Hits and requests on KITS from Monaghan

Hits and requests on KITS from Monaghan
KITS car sticker (Anoraks Ireland Collection).

Monaghan has long been an important county for pirate radio, with various stations over the years taking advantage of proximity to the Northern market. One late arrival to the 1980s pirate scene was Hot Hits KITS from Monaghan Town, which began test tranmissions at the end of 1987. The Anoraks UK Weekly Report of 20th December noted non-stop music and idents on 100.9 FM and the following edition reported that live transmissions began during Christmas week. Professional PAMS jingles were to be produced and the station was described as one of Monaghan’s two ‘border blasters’ along with KISS FM which was conducting tests at that time.

Hits and requests on KITS from Monaghan
Original cassette label from Anoraks Ireland Collection.

In this evening show with Simon Dee, adverts and requests are heard from both sides of the border. The recording was made from 100.9 FM (announced as 101) on 27th April 1988 between 1812-1858. KITS also broadcast on 837 kHz AM and closed down permanently in the afternoon of 31st December 1988. The tape is from the Anoraks Ireland Tapes Collection, donated to us by Paul Davidson.

Late night requests on Radio Vera from Limerick

Late night requests on Radio Vera from Limerick
Radio Vera compliments slip (Anoraks Ireland Collection).

Radio Vera was a Limerick station broadcasting towards the end of the 1980s pirate era. Launched in late 1987, it was linked to an existing city station, Radio Munster with which it shared a building in William Street. Radio Vera aimed its programmes at the 15-34 age cohort, featuring pop music, chat, news, sports and local interviews. It claimed to be one of the few Limerick stations available over a 50-mile radius around Limerick City and its advertising brochures included maps covering most of the southwest of Ireland. Radio Vera closed at the end of 1988 along with other pirate stations.

Late night requests on Radio Vera from Limerick
Advertising material with claimed coverage map (Anoraks Ireland Collection).

This tape was made from 97.7 FM on 14th November 1988 from 2230-2307 and features Jeff Graham with a late-night requests show. News at the top of the hour is read by Edwina and adverts cover Limerick and north Kerry. The recording is of fair reception quality as it was made outside the core broadcasting area. We thank John Breslin for the donation.  

John Lewis on South Coast Radio

John Lewis on South Coast Radio
John Lewis in the South Coast studio in 1982 (courtesy Lillian O’Donoghue).

Former offshore DJ John Lewis spent a stint on Cork’s South Coast Radio in 1982 and 1983. He had previously worked on Radio Caroline in the 1970s until the Mi Amigo sank in 1980 and was also heard on the Voice of Peace off the Israeli coast. In this recording, John presents a Saturday evening show featuring plenty of requests, the Lewis Cues quiz and sports news with John Kenny. News at the top of the hour is read by Andrew Hewkin and commercial breaks feature both agency adverts and spots for local businesses.

John Lewis returned to North Sea in 1984 and joined the new offshore station Laser before returning to Radio Caroline. He still broadcasts on the current licensed Radio Caroline and has also worked with other UK commercial stations.

John Lewis on South Coast Radio
Original cassette label from Anoraks Ireland Collection.

This tape was made on Saturday 20th August 1983 from 1725-1902. It was recorded from 103.7 FM, announced as 104. South Coast also broadcast on 1557 kHz, announced as 194 metres. The recording is from the Anoraks Ireland Tapes Collection, donated to us by Paul Davidson.

Chart sounds on Enniscorthy Local Radio

Chart sounds on Enniscorthy Local Radio

Enniscorthy Local Radio broadcast on AM and FM from the town of Enniscorthy in Co. Wexford in 1982. There is little information available about the station but it was noted in a log by DX Archive on 1512 kHz AM/199 metres and 99.1 FM in December. However, it did not appear in previous or subsequent listings so it is unclear how long it lasted into 1983.

Chart sounds on Enniscorthy Local Radio
Original label from Anoraks Ireland Collection

This recording was made in summer 1982 and features DJ Tommy Butler with an afternoon chart music and requests show. There are plenty of adverts for small local businesses in Enniscorthy and Ferms about 10km away. Billy Shanahan is to follow Tommy with the next programme. The tape was made from 1522-1658 on Monday 9th August 1982 and was recorded from 99.6 FM in mono, announcing 100 FM. It is from the Anoraks Ireland Tapes Collection, donated to us by Paul Davidson.

Summer breakfast on South Coast Radio

Summer breakfast on South Coast Radio
Don Stevens in the South Coast studio in February 1983 (courtesy Lillian O’Donoghue).

This recording of successful Cork pirate South Coast Radio features Don Stevens on the Sunrise Special breakfast show on a warm summer morning in 1983. Don worked previously on offshore stations such as Radio Caroline and the Voice of Peace before coming to Ireland where he joined South Coast Radio. He later went on to Galway pirates Atlantic Sound and WLS Music Radio.

Summer breakfast on South Coast Radio
Jim Lockhart (aka Neil Prendeville) in February 1983 in the newsroom (courtesy Lillian O’Donoghue).

News on the hour is read by Jim Lockhart, who also presents a review of the morning papers. Jim began in radio in 1978 at the age of 16 and worked on Cork stations such as Radio Shandon, Cork City Radio, CBC, CCLR and Radio City before joining South Coast in October 1982. Under his real name Neil Prendeville, he has long been a well-known presenter on licensed radio in Cork.

Summer breakfast on South Coast Radio
Original label from the Anoraks Ireland Collection.

The tape was made from 103.5 FM from 0746-0821 and 0830-0904 on Monday 15th August 1983. There has been some degradation of the cassette, particularly in the second part. The recording is from the Anoraks Ireland Tapes Collection, donated to us by Paul Davidson.