'I got the radio bug at just seven years old'; Marking 25 years of teaching broadcasting in Cork

Peter O’Neill’s ambition to lead people on a pathway into the world of media has spanned 25 years.

The course director of radio broadcasting and Juice FM of Cork College of FET, Tramore Road Campus, is a life-long devotee of the medium.

“I got the radio bug at a very young age,” says Peter, who is married to Finola, and they have five children.

“I was about seven years old when I used to listen to Radio Luxembourg the big 208. I always had a transistor radio in my pocket.”

Peter took every opportunity to tune in.

“When I was off sick from school, I’d listen to the radio all day!”

He seized other opportunities.

“When the pirate radio shows came on air, they were looking for presenters,” says Peter, whose soft, dulcet tones suit the airwaves.

“I started on radio at 15 doing shows during the summer holidays on CBC (The Cork Broadcasting Company), which was a pirate station in the late 1970s based in Patrick’s Hill.”

Peter didn’t hang about, making waves to further his ambition to work in the area he loved so much since he was a child.

“I went on to form Cork’s first super pirate of the 1980s, South Coast Radio, with a friend of mine, which was hugely popular at the time,” says Peter.

“I raised €30,000 with the help of businesspeople in Cork. South Coast could be heard all over Munster and in London at night.”

He went further afield.

“I studied radio and television in Toronto, Canada, in 1987. I worked in radio over there.

“You may remember the recession in the 1980s here was bad. You could get nothing done. So I went to Canada. There was nothing here.”

Return to Ireland 

In the late the ’80s, the economy in Ireland began looking up.

“Commercial radio launched here in 1989,” says Peter.

“Along with four ex-journalists, I joined Radio South in Whites Cross where I presented a mid-morning and then breakfast show. The station eventually became 96fm.”

Soon, Peter’s soft dulcet tones became familiar over the airwaves.

“I became known as a radio name. In the School of Broadcasting in Canada I discovered how radio work and TV work were taught. I got the idea of teaching radio here in Cork.”

It was a good move.

Peter met his future wife at one of his courses at the Cork school of Broadcasting in Bridge Street.

“Finola attended one of my courses in the tiny studio I worked out of in Bridge Street. She was on a career break. If I hadn’t begun teaching the broadcasting course, we would never have met!”

Who else attended Peter’s media courses, which were thin on the ground at the time?

“I put an ad in the Evening Echo and interested parties were keen to sign up.”

Peter, always tuned in, explored his options.

“I left presenting in the early ’90s,” says Peter. “Around that time, I used to teach radio here at the college to media students for four hours a week. I went to UCC for five years and graduated with an economics degree, a H.Dip in teaching, and a higher diploma in guidance and counselling.”

Peter, now with many strings to his bow, started the present Radio Broadcasting course at College of FET Tramore Road Campus in the late 1990s.

“The rest is history!” says Peter. “I started this Radio Broadcasting course and 25 years later we are still here.”

Radio is an enduring phenomenon.

“It is still as popular a medium today as it was 25 years ago,” says Peter.

“Almost 80% of all adults listen daily.”

Why is that the case?

“We are after all a nation of talkers,” says Peter. 

“We embrace storytelling, and radio is the perfect medium for this.”

He is proud of his achievements and those of his students.

“I am proud to say former students have won nine IMRO National radio awards,” says Peter.

Who is the latest student to win the prestigious accolade?

“The most recent former student was Simon Murdock, for best radio DJ of the year for the second year running.

“Students have also won two national student media awards and a world college radio day award from America, the only ones that were awarded outside of the USA.”

Peter’s students spread the word.

“They are the best ambassadors to promote the course,” says Peter. “And they forge links with the industry.”

Success of past pupils 

Many of Peter’s former students have forged ahead in the world of media. Their names trip off Peter’s tongue.

“Aisling Roche, news anchor, Virgin Media television, Marie Mulcahy, news reporter Virgin Media news. Cathal Minogue, producer/presenter at Today FM, Simon Murdock, presenter at 96fmFM, Ciara Revins, presenter at RedFM, and Claire O’Connor, Production Assistant, The Today Show, RTÉ Cork.”

All Peter’s students have made a name for themselves.

“One of our most famous students would be Demi Issac Oviawe from The Young Offenders, who has gone on to star in many films and appears regularly on radio and TV.”

The current studio at Tramore Road Campus is impressive. Peter designed it himself.

“The equipment here is the very same as any radio station has in the country,” he says.

“When we visited RTÉ, there was no difference between their facilities and our equipment in studio here. I remember we met the late Gay Byrne who expressed an interest in the students and what they aspired to. He was a great man in every way.”

Peter knows his way around a professional broadcasting studio.

“I designed the current studio in 2014. Now we have state-of-the art, industry-leading equipment and software to train students to the highest standards.”

What courses does he run?

“I run two courses,” says Peter.

“A QQ1 level 5 and 6 in both radio and podcasting. The course is well-established and well-respected by industry professionals at this stage. Students who have completed level 6 have the option to do a one year top up degree in radio at the University of Sunderland.”

What about the in-house radio station?

“Juice FM is our radio station which broadcasts on 88.FM,” explains Peter.

“Students present the programme as part of their work experience and learn a comprehensive skill set.”

What does that include?

“This would include presenting, producing, researching,” says Peter. “News and sport compiling and reading, digital editing and music scheduling.

“In addition, they study law and politics, voice coaching, broadcast journalism and documentary making.

“Students also complete two outside broadcasts a year where we take the show on the road,” says Peter.

“Past locations include Cork On Ice, Fota Christmas resort, Blackrock Castle Observatory, Wilton Shopping Centre, and the Crawford Art Gallery.”

Looking to the future 

After 25 years teaching and mentoring successful students on their pathway in the media world, Peter is a happy camper.

“I have to say, I enjoyed every single day of my career and have met so many exceptional students along the way.”

He isn’t hanging up his headphones any time soon. He’ll keep the show on the road.

“I have another few years left here and then I plan to do some radio consultancy work and continue training in the now popular area of podcasting.”

So it’s not over and out for Peter O’Neill?

“Not by a long shot!”

For more on the courses, see Tramoreroadcampus.ie.

You can also listen to Juice FM on 88.7 or at juicefm.ie