In 2016, Dublin was a different city. While housing challenges and a lack of support for artists were still very much high on the agenda, there were more spaces, affordable events, and a spirit of defiance in the air, as well as a swell of optimism following the legalisation of gay marriage and other transformative social movements. After a long time in the shadows, there was a growing sense that steps could be taken towards positive change, shaking off the shackles and cockles of old Ireland.
A Lightbulb Moment Leads to the Emergence of ddr.
Against this backdrop, Dublin Digital Radio (or ddr. as it is more affectionately known) was founded by housemates Sean Finnan, Brian McNamara and their network of pals. Sean was working at Grogan’s pub and Brian had been hosting a show on Radio Made, a small independent radio station based above Grogan’s, before that station eventually folded.
Sean was writing for left-leaning, not-for-profit, underground magazine Rabble and Brian, having spent some time in Berlin, had been inspired by the DIY community ethos there. Both were naturally widening their connection to movements within the city of Dublin while collectively observing a void that would eventually be filled by Dublin Digital Radio. The scene lacked a central platform or voice that could showcase the talent, clearly visible just below the surface of Dublin’s nightlife spaces.
The idea for ddr. crystallised when Sean, Brian, and friends attended the inaugural Open Ear Festival on Sherkin Island off the coast of West Cork. At the time, the scene was quite closely knit and the experimental and forward thinking gathering was a catalyst for the formation of the station. It initially started as a way to showcase the scene, with humble beginnings in a closet-like room at alternative cultural space Jigsaw.
Co-founder Sean gives some background to the initial setup. “ddr. was able to take a lot of learnings from the operations at Rabble and Jigsaw. I see ddr. as being part of that lineage. After we attended Open Ear we decided, let’s do it. Jigsaw were really supportive in the early days of the station helping us with the nuts and bolts and getting things off the ground. Brian spoke to some people he knew from his days in Berlin and some contacts at NTS Radio in London. Before long we were building a lot of momentum and more people were gradually getting involved.”
Putting the Pieces Together at Jigsaw
In 2017, ddr. moved to a bigger room in Jigsaw and by then they were throwing a lot of parties and creating a buzz around the station and its roster. “Our first party was absolutely rammed at six o’clock. That’s when we realized there’s an idea here and a lot of demand. From that point a lot of the events were selling out. It was hard to keep things under control, there were so many emails, logistics, and a lot of outreach. The parties started early in the day with the city’s best DJ’s in a space where people could meet up and dance. The parties were funding the costs of the station and providing the energy”. Sean continues, “The pillars of the station were the supporters, the studio, and the dancefloor at Jigsaw. A lot of conversations and connections were made on that dancefloor.”
One person involved from the early days of the station was Cathy Flynn who joined ddr. as a volunteer and has been hosting her show, ‘Getting Away with It’, ever since. She shared details of the collaborative environment and how the station was able to support and impact important movements at the time.
“I was involved in planning a 24-hour International Women’s Day event that platformed women’s voices during the repeal the 8th campaign. We don’t really do it now as it’s more of a corporate thing, but back then International Women’s Day did really mean something. We were able to link in with the repeal protest action and broadcast to encourage people to participate which was really cool.”
Covid Leads to Complex Times
To take things to the next level and build on the early success of the station, ddr. fundraised for a move to a new space at The Complex, a multi-disciplinary arts centre in North inner city Dublin, at a time when a lot of other spaces and projects were folding around them just before the outbreak of Covid-19. It was a step forward in ddr.’s evolution, and took a lot of volunteer energy, but a combination of factors meant it didn’t quite work out as well as everyone had hoped.
Laetitia Deering got involved with ddr. by attending and helping out at the parties at Jigsaw and was more involved by the time of the move to The Complex having moved back from a decade of living in London and working in Soho’s legendary electronic music specialist store Phonica Records. Laetitia reflects on the move.
“Jigsaw was a pivotal place and was playing a really important social and cultural role but the move to The Complex was necessary and we had big hopes. Jigsaw was a blueprint for engaging the community that we didn’t manage to take through to The Complex unfortunately, largely for reasons we couldn’t control.”
