Ronan O’Rahilly

May 21, 1940 - April 20, 2020

The founder of Radio Caroline has died at the age of 79. In launching Britain’s first pirate radio station in 1964, Irish businessman Ronan O’Rahilly helped to revolutionise music broadcasting in the UK. Operating from a rehabilitated Dutch ferry moored off the coast of Essex, three miles outside territorial waters, Radio Caroline challenged the authorities by playing pop music all day, while the BBC was restricted to a few hours per week. Ultimately the station’s success led to the BBC launcing Radio 1 in 1967.

Having been diagnosed with vascular dementia in 2013, his death was announced by the current Radio Caroline. Johnnie Walker, a Caroline DJ before moving to the BBC, Tweeted: “Farewell to the man who made the impossible possible and changed radio forever… You were an amazing man.”