No plans in Louth for a site to honour legacy of Radio Caroline

By Olivia Ryan, The Drogheda Independent

There are no plans for a site to commemorate Radio Caroline and north Louth’s links to the legacy of pirate radio stations, Louth County Council has confirmed.

Louth councillor John Reilly submitted a motion to the local authority’s monthly meeting, asking for the council to approve and support “a fitting location commemoration honouring the creativity and vision of Greenore businessman Ronan O’Rahilly, whose Radio Caroline changed the world of broadcasting back in 1964 with the launch of the MV Caroline, which was the first pirate radio station to broadcast popular music of the 1960s.”

Thomas McEvoy, Deputy Chief Executive, Louth County Council responding, saying: “the pioneering efforts of Ronan O’Rahilly, his entrepreneurial spirit and his family’s significant contributions to Greenore Port are indeed notable.”

He added: “We are willing to explore ways to weave his story and that of Radio Caroline into the broader tourism narrative of the Cooley area, to help create a more meaningful and memorable experience for tourists to the area.”

However, he confirmed the council “at this stage do not intend to provide a site commemoration.”

Cllr. Andrea McKevitt, who seconded the motion, said she supported the calls “to keep the historic story of Radio Caroline and the O’Rahilly family alive in the Cooley Peninsula.”