Tipperary Museum of Hidden History have launched their 80s inspired exhibition which reflects the 80s through fashion, music, games and entertainment. The endless glitz and glamour of Dallas, roller skates, the Rubik Cube, Atari, music albums, 1980s clothes, Sunday evenings watching Clonmel native and cultural icon, Vincent Hanley presenting on MT USA.
In addition to the tribute to Vincent Hanley, Marie McMahon Managing Curator and the museum team have transformed the museum's gallery into an 80s themed space, complete with a bedroom, living and sitting room, where you can watch a full 3-hour episode of MT USA. The exhibition would not be complete without a vintage arcade, created in-house by Museum’s David Nolan, West Gate Creative Production Team, Sarah Loh, Paul Keating and students from Limerick College of Art & Design TUS.
Vincent Hanley – MT USA Presenter and Associate Producer (1954-1987)
Vincent Hanley, or ‘Fab Vinny’ as he was affectionately known, was regarded as ‘a visionary and a pioneer’ in the world of pop music and ultimately an icon to a generation of young Irish. As a Highschool student in Clonmel, he enjoyed listening to Radio Luxembourg and cultivating his passion for music. He got his first experience as a DJ for local dances before moving to Cork at the age of 17, where he started presenting pop music shows when RTE launched its pop channel Radio 2, Vincent was one of the first disc jockeys to join. His regular morning programme earned him a huge audience. By the time he joined RTE in Dublin he was already a household name.
Anxious to expand his career he moved to London in 1981 where he worked on Capital Radio as well as enjoying a stint on London Weekend Television’s Six O’ Clock Show. A year later Vincent moved to the Big Apple - New York.
In an interview in the RTE Guide he said ‘As soon as I arrived in Manhattan it felt like home and I loved it for the endless possibilities it offered’. Inspired by the emerging music channel MTV (Music Television), and with his friend and colleague Conor McAnally they hit upon the idea for MT USA, a ground-breaking music video programme, known for the slogan, "Music Television USA - Music never looked better". It was shot in New York and aired pop videos for three hours every Sunday afternoon on RTE. MT USA was the first programme of its kind in Europe and was an immediate success, consolidating Vincent’s reputation as a broadcaster and innovator. It ran for just three years, from 1984-1987, ending with the tragic death of Hanley in St. Vincent’s Hospital, Dublin on 18 April 1987. He was turning 33 later that week.
The exhibition is in collaboration with the Clonmel Junction Arts Festival 2025 and the Limerick College of Art & Design - TUS. The Museum would like to thank its local community who have loaned memorabilia to this exhibition, the Hanley family and Conor McAnally for his unwavering support.
The exhibition opens to the public on Saturday 5th July - 20th Sept 2025
