Irish Pirate Radio Audio Archive

13th March 202612th March 2026

Saturday afternoon on early Sunshine Radio

The Dublin pirate Sunshine Radio marked its first summer on air in 1981. In this recording from a sunny Saturday afternoon that year, first up is Tom Hardy (RIP) with the Sunshine Survey chart countdown. He is followed by Jim Kenny with the Golden Oldies Session. Radio Nova had just gone on the air, beginning a period of great rivalry between the two big stations. Sunshine would survive until the end, not closing until 30^th December 1988.

The tape was made from 531 kHz AM, announcing 539 metres, from 1443-1529 on Saturday 11^th July. It is from the Anoraks Ireland Collection.

11th March 202610th March 2026

Early Cork series: Radio City welcomes summer 1981

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This recording contains excerpts of shows by various DJs on Cork pirate Radio City in early summer 1981. First up is Carl Johnson (Dan Noonan), who hands over to Alan Edwards on his weekly Saturday evening slot. We hear most of Alan’s show, which includes a letter from Radio City super-fan Lilian McCarthy (O’Donoghue). This is followed by more clips of Carl Johnson and Noel Evans (Welch), including one from the day of the general election, 11^th May 1981.

The bulk of the recording was made from 95.5 FM from around 1700 on Saturday 2^nd May 1981 but contains a number of edits. Radio City also broadcast on 1512 kHz, announcing 199 metres, but its AM channel was off air at the time. Audio quality is fair with some cassette wobble and distortion. Thanks to Lilian O’Donoghue for the donation.

9th March 202622nd February 2026

Final hour of BLB before 1983 closedown

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This is part of the final hour of Bray Local Broadcasting (BLB) before it closed voluntarily following the raids on the larger Dublin pirates in 1983. At the microphone is a familiar voice on BLB, Mark Quinn, who is joined by other presenters including Shay Byrne (now with RTÉ), Sally Byrne and Terry Daniels. They reminisce about the station since it began on 22^nd August 1979. There are also calls of support from listeners and messages of goodwill from community groups, showing how respected BLB was in the north Wicklow town.

The recording was made from 96.7 FM between 2255-2341 on 19^th May 1983. BLB also broadcast on 657 kHz, announcing 456 metres. Along with most other pirates, it returned to the airwaves after a short time once the immediate shock of the raids had passed.

6th March 202621st February 2026

The breakfast show on Energy 103

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Alan Burns presented the breakfast show on Dublin station Energy 103 in 1986 and 1987. This recording was made on a cold morning in the autumn of 1986 but despite the weather, there’s plenty to keep listeners engaged including a prize of a food hamper, horoscopes and a ‘beat the intro’ competition. Some well-known voices on adverts include Tony Allan (RIP), Colm Hayes and Pat Courtenay and there’s a recorded insert featuring Chrissie Hynde of the Pretenders. News on the half-hour is read by George Long (Henry O’Donovan, RIP), who also presents an idiosyncratic newspaper review that wouldn’t make it on air by today’s standards.

The tape is from the Anoraks Ireland Collection and was made from 103 FM between 0755-0843 on 23^rd October 1986.

4th March 202614th February 2026

Late night on KISS FM from Foley Street

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This is another recording of the early days of KISS FM from Foley Street in Dublin’s north inner city (1985-86). Our recording features Clem Francis in a late-night slot not long after the station was launched. It is from the Anoraks Ireland Collection and was made from 104.2 FM (announcing 105) between 2242-2328 on 18^th May 1985.