Sea Stories

A Real Ireland postcard from the 1980s features a woman with a seagull perched on top of her head! To the visitors who sent this card to places all over the world this woman was known as ‘The Bird Lady of Bray’. However, to the people of Bray and the listeners to East Coast FM, she was simply, ‘Aunty’ Ethel, a much-loved and slightly eccentric character, fond of ‘a drop of the cratur’ and who occasionally cropped up on air to share her amusing stories. Following Ethel’s death in 2015, social media sites were swamped with affectionate tributes to Ethel - one of the last of Bray’s iconic characters. But who really was Aunty Ethel? And how did she come to be East Coast’s ‘unofficial tea lady’? Radio producer Pat Hannon recorded a private interview in 1999 that he did with Ethel and her only sister Maura (it was Maura’s only trip back to Bray since she left for America in the 1950s and Maura was taken aback reports of Ethel’s drinking). Interviews with past presenters of BLB and present presenters of East Coast FM were then recorded and compiled to craft an innovative and quality feature which tells Ethel’s story and which also captures the unique easy-going family atmosphere of East Coast which gave Ethel a sense of belonging and an escape from the loneliness of old age from a cold damp flat. This programme ensures that Ethel’s story and moreover, her voice - the ordinary voice of a much-loved local character - is celebrated and remembered. It continues to gather listeners from around the globe on Soundcloud. (Photo credit: Liam Blake) Music Credits: Podington Bear - Window Shopping, By Grace, Cake, Boardwalk, Aim Is True, Ice PacK, Tracers; Jason Shaw - Nice And Easy, Mornings; Fabian Measures - Higekitekina; Obsibilo - Soixante.

One Mile Long - Bray Seafront Remembered (Episode 2). In this final episode we hear about the fall of the lighthouse during a storm; the passenger, rowing and peddle boats for hire. A couple who've returned from Israel for a visit - their first since their honeymoon. We find out about the chair lifts to the Eagles Nest and the reasons why Bray as a resort declined in the 1970s. This programme was made in 2008 - the start of the fall of the 'Celtic Tiger' and a protracted decade of recession and austerity - however, since then, the resort has undergone a transformation in terms of the different types of attractions that now attract visitors. The Cliff Walk is becoming ever more popular and is recognised as being one of the best coastal walks in Britain and Ireland. Perhaps this should be the starting point for an up-to-date programme to feature and reflect a new generation of locals and visitors. In any event, One Mile Lone - Bray Seafront Remembered captured the voices of a passing generation and this episode featured: Kevin Mead, Jimmy Mohan, Dave Hannon, John Walsh, Kathleen Kinsella, Nancy Mahony, Brendan Coleman, Desmond Hedley-Wright and Historian Mary Davies. One Mile Long- Bray Seafront Remembered. A 21st-Century Vox production. Produced by Pat Hannon for East Coast FM. For further historical sources visit the Town Hall Bookshop (opposite Dealz)on Bray's Florence Road. For a brilliant resource of old photographs and clippings etc. go to Facebook and logon to Bray - Did You Know? www.facebook.com/braydidyouknow/ or checkout www.countywicklowheritage.org/index.aspx or your local and helpful library.

One Mile Long - Bray Seafront Remembered. Revisiting the post-war halcyon days of Bray’s seafront; a time when thousands of Irish and British holiday-makers along with Dublin day-drippers strolled the Promenade and thronged its once sandy beaches. Stories from those who came, those who worked and those who grew up there. Time was when visitors who had just arrived on spec and late at night had to sleep in one of the town's three cinemas which were kept open overnight to cope with the influx. Next morning they would search the many guesthouses and housing estates for accommodation. The hotels and guesthouses suffered in the years prior to the World War II and then after cross was put up on Bray Head, the resort itself underwent a sort of resurrection in the 1950s. Visitors from many towns of industrial Britain enjoyed the large ratio-free portions on offer. The clean air and the mile long prom were instant attractions. The cross on Bray Head and the chair lift to the Eagles Nest drew the more curious and adventurous visitors. In the days before health and safety, scores of rowing and paddle boats were available for hourly hire. Trays of hot water and tea could be carried back to the brightly striped deck chairs which festooned the green grass. Relive and share the memories of these long summer days before the Internet, mobile phones, colour TVs and before the advent of 'foreign' continental travel by aeroplane! This programme is a revised and updated programme compiled from the original two part series 2008 production. One Mile Long- Bray Seafront Remembered. A 21st-Century Vox production. Produced by Pat Hannon for East Coast FM. For further historical sources visit the Town Hall Bookshop (opposite Dealz)on Bray's Florence Road. For a brilliant resource of old photographs and clippings etc. go to Facebook and logon to Bray - Did You Know? https://www.facebook.com/braydidyouknow/ or checkout http://www.countywicklowheritage.org/index.aspx or your local and helpful library.

