Midwest Radio Magic and Madness Book

‘We’ve done things no other radio station in the world would contemplate’

When a near-bankrupt Paul Claffey and an up-and-coming DJ Chris Carroll founded a small pirate radio station in the cloakroom of Midas Nightclub in November 1985 they could never have imagined the incredible impact it would have on Irish broadcasting. Today, Midwest Radio is one of the best-known stations in the country and is widely acknowledged as having changed the face of local radio in Ireland. This is the station that pioneered death notices, Radio Bingo and so many other innovations that are now mainstays of local radio schedules all over Ireland. 

In an entertaining and light-heated account of the rise of Midwest Radio, author James Laffey takes readers on an unforgettable voyage in the company of a group of ‘pirates’ who became some of the best-loved broadcasters of their generation. 

From those magical Sunday Night Live extravaganzas in Midas to the epic Beat on the Peat in New York, Laffey captures the ‘magic and madness’ of a radio station like no other. The many characters who made Midwest what it is today jump from these pages as we relive the days of Bina’s curse, the Garda who became a ‘pirate’ and the late, great Willie ‘The Shoe’, to name but a few. 

This beautifully presented 448-page hardback volume is the perfect gift for Christmas. Apart from an immensely entertaining and engaging narrative, the book contains 64 pages of photographs, including many unpublished images, some dating back to the pirate days and Sunday Night Live at Midas. It’s a very limited edition so make sure to get your copy early to avoid disappointment.

Magic & Madness is the feelgood read of 2019. It’s the book you won’t want to put down – not even for your favorite Midwest Radio show!