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Another Radio West Anoraks’ Show as pirate closedowns approach

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Another Radio West Anoraks' Show as pirate closedowns approach
Radio West’s AM site in Tyrrellspass in 1987 (courtesy Andy Carter).

This is another recording of one of the last episodes of the weekly Anoraks’ Show on midlands station Radio West in the final weeks of 1988. As usual station boss Shaun Coyne is at the helm, this week in the company of Kevin Palmer. The station, which was rebranded as West National Radio 3 in 1987, is winding down operations and has a few final public events planned. These include an outside broadcast from Tullamore, the last Country Jamboree from Galway and the Radio West ball. Shaun reports that pressure is coming on TDs about the impending closedown of the pirates, especially from promoters of Country and Western bands. The question of pirate relays of British television channels is also discussed.

The tape is from the Anoraks Ireland Collection and was made from Radio West’s Dublin relay on 97.3 FM from 1113-1129 on Sunday 4th December 1988. The final Anoraks’ Show was aired on 18th December and Radio West closed down for good on 30th December 1988.

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Early Cork series: Various Saturday shows on Radio City

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Early Cork series: Various Saturday shows on Radio City
Dave Johnson in the Radio City Studio in 1980 (courtesy Lilian O’Donoghue).

This recording of Cork pirate Radio City was made on a Saturday evening in spring 1981. Up first is the final part of Dave Johnson’s sports results programme. He is followed by Alan Edwards with his popular early evening show, complete with plenty of requests, a notice about a lost dog, adverts and mashed-up station idents. Among the hits played is Ireland’s entry to the 1981 Eurovision Song Contest, which is to be held that evening in Dublin. After Alan we hear the first few minutes of Luke Ward’s Rock City Interviews show.  

Audio quality is poor in the first half, possibly because the receiver was slightly off channel, but it improves in the final hour. The recording was made on 4th April 1981 from 1654-1906 from 95.5 FM. Radio City also broadcast on 199 metres medium wave (1512 kHz). Thanks to Lilian O’Donoghue for the donation.

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Radio West Anoraks’ Show as pirate closedowns approach

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Radio West Anoraks' Show as pirate closedowns approach
Radio West studio in 1987 (courtesy Andy Carter)

The Anoraks Show every Sunday morning on Radio West was a must for radio fans in the final years of the heyday of the Irish pirates in the 1980s. This excerpt from one such show was recorded with little over a month left before the deadline of 31st December 1988 for the pirates to close down in line with new broadcasting legislation.

Station boss Shaun Coyne is in studio with Willie Harte and discusses a campaign meeting in Dublin to save the pirates, supported by the Irish music industry. A number of schools in Co. Monaghan are said to have joined forces to oppose the closure of local station Big M and the influence of the pirates on the North is mentioned. There’s also a letter from Anoraks Ireland seeking assistance with recording the final 90 minutes of pirate stations on New Year’s Eve or sooner if necessary.

Since 1987, Radio West was known as West National Radio 3 and was claiming nationwide coverage. The recording is from the Anoraks Ireland Collection and was made on Sunday 27th November 1988 from around 1115-1130 from the station’s Dublin relay on 97.3 FM. West National Radio 3 also broadcast on 702 kHz AM.

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Early Cork series: Lunchtime shows on Radio City

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Early Cork series: Lunchtime shows on Radio City
Pete O’Neill at Radio City in 1980 (courtesy Lilian O’Donoghue).

This recording of Cork pirate Radio City was made in spring 1981, about seven months after the station went on the air. Up first is the end of Mark Lawrence’s mid-morning programme. He is followed by one of the station founders, Pete Andrews (O’Neill), with his Lunchtime Special show. Radio City super-fan Lilian McCarthy (O’Donoghue) has brought presents to the station for Pete’s birthday and there is the usual Golden Year feature and ‘for sale’ slot.

The tape was made from 95.5 FM between 1156-1244 on 25th March 1981 and is courtesy of Lilian O’Donoghue. Audio quality is fair with distortion in places, probably due to an issue with transmission, and some wobble on the cassette after the decades.

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Early evening shows on Radio Leinster

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Early evening shows on Radio Leinster
Radio Leinster studios in 1982 (Anoraks Ireland Collection).

This recording of Dublin pirate Radio Leinster was made just over a fortnight before the station closed down suddenly in May 1983. On air is station manager Justin James on the Bumper to Bumper drivetime show with the usual easy-listening, MOR and folk music associated with the station. Justin also has a television preview, traffic reports, sports headlines and a what’s on guide, and news is read by Al Dunne. Adverts are heard for businesses in and around Dublin, including some for larger businesses and brands. Justin is followed by Anna Craig (Chisnall) with the Classical Spot, an example of some of the specialist shows on this innovative and pioneering station.

The tape is from the Anoraks Ireland Collection and was made from 93 FM on Monday 2nd May 1983 between 1736-1908. Radio Leinster closed down on 19th May 1983, following raids on the larger pirates Radio Nova and Sunshine Radio.