Ye Olde Hurdy Gurdy Museum of Vintage Radio facts for kids
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| Established | 2003 |
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| Location | Howth, Ireland |
| Type | communication history |
| Public transit access | Howth railway station St Laurence Road bus stop (Dublin Bus route 31) |
The Ye Olde Hurdy Gurdy Museum of Vintage Radio is a super cool museum. It teaches you all about how people used to communicate long ago! You can find it inside a historic Martello tower in Howth, which is a lovely place near Dublin, Ireland.
What is the Hurdy Gurdy Museum?
This museum is packed with old radios, early televisions, and even gramophones. It shows how communication has changed over time. It's a great spot to learn about the history of radio and other ways we send messages.
Why is it called "Hurdy Gurdy"?
The museum's name is a bit funny! It comes from a question asked by Taoiseach Seán Lemass in the 1950s. He asked a radio controller, "How's the hurdy gurdy?" He was playfully asking about the radio.
History of the Martello Tower
The museum is inside a special building called a Martello tower. These towers are like mini-forts.
Why were Martello Towers built?
This tower was built way back in 1805. It was one of many towers built along the Irish coast. They were put there to guard against a possible invasion by Napoleon. Imagine, these towers were built to protect the country!
How was the tower used for communication?
This tower has a long and interesting history with radio and messages.
- In 1825, it was used by the Preventative Water Guard. This group worked to stop smuggling.
- In 1852, the tower became super important. It was the end point for the very first telegraph line connecting Wales to Ireland!
- On November 23, 1903, something amazing happened here. Lee de Forest made the first successful wireless radio transmission from this tower.
- In 1905, Guglielmo Marconi showed off his radio technology. He used a tall antenna to talk to a ship far away.
- Later, from 1922, the tower was used by different government groups for communications. This included Telecom Éireann until the 1980s.
Who owns the tower now?
After the 1980s, the tower was sold to Dublin City Council. Then it went to Dublin County Council. Now, Fingal County Council owns it. They still own it today!
Inside the Museum
The Martello tower was fixed up in 2001. The museum then opened its doors in 2003.
Who started the museum?
The museum was created around the amazing collections of Pat Herbert. He was the first curator and had been collecting old radios and communication items for over 60 years! He was very passionate about it.
What can you see at the museum?
The museum shows off many cool items. You can see old radios, some of the first televisions, and gramophones. These items tell the story of how people communicated in Ireland through history.
Who runs the museum?
Pat Herbert and a team of volunteers used to run the museum. They kept it open and shared their knowledge with visitors. Pat Herbert sadly passed away in June 2020. His fellow volunteers now keep the museum's website updated.
What is EI0MAR?
The museum is also home to an amateur radio station called EI0MAR. This station uses Morse code to send messages. It's a fun way to connect with other radio enthusiasts!