Reflections and Experiences: It's one year on and on a windswept veranda overlooking Dun Laoghaire Harbour, Sea Stories presenter John Murphy catches up with fellow crew Athena II crew members to see how the experience of doing the ARC has enriched or changed their lives in any way. Find out move about Sea Stories: www.seastories.ie Follow us on Twitter: @SeaStoriesIRL Find us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/pages/Sea-Storie…23714297?fref=ts TuneIn Radio: tunein.com/radio/Sea-Stories-p744021/ Apple iTunes podcast: itunes.apple.com/ie/podcast/sea-s…d1000438693?mt=2 Email: [email protected]

Alan Corr recounts his professional career at sea and discusses the challenges of life away from family. Alan is the manager of the newly constructed Greystones Marina and highlights some of the plans for this award-winning harbour.

We drop in to the Bray Heritage Centre - once the former Bray Court House - to catch up with the esteemed Frank deGroot and a team of volunteers building a replica of the once popular Droleen, a small sailing boat with a lifting keel - ideal for coming up onto the beach - a craft especially common to Bray seafront at the turn of the Nineteenth Century. Find out move about Sea Stories: www.seastories.ie Follow us on Twitter: @SeaStoriesIRL Find us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/pages/Sea-Storie…23714297?fref=ts TuneIn Radio: tunein.com/radio/Sea-Stories-p744021/ Apple iTunes podcast: itunes.apple.com/ie/podcast/sea-s…d1000438693?mt=2 Email: [email protected]

Arklow Native and retired sea captain Danny O'Neill is one of Wicklow's most illustrious sea farers. He is also curator of the spacious and bright Arklow Maritime Museum. In this programme, Danny talks about life at sea and he gives us a personal tour of the museum which has an abundance of artefacts, documents and photographs - each with an interesting story to tell. Find out move about Sea Stories: www.seastories.ie Follow us on Twitter: @SeaStoriesIRL Find us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/pages/Sea-Storie…23714297?fref=ts TuneIn Radio: tunein.com/radio/Sea-Stories-p744021/ Apple iTunes podcast: itunes.apple.com/ie/podcast/sea-s…d1000438693?mt=2 Email: [email protected]

Smitten by the Sea at Fifty: A chance encounter led Myles Kelly to take up sailing with gusto at the age of fifty. Since then, Myles has achieved a great deal and has crossed the Atlantic on no less than two occasions. On a beautiful summer's evening cruising on Dublin Bay, Myles tells us about that first encounter and what the sea means to him. Find out move about Sea Stories: www.seastories.ie Follow us on Twitter: @SeaStoriesIRL Find us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/pages/Sea-Storie…23714297?fref=ts TuneIn Radio: http://tunein.com/radio/Sea-Stories-p744021/ Apple iTunes podcast: https://itunes.apple.com/ie/podcast/sea-stories/id1000438693?mt=2 Email: [email protected]

Paul Cunningham operates Marine Electrics a successful Dublin-based company looking after the power and electronics needs of the boating and saying community. Paul discusses the uses of power and communications in a modern day boat. He also talks about the mid-life crisis that perhaps led him to the decision to combine his love of the sea and his specialised skills. Find out move about Sea Stories: www.seastories.ie Follow us on Twitter: @SeaStoriesIRL Find us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/pages/Sea-Storie…23714297?fref=ts TuneIn Radio: http://tunein.com/radio/Sea-Stories-p744021/ Apple iTunes podcast: https://itunes.apple.com/ie/podcast/sea-stories/id1000438693?mt=2 Email: [email protected]

Remembering and Restoring the Dublin Ferry No.11: Dubliner Richie Saunders visited many parts of the world when he worked on Irish Shipping. Later he worked on the pilot boats at Dublin Port. Upon retiring he spotted one of the old Dublin Ferries lying up and rusting away. It was a boat he once skippered with pride. Over four years he undertook the restoration of Dublin Ferry No11. In the programme he recalls how it was once located at the site of the now East Link Bridge and how it used to ferry scores of men every morning from Ringsend to the other side of the Liffey in search of work on Dublin's docks. Since 'retiring', Richie is now busier than ever with the Ferry and the various projects associated with his beloved St Patrick's Rowing Club. Find out move about Sea Stories: www.seastories.ie Follow us on Twitter: @SeaStoriesIRL Find us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/pages/Sea-Storie…23714297?fref=ts TuneIn Radio: http://tunein.com/radio/Sea-Stories-p744021/ Apple iTunes podcast: https://itunes.apple.com/ie/podcast/sea-stories/id1000438693?mt=2 Email: [email protected]