05-11-2016, 09:59 PM
(05-11-2016, 01:54 PM)Mike Watterson Wrote: ... Irish TV started on the evening of 31st December 1961 ...
In 1960. I was one of a large Scout Group who camped at Mornington, Co. Meath, on the mouth of the Boyne.
I had cause to use the village Post Office on a number of occasions, run - as the Irish would say - by a 'little old widder woman".
On the last day of our stay I had cause to visit the Post Office and was asked "Could I be after asking you something? How much do you pay for the Television licence in England?"
"Four pounds", I replied.
"Ah!" she replied, "We're only after paying the seventeen shillings and sixpence for the wireless licence and we don't have the television licence!"
As I left it was obvious that she was highly delighted by this ...
The following day we had a break in Dublin on our way to the ferry.
The Dublin evening papers proclaimed in bold headlines: "£4 Television licence from January. Wireless licence up to £1."
I've always wished I could have had a brief glimpse of that woman's expression as she saw the headline 30 miles back up the coast ...
