Why did 405 look so good?

[Terry]

Telefis Eireannn started its official transmissions in January 1962

I may have told this story before, but here goes anyway.

I was with the scouts camping in the village of Mornington on the mouth of the Boyne - with its empty golden beaches that go on for miles! - in August 1961 and had occasion to use the village Post Office a number of times.

I was in there the afternoon before we broke camp and headed for the ferry home. It was run by what the Irish often refer to as 'a little old widder woman', although whether she was or not, I've no idea!

"Could I be after asking you something?" she said. "Certainly", said I.

"How much do you pay for the television licence in England?"

"Four pounds, and a pound for the wireless licence."

"Oh! We don't have the television licence and we're only after paying the seventeen shillings and sixpence for the wireless licence!"

Did she look happy, as I walked out of the door!

Waling back to the camp, I thought about. She paid nothing for no television service and 17/6 for one radio service that even closed down between lunch and tea time! On the other hand, we paid 20/- for four radio programmes so that's five bob each.

Perhaps 17/6 wasn't such a bargain after all ...

The following afternoon we stopped off in Dublin before catching the ferry back to Holyhead and I took a stroll in the sunshine.

The evening papers were hitting the streets with a bold headline:

£4 TV LICENCE FROM JANUARY
WIRELESS LICENCE UP TO £1

Oh how I wished I could have been 28 miles back up the coast to see the look on that woman's face!