We are delighted to present the second in a new series of Courtenay’s Columns, exclusive to Radiowaves.fm. Almost twenty years since the very first article, Pat is back with more musings, ponderings (and any other synonyms you can think of) along with memories from his radio past.
Pat currently presents ‘Afternoon Drive’ on Dublin’s Radio Nova, having returned to our shores in 2010.
In this article, Pat recalls another amazing incident from his time on Energy 103…
Carpenter’s Fear
Isn’t it too easy to take things for granted? Just numbly to accept things of which others are in awe or, at least, bewilderment. When Energy’s on-air studio was on the top floor of our little building opposite the Leeson Lounge, it was decided to replace the window frames which were as ancient and creaking as RTÉ. The builders got stuck in while Tony McKenzie was on air mid-morning. I went up to see Tony for whatever reason and there’s Bob the Builder, minus the customary hard hat or any other form of protection aside from an overactive confidence gland. This beer-bellied, farmer’s-tanned craftsman was holding on to one side of the window frame with one arm, as he smashed the opposite side with the other. He was goin’ for it. The hammer he was wielding would have made Thor feel inadequate.
At this point, you need to know that our hero was not inside. His legs below the knee were. The rest was literally hanging out the window. If the Kerry Mountain Rescue Team had been there, they would have mounted a full-scale operation to get him off the side of the building. As for the view from below – the Gap of Dunloe.
Clearly, this one-man demolition derby comes with more than its fair share of noise. Comes time for Tony to talk on the radio. Bob the Builder has never seen this. Tony waves across at him, politely asks him if he’d stop smashing for a moment, slides on the cans, opens the mic and does his bit. Did Action Man step inside? Not at all. I watched in horror as he froze mid-swing, hanging off the window frame by one arm, three floors over Leeson Street with his mouth wide open. Longest link of my life, and I wasn’t even doing it.
Tony finishes, fader down, red light off, builder still levitating outside the window, a look of absolute horror on his face. Tony says, “Thanks, mate,” builder finds the power of speech and, in the Dublinest of accents says, “I dunno how yiz do that,” then resumes beating up the building, his only harness the belt around the Grand Canal.
I think about that scene on days when I take for granted the job that gives me a lovely life.
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© Pat Courtenay/Radiowaves.fm.
First published August 6th 2022