Radio Ireland ready to go on air with a big St Patrick's Day bash

AFTER all the talk about big names joining Radio Ireland, the first voice to be heard at midnight tomorrow will be an anonymous…

AFTER all the talk about big names joining Radio Ireland, the first voice to be heard at midnight tomorrow will be an anonymous one. It will be part of a voice montage, the sounds of "modern Ireland", according to the station's publicity material.

The two minute montage, which was the brainchild of the chairman of Radio Ireland, Mr John McColgan, will precede a short message from the President, Mrs Robinson, to launch the station.

The first hour of national commercial radio since the collapse of Century Radio in November 1991 will consist of music and chat from some of the station's presenters and interviews with people attending the launch party at the Jervis Centre beside Radio Ireland's Dublin studios.

Radio Ireland is taking over the Jervis Centre for its launch party which will be attended by people from showbusiness, politicians, representatives of the media and people who receive regular mention in newspaper gossip columns.

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Radio Ireland on Air ends at 1 a.m. and will be followed by Through the Night, which will provide music and chat until Classical Countdown between 7 and, 8 a.m. Radio Ireland will then begin a St Patrick's Day adaptation of what will become its normal daily schedule.

Daybreak, with Emily O'Reilly and Gavin Duffy, will review current affairs and national and international news, as well as providing half an hour of conversation with Irish people from around the world.

The highlight for many on the St Patrick's Day schedule will be the one hour special Scrap Saturday, recorded before a live audience. Dermot Morgan, Gerry Stembridge, Pauline McLynn and Owen Roe will "relive the legend" between 1 and 2 p.m.

Ann Marie Hourihane and Eamon Dunphy will present a news and current affairs programme later in the evening.

The launching of Radio Ireland had been touch and go until the beginning of this month. Its contract with the Independent Radio and Television Commission was not signed until March 3rd. Two weeks before that, the chief executive, Mr Dan Collins, was dismissed amid controversy.

Relations between Mr Collins, Mr McColgan and other promoters of the station had broken down, with Mr Collins accusing Mr McColgan of undue interference and Mr McColgan and others saying that the preparations for going on air were proceeding took slowly.

. A settlement has been reached between Radio Ireland and its former chief executive, Mr Collins. A joint statement described the settlement as amicable.