Familiar voices return to Downtown for 50th birthday special next week
‘Downtown At 50’ - to celebrate 50 years of Downtown Radio, a variety of familiar voices of the past are returning to the airwaves for one day only!
Nifty at 50! Northern Ireland’s longest running commercial radio station, Downtown Radio, is marking its 50th anniversary this month, celebrating five decades of broadcasting, resilience and connection with listeners across the region.
To celebrate the occasion on Monday 16th March, former programme director and broadcasting legend, John Rosborough will host a special anniversary programme, ‘Downtown 50 years on,’ reflecting the stations history and the people who helped shape it.
As part of its golden milestone, the station will also welcome back several familiar voices from its past, pairing some of its earliest presenters with today’s on-air teams. Among those returning are Ivan Martin, Richard Young, John Daly, Hendi, Jerry Lang and Ronan Kelly, giving listeners the chance to hear well known voices reunited on the airwaves.
John Rosborough said: “When Downtown first went on air, there was a real sense that we were doing something different, bringing local voices, music and stories directly – and legally – to listeners in their homes and cars every day. None of us could have imagined then that the station would still be going strong 50 years later.
“What made it special was always the people – the presenters, news team and engineers behind the scenes. In many ways we broke the broadcasting mould in what was a bleak, dark time in Northern Ireland, bringing the music, chat and news that local communities needed and appreciated. It’s wonderful to see the station still thriving and to be part of such a great milestone.”
As part of the milestone, Downtown Radio has also unveiled a digital archive, making historic clips and memorable moments from its broadcasting history available online for listeners to revisit -> downtown.co.uk/50
Take a look at our big birthday special 👇
‘Downtown At 50’ - to celebrate 50 years of Downtown Radio, a variety of familiar voices of the past are returning to the airwaves for one day only!
0700-0900 First Edition
Gary and Glen are joined by Northern Ireland radio royalty 'Ivan and Richard' who woke up Northern Ireland and kept people smiling at breakfast during the 80's and 90's
1100-1200 Hendi’s Happy Hour
Declan Wilson is joined by Hendi – Downtown's iconic mid-morning presenter bringing his mayhem back to Downtown's airwaves one more time!
1300-1600 Dinner Spinner
Owen Larkin talks to a variety of familiar voices who helped shape the success of Downtown over the years, guests include Jerry Lang and Ronan Kelly
1600-1900 Drive:
Neal McClelland is joined by John Daly on Drive Time. After making his name on Downtown – John became a household name across Ireland on TV shows on RTE and BBC NI.
1900-2100: Downtown 50 Years On’ with John Rosborough
In this 50th anniversary special John looks back over the history of Northern Ireland's first and now longest running commercial radio station. From humble and uncertain beginnings in an industrial station located in the 'County Down Town' of Newtownards to a broadcasting powerhouse that became part of the fabric of everyday life in Northern Ireland during some of the regions darkest days – 'JR' hears from the people who made Downtown what it is and looks back on 5 incredible decades of the "people's station" Downtown Radio.
2100-0000 Downtown Archive
We finish off our birthday celebrations with a special selection of standout clips and memories from the Downtown archive along with some of the biggest songs from the past 50 years. The full archive can be found at downtown.co.uk/50