When, where and why did you start The Grove? Well, it started in '67 in Mount Prospect Ave. in Clontarf, Belgrove Football Club (from which the club got it's name). It moved to St. Pauls in '75 when the old pavillion was burnt down. It was closed for a two week period in between. The reason myself and a few others started it was because I knew there was a market out there for people who weren't just listening to Top Of The Pops music all the time. I was always interested in alternative stuff, so we just got it going and it took off from there. Why did The Grove finish? Mmm, that's kind of complicated. You see, towards the end, the crowds had dropped off a bit and we were paying the school a heavy rent. It got to the stage where it just wasn't working out. If there hadn't been any middle man (the school) involved, we would probably still be going. And why do you think the crowd numbers had dropped off? My own personal view is, when we started it first, when people left school, you could leave school and there was plenty of good jobs out there, there was a job out there for everybody. But as years went by, there were less jobs and people started going to third level education, people started studying. And in secondary school aswell, they were doing a hell of alot more studying. People weren't allowed out as much as they were originally. We were running three nights a week in the Summer, from about '75 to about '85, for about ten years, we were running it three nights a week - Saturday and Sunday all year round and Wednesdays during the Summer. Packed every night. But as the years went by, I don't think people's music tastes ever changed, it's just that's the way it went, education took over. It may sound strange to say that, but I think that's what happened. What were your favourite years during the span of The Grove? I'd have to take it over a period of five years. I think '67-'72/'73 was fantastic. And then the first years we went up to St Paul's, from about '75 -'80 was fantastic aswell. Those two periods stand out with me, they really do. Were there any particular characters or memories that stand out as you look back over the years? Mmm... Just crowds really, I forget all the names, but I do remember one crowd, I used to call them "Brian And His Gang", they were 'round from about '75-'80. They used to take the right hand side of the stage, beside the stage. There was about twenty of them and they really used to get the place going. I remember them and I can still see the faces, but I can't put the name to them. Do you remember any future celebraties who used to go to The Grove? Let me think... Gerry Ryan is a prime example. Marty Whelan, he actually met his wife there. I'm sure there are quite a few others who are working in radio who went. And actually Larry Mullen Jr. went, I don't know about the others, but I certainly remember Larry Mullen. He used to ask me to play Dr. Feelgood and David Bowie. What music are you listening to now? I'm probably still listening to alot of the kind of stuff that I was playing at The Grove. At the moment, I'm listening to Tom Waits. Have you a favourite song? My favourite record of all time is Strawberry Fields Forever by The Beatles. The Beatles are my favourite group above anybody. Lennon or McCartney? I didn't mind. I didn't have a preference. They were opposites, so I didn't mind. They complimented each other, I think that's why they were so successful. Will you be making an appearance at The Grove Christmas Special on the 27th of December in The Sheiling Hotel? ... Watch this space!!!