Full recordings Archives - Irish Pirate Radio Audio Archive

14th August 202613th August 2026

Sunshine Radio during jamming campaign

This short recording of Sunshine Radio was made during a night-time slot in the spring of 1984, when RTÉ was relentlessly jamming the station’s signal as part of its campaign against the pirate. First up is the end of the Radio Romance slot with David Dennehy. News at midnight is presented by Justin McKenna and includes reference to the jamming, which was causing serious problems for Sunshine by this time. The iconic Desiderata, which used to be played before closedown of Sunshine every night, is heard before the midnight news as the station had long since moved to round-the-clock broadcasting. After news is Paul Vincent with the overnight show.

The recording is from the Anoraks Ireland Collection and was made from 100.5 FM between 2352-0015 on Thursday 22^nd into Friday 23^rd March 1984.

12th August 20269th August 2026

Late-night shows on Energy 103

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This recording features the new Dublin station Energy 103 from summer 1986. Energy emerged from the ashes of Radio Nova, beginning broadcasting on 28^th April and quickly becoming a leader in the Dublin radio market. The first part of the recording features a late-night show presented by Alan Burns, from 0113-0201 on Tuesday 29^th July 1986. The second part is from 2357-0045 on Tuesday and Wednesday 29^th and 30^th July. It begins at the end of the syndicated programme American Music Magazine presented by Rick Dees and continues with Alan Burns again. The tape is from the Anoraks Ireland Collection.

10th August 20268th August 2026

Radio Caroline Dublin relayed on shortwave

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Old Gold Retold was a popular oldies show on Sunday mornings on Radio Caroline Dublin (102.5 FM) in the 1990s. The presenter was Derek Jones, a veteran of the Dublin pirate scene since the 1970s. The programme was sometimes relayed by one of the city’s pirate shortwave operators, bringing it to listeners in western Europe and occasionally further afield.

This edition of Old Gold Retold is from 0949-1120 on Sunday 4^th October 1998 as rebroadcast by Ozone Radio on 6245 kHz in the 48-metre band shortwave. Thanks to Ian Biggar for the donation.

31st July 202630th July 2026

Rock and blues on Radioactive

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This is another recording of Dublin alternative free radio station Radioactive (1994-1996). It features an evening show consisting of mostly continuous rock and blues music with occasional links by an unidentified DJ. The frequency announced is 95.5 FM although the cassette label refers to 99.5. Radioactive was inspired by the philosophy of the 1987 book Radio is my Bomb: A DIY Manual for Pirates, which promoted free radio as a radical resistance to corporate and commercial broadcasting. The recording was made on 7^th September 1995 and is courtesy of Ian Biggar.

27th July 202626th July 2026

OId Gold Retold on Radio Caroline Dublin

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Old Gold Retold was a long-running oldies show on Radio Caroline Dublin (1989-2000) presented by Derek Jones, one of the pioneers of pirate radio in the city. Featuring music from the 1950s-1970s, the show aired each Sunday morning on the Sutton-based station. This recording contains plenty of requests so clearly Old Gold Retold had built up a good following by that time.

The recording was made on from 102.5 FM on Sunday 2^nd November 1997 between 0911-1031 and is courtesy of Ian Biggar. There is interference in places and some cassette wobble due to deterioration.