Irish Pirate Radio Audio Archive - Page 15 of 160

1st September 20231st September 2023

Midday Miscellany on Wonderland Radio

Wonderland Radio was the community station for the large suburb of Tallaght in southwest Dublin, broadcasting from 1984 to the end of 1988. Its promotional material used the strapline ‘Tallaght Community Broadcasting’ and the station changed its name to Tallaght Community Radio in the summer of 1986. Wonderland/Tallaght Community Radio was a member of the National Association of Community Broadcasters that lobbied for the licensing of non-commercial radio stations throughout the decade. Many of those involved in the pirate station set up the licensed Tallaght FM (1999-2008).

This tape from 1984 features part of the Midday Miscellany programme. The unidentified presenter shares recipes, a community notebook and a segment on mental health. There are promos for a small adverts slot and the Tallaght People of the Year Awards. Audio quality is fair to poor in places with over-modulation of the signal and variable audio levels. Some splatter is heard also, presumably from the powerful Manx Radio signal on the the neighbouring 1368 kHz frequency, which would have been strong at the reception location.

The recording was made from 1359 kHz, announcing 220 metres, on 15^th August 1984 from 1215-1302. It is from the Skywaves Tapes Collection. Radio Skywave International was a 1980s shortwave station broadcasting from Baldoyle in northeast Dublin.

30th August 202312th August 2023

Saturday music and sports on NDCR

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North Dublin Community Radio (NDCR) was one of the leading community broadcasters in Dublin in the 1980s. Based in the northeastern suburb of Coolock, it was on the air from 1983 to 1988 and played a leading role in the National Association for Community Broadcasters that lobbied for the licensing of the non-commercial sector. Many of those involved in NDCR went on to establish NEAR FM, the current licensed community station for northeast Dublin.

This tape of NDCR from features part of a Saturday afternoon show with chart music, sports results and community notices. The DJ is unidentified. It was recorded from the slightly off-channel frequency of 890 kHz from 1625-1710 on 18^th February 1984. Splatter from the powerful BBC Radio Wales transmitter on 882 kHz can be heard during the broadcast. The recording is from the Skywaves Tapes Collection. Radio Skywave International was a 1980s shortwave station broadcasting from Baldoyle in northeast Dublin.

28th August 202328th August 2023

Concord Community Radio prepares for Christmas

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Concord Community Radio was the first iteration of community radio on the northside of Dublin city, a tradition that continues in licensed form to this day. Concord began broadcasting in late 1982 on 1332 kHz (220 metres) and in 1983 moved to 890 kHz (337 metres). In 1984, Concord became North Dublin Community Radio (NDCR) and continued on AM and FM until the end of 1988. It was one of the leading members of the National Association of Community Broadcasters that lobbied for licensed community radio and many of those involved went on to set up NEAR FM, which began broadcasting on a fulltime basis in 1995.

First up in this recording is Gerry Lee with Christmas music and ballads in the easy listening style. He is followed by Boppin’ Billy with the country and bluegrass show. The tape was made from 98.2 FM from 2125-2215 on 14^th December 1983 and is from the Skywave Tapes Collection. Radio Skywave International was a 1980s shortwave station broadcasting from Baldoyle in northeast Dublin.

25th August 202312th February 2024

Echo Community Radio from west Dublin

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Echo Community Radio was a shortlived station broadcasting from the west Dublin suburb of Blanchardstown in 1985. In July that year, DX Archive logged it on 1071 kHz AM, announcing 280 metres. On 12^th January 1986, Anoraks UK Weekly Report said it appeared that Echo Community Radio had closed down. The station was based in the Centrepoint Shopping Centre.

This daytime recording features an unidentified DJ playing a mixture of oldies, disco and more recent chart music. There are no adverts but a phone number is given out for requests. Audio quality is fair with the signal distored in places and electrical interference, reflecting the distance from the transmitter. There is some co-channel interference also, probably from Radio Carousel North in Dundalk.

The recording was made from 1071 kHz from 1140-1227 on 17th June 1985. It is from the Skywaves Tapes Collection. Radio Skywave International was a 1980s shortwave station broadcasting from Baldoyle in northeast Dublin.

23rd August 202323rd August 2023

South Dublin Radio from Dún Laoghaire

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South Dublin Radio was one of the many pirates of the era from the southside of Dublin, broadcasting from c. 1982 to 1984 from the suburb of Dún Laoghaire. The station was linked to Radio South County that first came on air in 1980 and was active on 963 kHz AM. In 1984, it changed its name to South Dublin Community Radio but closed sometime in the autumn of that year. Many of those involved went on to the popular 1990s pirate DLR that broadcast from the same location.

This tape is of the station when it was known as South Dublin Radio and features a chart music show presented by Bruce Foxton, obviously a fake name based on the British mod singer. There are plenty of requests from around the southside. Reception is weak reflecting the fact that the recording was made on the other side of the city well outside the core listening area. The recording was made from 91 FM from 1515-1602 on 30^th July 1984. It is from the Skywaves Tapes Collection. Radio Skywave International was a 1980s shortwave station broadcasting from Baldoyle in northeast Dublin.