The Goo 1
Regular PHOTO BY: NORMA BURKE ME JEWEL AND DARLIN
' DUBLIN - Simon Maher Simon Maher founded 8Radio.com in 2013, a station which is one of the remaining bastions of independent broadcasting currently operating in Ireland today. Simon was one of the founders of the late, much lamented Phantom FM which introduced listeners to a whole universe of music that other stations were unwilling to play, a tenet that happily continues within the walls of 8Radio. It is mostly an online music station, but has sometimes received a temporary licence from the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI) for FM broadcasts in Dublin, Cork, Galway and Limerick. Simon also presents his own programme, The Saturday Selection at 5pm every week. Where do you live? I live in Kiltipper, Dublin 24. Been here since 2005. Ballybrack and Dun Laoghaire before that. How do you get around the city? Driver mainly - love my Alfa Romeos but using the Luas and the bus more these days too. Do you have a secret refuge/ hiding place? Funnily enough, the most peaceful place in my world is the 8Radio studio in Dawson Street. A real refuge from the chaos of modern life and there are always good tunes playing and the kettle on. Sorted! If you found 50 euros on the street where would you spend it? I should say something profound here but truth be known it would probably be on Chicken and an album. Probably in that order too. Favourite boozer? Not being a drinker, I’ve always looked for something else in a pub and the best things for me are a nice room and good music so unsurprisingly I’m going to say Whelans. Like for so many music lovers, most of the major events in my life have happened within 200 metres of Whelans or the old Roma II. PAGE 46 Favourite building/street? I love the trees on Dawson Street where 8Radio is based these days but I’ve always been a fan of some of our lesser loved streets like Montague Street (off Harcourt Street) and from my youth, Patrick Street in Dun Laoghaire is a favourite. Favourite walk? Still a seaside boy so take me out to the East or West piers in Dun Laoghaire or out the South Wall. Seaside and Ships - what more could I ask for! Favourite shop/cafe/eatery? I love a Cinnamon bun from Simon’s Place in the Georges St Arcade and for sheer culinary class you can’t go wrong with the Fairview Grill or the Embassy in Ballsbridge. One thing you miss that’s gone in Dublin? The oul fella in me misses the Screen Cinema and the full size Savoy 1 but being a radio head I also miss the times when Dublin was one of the most progressive radio cities in Europe with a wide variety of stations playing everything from Acid Jazz to low-fi Indie. We’ve really lost out on that vibrancy in recent years in much the same way as we’ve squeezed the arts out of the city too. Best memories of Dublin in your 20s? Heading to Midnight at the Olympia gigs, learning to drive and being able to explore the city properly and the joy of the pirates. One thing Dublin needs more of? Dublin desperately needs to be loved more by the people who have responsibility for us. That’s not just the local authorities and the government but by the citizens too. Dublin isn’t a developement plan or a consultants report, it’s a living breathing thing and like the rest of us, it needs minding. If I ruled Dublin I would… try to reignite pride in the city. Have to have things to be proud of though, whether that’s artist and performance spaces, nice streetscapes, proper policing, really good ice cream and just being sound. Obviously I would also give a radio licence to 8Radio.com :) 8Radio broadcasts on FM in September to celebrate their 10th Birthday. Friday Sept 1st to Sunday 3rd, and then for 10 days in a row from Friday 8th to Sunday 17th Sept. FM Frequencies are: Dublin 105.2 / Cork 106.7 / Limerick 105.5 / Galway 87.9.