Irish Pirate Radio Audio Archive

29th October 202526th October 2025

Pirate Pioneers: early test transmission on Radio Dublin

This is a rare early recording of Radio Dublin (1966-2002) featuring the legendary Don Moore (RIP) on a test transmission in 1975. By this time, the Dublin pirate scene was quiet following a raid on Radio Empathy in 1974 and Radio Dublin had been off the air for a year. By 1975, pirate activity had shifted to shortwave, believed to be of less interest to the authorities than medium wave, and Dr Don was operating Radio Westside (later Westside Radio International). However, both he and Prince Terry (Roger Lloyd) were determined to put Radio Dublin back on medium wave and began testing with a new transmitter in October, covering the northside of the city on 30 watts. That summer, Capitol Radio had appeared on 1358 kHz (announcing 220 metres) and with the return of regular weekend broadcasts by Radio Dublin, the new activity ultimately paved the way for the rapid expansion of pirate radio in the late 1970s and 1980s.

In this short recording, Dr Don sends best wishes to Capitol Radio on 220 metres and also mentions that another shortwave pirate, Radio Valleri would return soon. Don signs off by saying that he will shortly be testing on his own shortwave station, Radio Westside. We estimate the date of this untimed recording to be Sunday 12^th October 1985. It was made by Gary Hogg from 1183 kHz (off-channel, announcing 253 metres). Thanks to Ian Biggar for the donation.

24th October 202518th October 2025

Long Saturday Breakfast Show on South West Radio

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South West Radio broadcast from Killarney in Co. Kerry from 1986-1988. It was logged by Anoraks Ireland in November 1986 on 105 FM and listed by Anoraks UK as South West Community Radio in January 1987. By 1988, the station had added additional transmitters to boost coverage (97.1 FM for Killarney and Tralee and 103.3 for north Kerry). This recording is of a marathon breakfast show presented by John Howard (Niall Cassidy), who plays mostly country and Irish music. Adverts are heard for businesses in Kerry and north Cork, including one for the Radio Mallow music awards. There’s also a call from a listener who plays the tin whistle live on air and in keeping with some other rural stations, the Angelus bell is broadcast at midday. Niall Cassidy worked previously with Diamond Radio in Dublin (1984).

The recording was made from 97.1 FM between 0831-0902 and 1156-1227 on Saturday 5^th November 1988 and is from the Anoraks Ireland Collection.

22nd October 202518th October 2025

Early Cork series: Sunday lunchtime on Radio City

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This recording of Cork pirate Radio City features Sunday lunchtime programmes from the spring of 1981. Up first is John Mariner with what appears to be his last show. He is followed by Derry O’Callaghan with the Radio City Top 40. There are some adverts during the broadcast and a charity appeal to listeners. Audio levels are variable with some distortion on the links and adverts.

The tape was made from 95.7 FM on Sunday 8^th March 1981 from 1237 to 1402, with an edit in the middle. Thanks to Lilian O’Donoghue for the donation.

20th October 202518th October 2025

Gareth O’Callaghan on Sunshine Radio

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Sunshine Radio was one of Dublin’s leading pirate stations, broadcasting from 1980-1988. This recording is of mid-morning programmes from the spring of 1984, before the RTÉ jamming campaign against the pirates would extend to Sunshine. First up is the end of the breakfast show with David Lyons and Cathy Cregan, who are followed by Tony Garreth (Gareth O’Callaghan) with a 3-hour music show until midday. There is a holiday slot and other features, as well as the familiar high-level adverts for larger businesses and brands. News is read by Gary Miley and Cathy Cregan.

The recording was made from 101.5 FM between 0854-1034 on Thursday 1^st March 1984 and is from the Anoraks Ireland Collection. Gareth O’Callaghan later moved to other Dublin pirates Radio Nova and Energy 103 and continues to broadcast on independent radio to this day.

17th October 202513th October 2025

Border series: Test transmission by Radio Sligo

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This is an unusual recording that underlines the volatile and sometimes dramatic nature of pirate radio in Irish during the 1980s. It is of a test transmission by Radio Sligo from February 1984, just 10 days after the station was wrecked by a disgruntled former DJ who would go on to be jailed for the incident. The Sligo Champion of 17^th February 1984 reported that the former DJ was charged with causing over £1,500 worth of damage to equipment and of stealing nearly £1,300 worth of property, including the FM transmitter. The damage and theft occurred after the intruder broke into the station on the night of 8^th and 9^th of February following a dispute over pay which had led him to leave Radio Sligo. The Sligo Champion reported on 23^rd November that the former DJ was sentenced to 6 months’ imprisonment for the incident.

This strange recording contains references to vandals and bandits, which no doubt refer to the attack just over a week before, and it seems that this is the first time that Radio Sligo returned to the air after losing its equipment and FM transmitter. The address of 4, Castle Street and a telephone number are given out and the unidentified presenters announce that the station will return the following day. There were a number of pirates called Radio Sligo in the 1970s and 1980s but this version began in 1981 and continued to be logged until September 1984, so it seems that the station returned to the airwaves for a number of months after the attack.

The tape was made from 1260 kHz, announcing 237 metres, on 18^th February 1984 and is courtesy of Ian Biggar.