Sean adds, “A lot of energy went into our move to the Complex but we moved in right when Covid began to hit. People meeting in space was a big part of what ddr. was and when we launched at The Complex we had big plans but couldn’t access the studio properly for a year and a half and the momentum just dissipated. It was hard to connect with the community, host events, and keep people engaged. Around that time we were also planning a festival called Alternating Current which eventually had to be cancelled. I was never as stressed in my life.”
Following these challenging times, long time radio host and Give Us the Night campaigner Robbie Kitt, who had been connected with ddr. from the days at Jigsaw, was also involved in the station’s next move to Flux Studios. Robbie discussed the value in building a solid place to call home again and the output that can inspire. “Through ddr. there is an opportunity to build real, meaningful, authentic counterculture in Dublin. Having a space to do that is critical and the volunteer aspect is also key. Community is a verb, it’s a doing thing, it’s an active pursuit, you have to put a lot of work in if you’re going to make it work. The amount of hours myself and others have put into this, you would think we’ve lost our minds with the level of detail we go into, but the contribution is an antidote to the hyper individualised society we live in.”
Cathy shared that sentiment, discussing the passion and collective action that keeps people involved and energised. “It’s an example of not-for-profit done well. It’s volunteer driven which is really important. People are in it for a love of the game. What I really love about ddr. is it gives people the opportunity to be creative, useful, and participate in arts spaces when careers in that industry may not be available otherwise.”
Having settled again after Covid-19, the station was also able to revive the Alternating Current festival, a 4-day celebration of Irish experimental music, audiovisual art, and multimedia performance. Following Arts Council funding the station commissioned creative projects, brought in artists from different spaces and programmed a mix of content, talks, and workshops. The spirit of that festival can still be felt in ddr.’s current iteration of events, showing a consistent commitment to pushing boundaries and platforming artists of all kinds.
New Voices, New Spaces, and Renewed Energy
In more recent years, a new crop of volunteers have been carrying the torch and bringing new life and energy to the station. Laetitia sees some similar motivations among volunteers “There are people from all over and it’s a place that people seek out who are trying to find friends and people on a similar wavelength who want to get involved in radio and events. I didn’t really feel that connected to Dublin when I moved back from London and had been thinking about moving elsewhere but ddr. kept me here.”
Since then, Laetita has found a sense of connection to the people and the continual cultural project that is ddr. “Everyone has a different vision of what ddr. is, which is really healthy. People are meeting, we are still in our infancy at Flux, but it’s an extremely exciting time. We have events in the same place as we broadcast. The space is run by artists who are incredibly supportive of what we do and open to ideas for us to try different things. It’s also more accessible to people.”
Nina Beauchez has been involved in ddr.’s steering committee and volunteer management since engaging with the station, having moved to Ireland from the Netherlands in 2024. Her partner Oisin already had a show on the station and was part of the steering committee. Nina was looking to meet new friends and become part of the community and has been able to gain some valuable skills along the way.
“I was able to learn programming and volunteer coordination skills working with a group of amazingly talented people. It has been so valuable to build something for the community and to feel part of the city and its infrastructure. The evolution, even just in the last 3 years, has been amazing. ddr. is an ever evolving entity with new volunteers and shows coming and going but the core principals always remain the same.”
Nina continues, “Also, the music is amazing which we sometimes forget to talk about. The 10-year party really will be a real celebration of music and community.”
ddr.10: Celebrating 10 Years of Independent Radio
Dublin Digital Radio’s two-day, 10-year anniversary weekend celebration (ddr.10) is taking place at the station’s new home at community studio space Flux Dublin from October 31st – November 1st. The event will feature DJs, rolling broadcasts, live music, talks, a vinyl record fair, a creative print workshop and much more to be announced.
Laetita shared a bit about what we can expect from ddr.10. “It feels like a full circle moment from the early days at Jigsaw. We have a lineup that is really representative of the trajectory of the last 10 years. It’s going to a big reunion and a window into what ddr. has meant to people. There is something there for everybody and there will be more events to come, it will be a year of celebration. It gives me faith in the artists in this city and the rest of the country, because radio is art.”
With new challenges, the DIY spirit of ddr. continues to shine brightly, lighting the way for new artists, movements, and collaborations while further embedding itself as a much needed and much loved inspiration for creatives across the city. ddr.10 is a party you won’t want to miss.
For further details about ddr,10 including line-up information and tickets visit listen.dublindigitalradio.com You can also support the station by becoming a ddr. subscriber for member benefits, discounts, and more.
