The Sony Walkman the portable personal music player celebrates its thirtieth birthday.
First released in 1979 by Japanese electronics company Sony, the Walkman revolutionised how people around the world listened to music.
Back then no-one foresaw the changes that the personal stereo would generate, says Damien Burke from the Sony Centre in the Dundrum Town Centre.
People didn't really believe it would actually take off.
For those who have grown up in the digital age, the Walkman is a clunky and unusual object,
Pretty retro
Huge
With tapes and cassette players now in the past, Sony is hoping that the new Walkman X-series music player will revive sales of the personal portable music player.
An RTÉ News report broadcast on 1 July 2009. The reporter is Ailbhe Conneely.
