This recording is of a test broadcast by Radio City 2, an apparent offshoot of the early Cork pirate Radio City (1980-1982). The frequency is 88.8 FM, distinct from the main channel on 95.5, but the station’s AM frequency on 1512 kHz (199 metres) is also mentioned, which would not be expected for an opt-out station at a time when most listening was still on medium wave. The presenter is Pete Andrews (O’Neill) and sound quality is poor at first, due to distorted audio levels in studio. It is unknown if Radio City 2 was ever launched in earnest, or for how long the experiment lasted.
The airchecked recording is from an undated Saturday night but we estimate it to be from April or May 1981. Thanks to Lilian O’Donoghue for the donation.
Radio Dublin car sticker from 1986 (courtesy DX Archive).
Pirate stations often became embroiled in politics not just because they were broadcasting without licences but also due to the unregulated nature of the radio scene. One issue that caused friction was Section 31 of the Broadcasting Act that prohibited broadcast interviews with spokespersons for Sinn Féin and the IRA. Although RTÉ implemented the law strictly, the National Union of Journalists (NUJ) opposed it on the grounds of media censorship. As they operated outside the law anyway, some pirate stations ignored Section 31 and occasionally paid the consequences. For instance, in 1982 the Radio Leinster presenter Gavin Duffy announced that he would interview Gerry Adams and other senior Sinn Féin figures. The station received a warning from the Department of Posts and Telegraphs and Duffy was fired. Another consequence was that politicians who appeared on the pirates were blacklisted by RTÉ, depriving themselves of coverage at election time. In a direct challenge to Section 31, temporary pirate stations supporting Sinn Féin or H-Block candidates also popped up from time to time.
This recording of a late-night talk show on Radio Dublin was made a few days before the general election on 17th February 1987 and is an example of how rules about balance in political coverage often did not apply to the pirates. Presenter Pat Jennings – himself a member of the NUJ – states that he is opposed to the broadcasting ban and interviews Paul Davidson (Tony Donlon, RIP) of Anoraks Ireland about how it plays out in the pirate world. There are also live calls from listeners giving their views on the election and in studio are former H-Block candidate Tony O’Hara and Dublin City Councillor Seán Dublin Bay Rockall Loftus. The owner of Radio Dublin, Eamon Cooke, was well known for his republican sympathies and the station was one of a handful that did not broadcast a minute’s silence in November 1987 after the IRA bombed the war memorial ceremony in Enniskillen.
The label states that the recording was made from 105 FM on Saturday 14th February 1987 between 0045-0133, but it sounds like there are a few edits. The tape is from the Anoraks Ireland Collection.
Tony Allan in the Radio Nova studio in 1983 (photo Joe King).
This recording of Dublin station Energy 103 features the legendary Tony Allan (RIP) on a late night show in 1986. The emphasis is on the music with minimal chat between records. The tape is from the Anoraks Ireland Collection and was made from 103 FM on Wednesday 22nd October 1986 between 2257-2345..
Radio City advertising card (courtesy DX Archive).
This is another recording of Alan Edwards on his regular Saturday early evening slot on Radio City from 1981. There are the usual requests and a mixture of contemporary hits and oldies. Plenty of adverts are heard, and news headlines are read by Alan himself. He is followed at 1900 by Luke Ward with the weekly Rock City Interviews show.
The partially airchecked recording was made between 1700-1900 on 25th April 1981 from 95.5 FM. Radio City also broadcast on 1512 kHz AM, announcing 199 metres. Thanks to Lilian O’Donoghue for the donation.
Original Sands Hotel logo from 1980s (courtesy Maria Ginty).
Sunshine Radio (1980-1988) was located in the Sands Hotel in Portmarnock, which also housed the popular Tamango’s nightclub. Adverts for the club were heard on Sunshine and the station regularly broadcast from there. First up in this recording is Jim Kenny with the end of his weekly Midnight Megamix live from Tamango’s. News at 0200 is read by Stephen Plunkett, who is followed by Barry (Éamon) Falvey, with All-Night Sunshine.
The recording was made from 101.5 FM on Saturday 17th August 1985 between 0135-0220 and is from the Anoraks Ireland Collection.
