FlirtFM, the student, alternative, and community radio station based in NUI Galway, will celebrate its 20 years on air this month with a series of events to mark the milestone, including radio shows, a silent disco, workshops, and a gala dinner.
Flirt FM was founded in 1995, with Andrew Ó Baoill, then a student, now a director of the university's journalism programmes and a lecturer in English, being a driving force in its creation.
The celebrations begin on Friday September 25 with a meeting up in the NUI Galway College Bar at 7pm, followed by a silent disco in the Róisín Dubh, where former station managers, Fiona McNulty and Keith Wallace will play songs from 1995 to 2005, while the current station manager Paula Healy, and producer/presenter Alan Meaney will play songs from 2005 to 2015.
Saturday 26 will start with registration in Áras na Mac Léinn at 12 midday, with a free lunch served from 12.30pm onwards. There will also be workshops where former Flirt FM presenters will talk about what the station meant to them in their career paths when moving onto other media outlets. For children there will also be face painting, games, and craft activities at the Hub from 1.30pm onwards.
From 1pm, Paddy Duffy will present a live show where he will chat to current and former volunteers and staff about their time at the station. Each person will share their memories, pick a song that represents their time on air, and there will be a couple of live bands in studio. Clips of old shows through the years will also be included.
A documentary on the history of the station will be aired at 5pm, including contributions from past staff and volunteers. At 7.30pm, a three course dinner at The Salthill Hotel, followed by dancing. Tickets for this are available through Eventbrite. See www.flirtfm.ie
