The Voice of Ireland's Own Radio
Martin Costello was born in Clontuskert, Ballinasloe, Co. Galway, Ireland. At the age of 16, Martin was introduced to music when he met Josie O'Halloran, a music teacher of note. He invited Martin to the local parish hall, where he would teach Martin to play the fiddle. In just a few months, Josie had taught Martin how to play 12 tunes on the fiddle. This gave Martin an inspiration for music, which is alive and well today. Martin believes music is one of the greatest forms of communication in the world.
Martin departed for America, with the fiddle and twelve tunes, to Jersey City, NJ. He decided to take lessons as a drummer, casting aside the fiddle and twelve tunes. Shortly thereafter, he established his own Irish band, The Martin Costello Band. His first gig was playing for the New York City's Police Department Annual Communion Breakfast at the famed Astor Hotel in Times Square. Martin and his band went on to be very popular in the tri-state area, as well as in Boston and Philadelphia.
During this time, Martin saw the need for an Irish radio program, and established the Irish Road Show. A local radio station agreed to carry the Irish Road Show, which was heard on a weekly basis. In order to enhance his library of traditional Irish music, Martin traveled back to Ireland, spending 23 days visiting almost every nook and cranny in Ireland, recording the finest performers. He brought back to America these authentic, on the spot performers, for his listening audience to enjoy. As a result the Irish Road Show became the most listened to Irish program in America. A listener to one of the broadcasts, a U.S. Army General, contacted Martin and asked him to consider putting an Irish program together for St. Patrick's Day to be broadcast on U.S. Armed Forces Radio and TV Network. Martin was delighted with the opportunity to do so, and continues to do so today. The 2005 broadcast was the first ever Irish program to be broadcast over AFN radio, based in Bagdad, Iraq. Everyone was delighted with the results, and Martin received many compliments from the U.S. servicemen and women in the Middle East..
Martin believes there is a great need for a world-wide communication system for lovers of Irish
music and history, now more than ever. This can be accomplished with Web broadcasting on Ireland's
Own Radio.com.
Back to the Show!