TributeLegacy
Create a tribute page
Back to map All in Northern Ireland

blue plaque · Northern Ireland

Sir Tyrone Guthrie

Photograph at the Sir Tyrone Guthrie blue plaque
Photograph via Wikipedia (Tyrone Power (Irish actor), CC BY-SA).

This blue plaque commemorates Sir Tyrone Guthrie, a significant figure in broadcasting and theatre direction. Born in 1900, he made history as the very first voice broadcast on 2BE-BBC Northern Ireland. His inaugural transmission from this location on 15 September 1924 marked a pivotal moment in the region's broadcasting history, establishing a new era of communication and entertainment for Northern Ireland. The plaque serves as a permanent reminder of his pioneering contribution to both radio and the performing arts, honouring a life dedicated to theatrical and broadcast innovation until his passing in 1971.

The memorial stands as a tribute from an era when radio broadcasting was a new and rapidly developing technology, bringing news, entertainment, and cultural content directly into homes for the first time. The establishment of 2BE-BBC Northern Ireland in the 1920s was part of a broader movement to decentralise broadcasting and create regional stations across the United Kingdom. These early stations played a crucial role in shaping local identities and connecting communities, providing a platform for local talent and voices. Sir Tyrone Guthrie's initial broadcast symbolised the dawn of this new medium in Northern Ireland, linking the region into a national and international network of communication.

The plaque dedicated to Sir Tyrone Guthrie is situated at BBC Broadcasting House on Linenhall Street in Northern Ireland. Visitors can find this blue plaque displayed on the building's exterior, marking the historical site from which Guthrie made his pioneering broadcast. The location is easily accessible within the city, allowing those interested in broadcasting history and local heritage to view the memorial. As it is positioned on an active building, visitors are encouraged to observe the plaque respectfully while being mindful of the ongoing operations of the premises.

Inscription

“Sir Tyrone Guthrie 1900–1971 broadcaster and theatre director. The first voice heard on 2BE-BBC Northern Ireland from here 15 September 1924”
Transcribed from the blue plaque at BBC Broadcasting House.

Background

Tyrone Power was a renowned Irish stage actor, celebrated for his roles as a comedian. Beyond his performances, he also contributed as an author and theatrical manager. He is noted as an ancestor to the American actor Tyrone Power Sr., linking his theatrical legacy to a later generation. His career in the performing arts established him as a notable figure within his profession.

Original summary by TributeLegacy, informed by public sources.

Source: Open Plaques. Geographic data via OpenStreetMap.

Nearby locations in Northern Ireland

Browse all memorials in Northern Ireland

Data sources

Location records are drawn from open, licence-clean datasets, kept here with attribution and gratitude to the people who maintain them.

  • Open Plaques, dedicated to the public domain (CC0). See openplaques.org.
  • Wikidata, available under the CC0 1.0 Universal dedication.
  • © OpenStreetMap contributors, available under the Open Database Licence.
  • Historic England, National Heritage List for England, used under the Open Government Licence v3.0. War memorial records are drawn from open community datasets (OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, NHLE) - never from the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, which is excluded.

Editorial descriptions, photography and tribute links are original TributeLegacy work, layered on top of the open data.

Directions to here