“WHEN I’M a’walkin’ I strut my stuff, then I’m so strung out” were the first English language lyrics to be broadcast on Raidió na Gaeltachta, exactly five years ago.
That lyric is the opening line from The Violent Femmes great song ‘Blister In The Sun’ and it heralded the launch of ANOCHT fm, RnaG’s night-time service dedicated to youth and young adult audiences.
The change to station policy was significant and controversial but over the last five years ANOCHT fm has grown into an innovative and significant presence in the broadcasting of rock, pop, world music, techno, and electronica. This Saturday ANOCHT fm will start a series of celebrations to mark its fifth birthday.
An Ghealach Ghorm, the folk music programme presented by Áine Hensey has been there from the start and this Saturday night it will play songs that have been the most popular with listeners since the show began.
On Tuesday, An Caifé Ceoil, a new programme in the ANOCHT fm schedule since January, will see presenters Síle Ní Scanláin and Colman Seoighe look back at the last five years, talk to presenters of the early ANOCHT fm programmes, and listen back to archive recordings of the first night’s broadcast in 2005.
Cian Ó Cíobháin’s underground music programme An Taobh Tuathail has been on the air for almost 11 years, and has been part of the ANOCHT fm schedule from the start. On May 18 Cian will have a special edition of the programme marking the 30th anniversary of the suicide of Ian Curtis, the lead singer of Joy Division.
Though together for three short years, the songs that Joy Division left behind made more of an impression on Cian than pretty much anything else in the rock canon. Ever since discovering their music in the summer of 1991, the presenter has been infatuated with their work.
“ANOCHT fm and the introduction of English-language lyrics from 9pm to 1am was a giant step for RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta,” said Seán Ó hÉanaigh, RnaG’s director of programmes. “As we celebrate its fifth birthday it’s great to be able to say it was certainly a step worth taking, and that it has been a great success.”
ANOCHT fm can be heard on RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta every night from 9pm to 1am. See www.rte.ie/rnag
