Feat” (5 Stories High). It was ⅓ of a kilometer (300 metres) long with a tap
at 100 metres. It came into the station via the roof of 5 North Gloucester Place.
The station was set up in two rooms in the basement. These rooms had been unused since the second world war
and were used without alteration other than the cable run for power. There were no windows and the studio per se was built of bits of orange boxes and whatever else came to hand.
The first DJs were Jimmy Lynch, Jimmy McCabe (McCabe’s Country) and Richie Kearns. They were later joined by Michael Lynch, Declan Meehan and Mark Storey and on one or two occasions by Fran Gleeson. Although it has been stated that the power output was of 50 Watts, Radio Milinda had QSLs from Wales, Brighton and a bit further inland in the United Kingdom
. Radio Milinda became a member of B.I.R.M. Brighton Independent Radio Movement, an organisation who tried to legalise the then pirate radio scene.
Irish pirate radio
Pirate radio in Ireland has had a long history, with hundreds of radio stations having operated from within the country. Due to past lax enforcement of the rules, the lack of commercial radio until 1989, and the small physical size of the country, pirate radio has proliferated up to recent years...
station in the Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
to be raided by police and prosecuted. On Sunday, December 17, 1972 almost 100 police raided the station at 5 North Gloucester Place, Dublin (better known as The Diamond). Seven people were arrested and taken to Store Street police station, where they were later fined £2. The equipment and all records and tapes were confiscated.
History
Radio Milinda was originally the brain-child of Jimmy McCabe who built the guts of the transmitter. The Name “Milinda” which should have been “Melinda”, was taken from the song “Come Away Melinda” as sung by Tim Rose.The station first began test transmissions early on in 1972 from the upstairs of a youth club in Dublin 1. with a very small transmitter. Ger Wallace designed the Big Transmitter. Jimmy McCabe constructed it in a biscuit tin and the chassis of a broken E.C.G. machine. The aerial was spread from the roof of the tenements in Summerhill to the roof of the tenements in Sean Mc Dermott Street “No Mean Feat” (5 Stories High). It was ⅓ of a kilometer (300 metres) long with a tap
Tap
-Mechanical and electrical:* Tap , a device for controlling the release of a liquid or gas* Tap , part of an electrical device* A cutting tool, part of a tap and die set-Entertainment:* Tap dance...
at 100 metres. It came into the station via the roof of 5 North Gloucester Place.
The station was set up in two rooms in the basement. These rooms had been unused since the second world war
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
and were used without alteration other than the cable run for power. There were no windows and the studio per se was built of bits of orange boxes and whatever else came to hand.
The first DJs were Jimmy Lynch, Jimmy McCabe (McCabe’s Country) and Richie Kearns. They were later joined by Michael Lynch, Declan Meehan and Mark Storey and on one or two occasions by Fran Gleeson. Although it has been stated that the power output was of 50 Watts, Radio Milinda had QSLs from Wales, Brighton and a bit further inland in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. Radio Milinda became a member of B.I.R.M. Brighton Independent Radio Movement, an organisation who tried to legalise the then pirate radio scene.