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DJ Eric Fitzgerald pictured above at Limerick City Community Radio. Picture: Dylan Frawley/ilovelimerick DJ Eric Fitzgerald pictured above at Limerick City Community Radio. Picture: Dylan Frawley/ilovelimerick

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10 Questions with DJ Eric Fitzgerald of Limerick City Community Radio

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DJ Eric Fitzgerald pictured above at Limerick City Community Radio. Picture: Dylan Frawley/ilovelimerick.

10 Questions with DJ Eric Fitzgerald of Limerick City Community Radio

By I Love Limerick Correspondent Dylan Frawley

It was a glorious, sunny evening at Limerick City Community Radio when I Love Limerick met with chairperson Richard Smith, presenter Pat Foley and radio presenters Breda Ryan, Sean Ryan, and DJ Eric Fitzgerald to celebrate Limerick City Community Radio’s 7th Anniversary. The voluntary, nonprofit, Limerick-based radio station has for the last seven years, voiced the community of Limerick City and its surrounding area while also providing quality entertainment for listeners.   


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We interviewed DJ Eric Fitzgerald, columnist at the Limerick Post and radio DJ/host of his show ‘The Front Room’, which features on Limerick Community Radio every week. DJ Eric Fitzgerald spoke to us about his life growing up in Limerick, the inspiration behind his show, the significance of music in his life and how Limerick Community Radio has impacted him and the community in Limerick overall.

10 Questions with DJ Eric Fitzgerald - Pictured at Limerick City Community Radio on Edward Street are presenter Breda Ryan Richard Smith, Chairperson LCCR and presenter Seanie Ryan (back) and presenter Eric Fitzgerald (front). Picture: Dylan Frawley/ilovelimerick

Pictured at Limerick City Community Radio on Edward Street are presenter Breda Ryan Richard Smith, Chairperson LCCR and presenter Seanie Ryan (back) and presenter Eric Fitzgerald (front). Picture: Dylan Frawley/ilovelimerick.

What made you come and live in Limerick?

I am originally from West Clare; I came to Limerick to study in college at LIT and stayed ever since. I married a lovely Limerick woman, Lorna; I also got involved in bands ‘The Hitchers’ and the ‘Alvin Purple Experience’. I work with the Limerick Post as a columnist, land gigs DJing, and now I host the ‘Front Room’ every week on Limerick Community Radio.

Can you tell us about your show on LCCR?

The show is called ‘The Front Room’, it has just been running for a couple of months now, and it takes place every Saturday night at 8 pm. The show is about upcoming musicians and allows their voices to be heard. Its packed with everything music-related, so it’s something everyone can sit back and enjoy.

What inspired you to create ‘The Front Room’?

The idea for the show came from when we were teenagers, hanging out with my friends, we used to go to my front room in my house, and we would all hang out together and listen to music. That was our favourite thing to do in the front room as teenagers, and all my neighbours would come by every Friday night, so much so, people would buy brand new records, bring them to my house and we would all come together on the weekends, and we would listen to the records together.

What genres and types of music do you play on the show?

The origins of ‘The Front Room’ took place in the ’80s, so a lot of old Indie music like ‘New Order’, ‘Joy Division’, music like that. I will also be featuring music exclusively from Limerick, and I always try to include three or four songs from Limerick one way or another, and I always throw in a few disco tracks as well, it is a lot to squash into an hour, but that’s the fun of it! I want it to be a vehicle to support Limerick music.

How has doing the show helped you?

Well, it is a different kind of show, and because of where we are with this current lockdown, there are no gigs as of now, nowhere to go out, no Dolans, so when this pandemic came about, maybe on a typical Saturday night I’d be working somewhere, so, this opportunity allows me to join forces with Sean Fitzgerald, who allows me to fill in the gap when he is at college, and I was delighted to do it.

Is it something you hope to continue doing in the future?

I hope so because it is great fun, you know. There’s a buzz when you do it, and there is a great buzz when you share music; the fun of it is sharing music with people and knowing folks are listening, appreciating it or maybe even hear a track or two they haven’t heard in years, or maybe a brand-new band they have never heard.

Why did you decide to host your show on LCCR?

Well, I’ve been listening and tuning in to some of the shows and the stuff is so good, Seanie Ryan, Richard Smith, all these people, Breda Ryan of course doing the 90’s show as well, and I was just fascinated with the quality, it is amazing, and now and again an ice cream truck comes along, so you are never stuck for food or anything here!

Is there a sense of community at LCCR?

Yeah, because it’s Limerick voices, a lot of people involved are Limerick enthusiasts, they are giving out their best, and I think the people I met here are very committed, and the folks I know here have been here for years and years, they stuck with it and love it, it’s amazing, it’s a professionally run studio, it’s a great experience and space to learn, I even learned a lot about my work with the Limerick Post, Podcasts and productions, it all ties together.

What’s your fave thing about being a DJ?

Live gigs! Hands down. I miss being able to DJ for a live audience. I cannot wait to get back out there again and see people dancing! Its something I think none of us will ever take for granted again. The pandemic has thought us the importance of being together and enjoying music as a collective. 

What is your favourite thing about Limerick?

My favourite thing about Limerick is the opportunity to be creative in this city, so much happening, so many venues, so many creative types of people, it’s a melting pot, you got brilliant bars, amazing music playing, you have people from all over the country studying, visiting and living in Limerick, so it really is a melting pot that has created club nights, DJ’s, fantastic bands, it’s a humming place, there is never a few weeks that goes by without something exciting going on.

 

Eric FitzGerald’s show ‘The Front Room’ is a place to share music with regular coverage of music from Limerick and takes place on Saturdays at 8 pm on Limerick City Community Radio on 99.9fm and on www.lccr.ie

 

For more stories on Limerick Community City Radio, go HERE

 

 

Richard is a presenter, producer, songwriter and actor. He was named the Limerick Person of the Year (2011) and won an online award at the Metro Éireann Media and Multicultural Awards (2011) for promoting multi-culturalism online. Richard says that the ilovelimerick.com concept is very much a community driven project that aims to document life in Limerick. So, that in 20 years time people can look back and remember the events that were making the headlines.