Irish Pirate Radio Audio Archive

9th January 20268th January 2026

Saturday on KISS FM Weekend Radio

KISS FM Weekend Radio was a short-lived weekend service of the Radio Nova offshoot KISS FM (1982-1984). This recording from late 1983 was made not long after the service was launched and there are a few technical glitches along the way. Liam Young is on air with music, competitions and a promise of local news. Listeners phone in from Dublin and the Isle of Man, reflecting the strong FM signal but ominously there are no adverts. The names of both David Malone and Shane Harrison are heard at the start of the news, which sounds like another glitch. KISS FM closed in January 1984 after a jamming campaign by RTÉ caused turmoil at Nova.

The recording is from the Anoraks Ireland Collection and was made from 1202-1311 on 20th November 1983 from 102.7 FM.

7th January 20261st December 2025

Friday afternoon on Ballincollig Community Radio

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Ballincollig Community Radio broadcast to the Cork suburb of Ballincollig for the latter part of 1988 up to the deadline for the pirate stations to go off the air. The station operated on FM only and in this recording from November 1988, station manager Margaret Mahon presents ballads, country and showbands, along with a listeners’ quiz. There is a reference to Paul Davidson of Anoraks Ireland, who had just visited the station.

The recording is from the Anoraks Ireland Collection and was made from 103.6 FM, announcing 104, between 1542-1613 on Friday, 4^th November 1988.

31st December 202531st December 2025

New Year’s Eve on Sunshine Radio

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Sunshine Radio celebrated its first Christmas and New Year on air in 1980, having begun broadcasting on 13^th September that year, with an official launch on 29^th September. By using high-powered transmitters, professional staff and a commercial model, Sunshine would change the direction of Irish radio in the coming years.

This recording is of Sunshine’s first New Year’s Eve and features Manon Christie, daughter of Robbie Robinson (Robbie Dale), one of Sunshine’s founders. Manon was a DJ in the station’s early period. The other founder was of course Chris Cary, who would leave Sunshine in January 1981 to set up Radio Nova. Manon goes through the headlines of the year and also live-reads some adverts. News at midday is read by Adrian Horsman.

The tape was made in Leeds from 531 kHz AM and suffers from foreign co-channel interference, exacerbated by the time of year. It was recorded between 1157-1333 on 31^st December 1980 and is courtesy of DX Archive. Thanks to Ian Biggar for his assistance.

29th December 202529th December 2025

Early Cork series: Holiday drivetime on Radio City

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This recording of Cork pirate Radio City features Mike Cagney presenting the drivetime show during the Christmas holidays 1980. The city is teeming with shoppers due to the New Year sales. Mike has a listeners’ competition, quiz of the week and a review of the news and best albums of the year.

The recording was made from 95.7 FM on 29^th December 1980 between 1737-1908 and is partially airchecked. Thanks to Lilian O’Donoghue for the donation.

28th December 202530th December 2025

Country station TTTR at Christmas 1981

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Treble TR (also written as TTTR) was a country and Irish station broadcasting from Dublin from spring 1981 until the end of 1988. TTTR began on 945 kHz AM, announcing 317 metres, adding FM from 1983. A second AM frequency on 891 kHz was added in 1987. TTTR carved out a specialist niche in the Dublin market and held its own until it closed at the end of 1988.

This recording of TTTR at Christmas 1981 features two unidentified DJs playing country tunes, interspersed with adverts for businesses in Dublin and surrounding areas. It was made by Kieran Murray from 945 kHz at around 1500 on 28^th December 1981 and is from the Anoraks Ireland Collection. The Sunday Journal radio listings from 1981 list Miss Elli and Grace Porter in these timeslots, so it is possible that they are the presenters in question. Audio quality is fair due to a combination of a weak AM signal, cassette degradation and co-channel interference on the frequency due to the time of year. Thanks to Ian Biggar for additional research.