Over 100 people attended the History Ireland discussion yesterday afternoon on ‘Dublin Punk & New Wave’ in the late 1970s as part of the Phibsboro Community Arts Festival (Phizzfest). The final line up was Pete Holidai (The Radiators From Space), Eamon Delaney (Ex. Punk & current Indo columnist), Billy McGrath (UCD Ents 1976/77 & manager of The Atrix), Dave Donnelly (Ex. Black Catholics) and Cllr. Cieran Perry (Ex. Punk).

The response was overwhelmingly positive with the only complaints focused on the lack of female participation in the panel and no chance for a questions and answers session. Hopefully, this will be the start of a number of public discussions on different aspects of Dublin youth/music culture e.g. Skinhead, Rockabilly, Mod/Soul and Dance/Rave.

Here’s my playlist from yesterday. Would you have chosen differently? Left out any particular song? Added in something else?

1. The Radiators From Space – Television Screen (1977)

2. The Boomtown Rats – Lookin’ After Number One (1977)

3. The Vipers – I’ve Got You (1978)

4. The Vipers – No Such Thing (1978)





5. The Boomtown Rats – Rap Trap (1978)

6. U2 – Stories For Boys (1979)

7. The Atrix – The Moon Is Puce (1979)

8. The Radiators From Space – Faithful Departed (1979)

9. The Atrix – Treasure On The Wasteland (1980)

10. The Blades – Hot For You (1980)

11. Berlin – Over 21 (1980)

12. D.C. Nien – Nightclub (1980)

13. The Spies – Thinking About The Sun (1980)



14. Chant Chant Chant – Quicksand (1981)

(Not on youtube. Watch this space)

15. The Blades – Downmarket (1982)