“The hours are long, the pay is terrible, but the people are great. That’s community radio in a nutshell.”-Celebrating 30 years of Flirt FM

By Finnian Cox

As we approach Flirt FM’s 30th anniversary this weekend, we sat down with the woman behind the soundproof glass- station manager Paula Healy, to discuss how they plan to mark the date.

Paula first joined Flirt FM in 1998- 3 years after the station first went live. In her own words, she did all the boring stuff “typing, putting up posters- even the vacuuming.”

To prove how crucial this job was, she produced a clearly handmade card dated from April of 1999 that sees the staff at the time thanking her for her dust busting.

She admits that she still hoovers, however the last few months have seen her also taking on the task of organizing their ‘Flirtieth Birthday’ celebrations.

“We’re having a day of celebrations” says Paula, her excitement apparent. Based off her enthusiasm, it’s been in the works for a while now.

“We’re going to have a five-hour, drop-in broadcast- if anyone’s bopping around town, they can come in and play their favourite song and just have a general chat.”

Paula points out that many of the people who used to contribute to the station now have children, something that led to them including a kid’s craft table in the band rehearsal room across the hall.

As well as these activities, a film premier of a student-made documentary, Galway ’95 will be held, which is a look back on life in Galway City when the station had its debut broadcast.

Most importantly, Paula describes the highlight as “a hooley.”

“At 6pm in Sult, we’re going to have comedy bingo with comedian Steve Bennet, with a Flirt FM theme. After that we’ve some DJ’s from the station too.”

Unfortunately, Paula rules out the chances of a presidential visit, despite Michael D. Higgins’ close ties to the station.

“I’d say he’s busy out for his last few months,” she jokes.

“To be fair to him, he was here when the station opened, and then again in 2009 when we moved into our current premises.”

President Higgins was the then minister responsible for broadcasting, with his tenure seeing a number of independent radio stations appearing on the airwaves- Flirt among them.

I ask Paula what they have in store for the next 30 years, something that prompts her eyebrows to shoot up and her arms to come up defensively.

“Not the next 30, no, don’t even- I’m looking at the next ten!” she says, having evidently imagined 30 years’ worth of highs and lows in a flash.

“There’s talk about us becoming a part of the student’s union, but we aren’t completely sure if that’s going ahead,” she says.

“We also looking into getting better internet, so that we can do a lot more video streams- we’re thinking like breakfast shows, and happy hour. Some people want to see that, see their friends on air.”

Paula is clearly the drive behind Flirt, few can boast the dedication that she humbly reveals in her anecdotes, as she tells of the more ramshackle days of the station’s earlier years, and the growth that has led to its current form.

Her dedication isn’t unrecognised, thankfully- she sits in front of a wall adorned with thank you cards, flanked by the numerous awards the station has won under her management, and with support of her co-pilots, Eoghan Holland and Heather Hinchon-Quinn.

“I can’t begin to even think of all the people who’ve volunteered here over the years”, she says. “I reckon it’s over two thousand.”

“If I don’t remember your name, I will remember something about your show,” she jokes. “I mean at one point we had five Rorys in here.”

I ask Paula if she reckons it’s possible to summarise the 30-year life of a radio station- a task she hits the ground running with.

“You have to roll with the punches. Is it exhausting? Yes. Has the place flooded? Yes. Have they cut through cables? Yes. Was there a cyber-attack? Also yes,” she replies.

“There have been tough times, but I just think about all the people who have come through the doors- the hours are long, the pay is terrible, but the people are great. That’s community radio in a nutshell.”