Music
20 Feb 08

Radio Caroline founder to get film bio

The Irishman who founded the legendary Radio Caroline in 1964 is to be immortalised in a new film by Four Weddings And A Funeral and Notting Hill writer Richard Curtis.

The grandson of Michael Joseph O’Rahilly, who was killed in the 1916 Rising, Ronan O’Rahilly fitted out the station’s original ship in the port of Greenore, which was owned by his parents.
Following a merger with an American rival, Radio Atlanta, Caroline South and North respectively dropped anchor off Essex and the Isle of Man and were soon commanding a 15 million-plus audience.
Credited with bringing Motown to Europe, they also provided a training ground for the
likes of Tony Blackburn, Johnnie Walker, Dave Lee Travis and future Radio Nova boss Chris Carey.
Despite an assortment of raids, driftings and sinkings, Caroline managed to survive into the ‘80s with Galway Bay FM’s Gareth O’Callaghan, Today FM’s Tom Hardy, Phantom FM’s Steve Conway and HP’s very own Stuart Clark all doing on board stints.
Curtis’ film, The Boat That Rocked, starts shooting in March and co-stars Kenneth Branagh, Rhys Ifans and rising American star January Jones.