HURDY GURDY MUSEUM STATION BACK ON THE AIR

The sun was shining above the Hurdy Gurdy Museum of Vintage Radio in Howth as Tony EI5EM and Reg Shannon, a short-wave listener, started some serious antenna work on the roof of the museum's Martello Tower.

They were installing a vertical HF antenna donated by Mike Keane, EI4-DF - a gift that has put County Dublin museum's ham radio station, EIØMAR back on the air - just in time for April’s International Marconi Day. The museum lost the use of the station after its previous antenna had been destroyed by storms. Although marked by periods of rain, installation day finally took place under clear skies, according to a report on the Irish Radio Transmitters’ website.

The tower has a celebrated role in radio history, not only because in 1902 American innovator Lee de Forest conducted experiments in wireless telegraphy, but also because it housed a Marconi receiving station that conducted ship-to-shore telegraphy experiments with HMS Monarch.