Hurdy Gurdy Museum of Vintage Radio

[Yorkie]

Thanks for the info Maitiu.

Still leaves the question as to why it's called the 'Hurdy Gurdy' museum, with not a hurdy gurdy in sight!

The only think I can think of, and I'm probably wide of the mark, is that maybe there was a time in Ireland, when - because you wind a handle to play (or rather 'operate') a wind-up gramophone, just as you do to play a hurdy gurdy - maybe that became their nickname, just as the term was incorrectly applied in England to describe barrel organs. Only a hurdy gurdy is a hurdy gurdy! You've certainly got wind-up gramophones a plenty in the museum I believe.

We'll have to hope that the Euro falls still further so it becomes a bit cheaper to fly over to your neck of the woods and hire a car!

So, the bottom line is - why hurdy gurdy?

(Is it a wind up?)

[pwdrive]

I used to operate two Hurdy Gurdys when I had a spell doing commercial mackerel fishing back in the early 70's.
Hurdy Gurdy is the name given to a narrow hand operated drum affixed to the side of the boat, we used to have four, two on each side two for each of us, each one had a line and twenty four hooks and feathers on it, once the line was wound out we would repeatedly tugg on the line 'till it was full o' fish then wind the Hurdy Gurdy up, if you were lucky there would be twentyfour mackerel on each line we got paid the equivilant of five bob a stone at the quayside.
Happy days.

Lawrence.

[standunmj]

hi david, we'll have to ask pat herbert why he called the museum so.sean lemass, a teachoch of old [primeminister] refered to radio eireann as the hurdy gurdy in a dispariging way, its known now as rte, and is a fine station received by many in the uk, as well as nationally.the village of howth is a prime tourist spot with beautiful scenic views from the hill of howth , served by numerious food restaurants and especially fish dishes as howth is a major fishing port.its also served by a rapid rail service to the city [the dart electric rail] 15 minutes to the city center , so no need for cars really, as dublin is mad traffic wise, regards maitiu.

[Yorkie]

Thanks for the info Maitiu. I see that Howth is a peninsula, and just ten miles from Dubin airport. Probably a nice place to kick off a tour of the South East of Ireland, with Cork only about 170 miles to the south. Must do a bit or research with a view to a possible visit next year some time - most of our overseas jaunts over the last 20 years or so have been to France for family reasons and still are. (Paris via Eurostar next month).

[standunmj]

hi all,picture no5 is on left john geaney, on his last visit to the tower, [restorer extrordinare] with pat herbert , curator,regards maitiu.

[Joe G]

Pat chose the name "Hurdy Gurdy" for the museum because a government
minister in the 1950s, Séan Lemass, referred to Radio Eireann (the national
radio station) as "The Hurdy Gurdy". It was once customary to call anything
unusual a Hurdy Gurdy, especially if it made a sound. The staff at Radio
Eirann used to call the station orchestra "The Hurdy Gurdy".

[Yorkie]

Thanks for solving the mystery Joe - it all seems Irish to me!

Looks like a great place to visit.

[standunmj]

i would love to visit the Hurdy Gurdy Museum ,can not see it happening in the near future
rob t

hi robt' we would love to have you anytime , and also any of the lads on or off the golborne forum, maitiu standun,

[Joe Guilfoyle]

Link to the Museum site:
https://sites.google.com/site/hurdygurdymuseum/home