BLB Sounds From The Past

15 Episodes

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Jim Brophy

2026-08-2349:23

Travel back to January 1990 as we revisit a rare, live broadcast from Horizon Radio, where broadcaster Mark Quinn sits down with one of County Wicklow’s most multifaceted personalities: Jim Brophy. Jim served County Wicklow as a dedicated Assistance Officer, managing the difficult daily balance of granting or denying financial relief to people in deep need. Alongside this, his part-time role as a senior officer in the Wicklow County Civil Defence—which grew to roughly 600 members at its...

Colbert Martin

2026-08-0451:38

This 1987 'stream of consciousness' was recorded in the home of a man whose name is practically synonymous with the preservation of local heritage in Bray. The writer, historian and true Bray character, Colbert Martin. If you have ever picked up a book about the history of Bray, chances are you have seen Colbert’s name. In April of 1977, he was one of the key driving forces and founding committee members who established the Bray Cualann Historical Society - an organisation that is still thriv...

Gladys Sheehan, Mike Murphy & Bill Scott

2026-07-2801:06:18

A true local legend, a flamboyant, larger-than-life actress, drama teacher and theatre producer; first up in this archive podcast is Gladys Sheehan. Known affectionately to many as the Grande Dame of Bray, Gladys ran renowned drama schools in Bray and Greystones, instilling confidence in generations of local children. She was a veteran of both the stage and screen, appearing as an actress in dozens of films shot right on our doorstep at Ardmore Studios, all while raising her family and being ...

Joe Loughman

2026-07-0758:48

Joe Loughman is a man whose name is woven into the very fabric of civic and sporting life in the town of Bray, County Wicklow in Ireland. Anyone who was ever involved in community groups in Bray, would have likely come across Joe’s legacy. He was a man of boundless energy and a true pillar of the community, dedicating his life to making the town a better place to live. To sports fans, he is perhaps best known as a foundational figure in the Bray Wheelers Cycling Club. In fact, back in 1...

Lady Valerie Goulding, Michael Collins & Olivia Tracey

2026-07-0754:55

Lady Valerie Goulding was born into English high society. Her father was Lord Monckton, who was a key legal advisor to King Edward VIII during the 1936 Abdication Crisis, and played a pivotal role in negotiating the constitutional terms of the King's resignation. In 1951, alongside Kathleen O'Rourke, Lady Valerie co-founded the Central Remedial Clinic in Dublin. She built the CRC into the state's largest institution for people with physical disabilities. When Lady Goulding came into the...

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