'There was also a glamorous side to the music business as we established links with all the leading promoters and entertainers '

'There was also a glamorous side to the music business as we established links with all the leading promoters and entertainers '

Michael Carlin describes working in the music business. He remembers how much he enjoyed selling the newest technologies and how popular his record store was for the young people of Newry. In paticular he describes how bands would stop off and perform in his shop on their way north or south. He also reflects on being one of the first shops to sell concert tickets.

Michael Carlin

Trinity College Dublin

1970

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Michael Carlin

Work and Employment

Life Story

Newry, Co. Down

1970s

I spent 40 Christmases in Carlin Records and I didn't regard a single day of it as 'work' or a 'job'. I just loved it and it was a major part of my life. I am sure that the fact it was our family business was the reason that I put my whole heart and soul and many long hours into it.Over the years, we built up a very close relationship with our customers, our staff and our suppliers, all of whom we looked on as part of the Carlin Records family.The home entertainment business was very exciting, because it constantly changed. There was always a freshness to it - new products in TV, radio, Hi - Fi, video, DVD etc., and new artists and formats on the music side. My father's infectious enthusiasm rubbed off on me and together we embraced all the new trends and we were always first to launch them on to the Newry market.There was also a glamorous side to the music business as we established links with all the leading promoters and entertainers. Because of our location Newry was an ideal stopping off point for southern artists travelling north and vice versa (before motorways, by - passes and one - way streets) they all had to pass our door.Each Friday and Saturday afternoon, our shop was a Mecca for young people hoping to catch a glimpse of their favourite artists from the Royal showband, the Miami, The Capital, the Cadets and many more.We became the first shop outside of Dublin and Belfast to start selling concert tickets. This became not only a major source of revenue for us, but put us on the map, through the extensive media campaign carried out by the concert promoters. We enjoyed the 3rd highest sales in Ireland, but were No. 1 per capita. The late Jim Aiken confided to a mutual friend 'they are the best ticket outlet on the whole east coast'I am often asked now 'do you miss the shop?'and my reply is always the same 'every single day'.

Irish Research Council for Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences (IRCHSS)

Dr Kathleen McTiernan (Trinity College Dublin)

Dr Deirdre O'Donnell (Trinity College Dublin)