AM Archives - Irish Pirate Radio Audio Archive

27th September 202627th September 2026

Radio West Anoraks’ Show (21st June 1987)

This recording of Radio West from summer 1987 begins with the end of Don Allen’s easy listening programme just before the weekly Anoraks’ Show presented by Don and Radio West boss Shaun Coyne. There are the usual letters from listeners, one asking for an exchange of pirate recordings and another providing a report from Dublin. From Scotland, Jock Wilson of Radio Stella International is looking for someone to operate a 200w shortwave transmitter in Ireland and is interviewed on the programme.

Shaun Coyne comments on the busy pirate scene in London where raids take place a few times a week. He also announces that Radio West is to return on high-powered FM in Dublin and is planning to install a transmitter in Galway. There are round-ups from around the country and a promise to publish an anoraks’ magazine, which never materialised. A promo for Anoraks Ireland is voiced by David Baker.

The recording from the Anoraks Ireland Collection was made from 702 kHz AM on Sunday 21^st June 1987 between 1045-1145 and is partially airchecked. There is some cassette wobble at the start and reception is consistent with a daytime groundwave signal as heard in Dublin.

14th September 202627th August 2026

Radio West Anoraks’ Show (15th November 1987)

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This edition of the Radio West Anoraks Show from Mullingar was made just as legislation to legalise radio in Ireland was brought before the Oireachtas. The topic dominated the discussion on the show that week, with station boss Shaun Coyne giving his views and co-presenter Neil McLeod struggling to get a word in. Leading Cork station ERI is reported to be upgrading its studios in the hope of getting a licence under the new regime and Radio Nova is poised to make a high-profile return in Dublin. There is also an interview with Eddie Caffrey of Boyneside Radio, who speculates that pirates along the border could be raided because of the addition of high-powered transmitters. Shaun Coyne also announces that Radio West will go off the air for a few moments at 1800 that evening in memory of the victims of the Enniskillen bomb, which exploded the previous weekend.

The airchecked recording was made in Britain from 702 kHz AM between 1045-1130 on Sunday 15^th November 1987. It is from the Leon Tipler Collection, donated by Steve England.

7th September 202627th August 2026

More AM and FM radio as heard in Dublin in 1980

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This is another recording made by English anorak Leon Tipler during his visit to Ireland in summer 1980. First up is a selection of pirates on AM including Chris Barry on Capitol Radio (1332 kHz), Paul King on Radio City (1164 kHz) and Jason Maine on Radio 257 (1152 kHz). Adverts are heard on Big D (1116 kHz) along with an advertising promo voiced by Bryan Lambert, Big D news and a snippet of what sounds like Mark Boland on Southside Radio (999 kHz). News in Irish on RTÉ Radio 1 on AM is followed by Radio 2 on FM with Jim O’Neill finishing up a live show from Galway, the late Gerry Ryan with the Rock Steady show and Paschal Mooney with Keep it Country. Next up is Late Date with Morgan O’Sullivan on Radio 1 and Nightmoves on Radio 2 presented by Declan Meehan who had come from the pirates and would soon return to them. At the end is part of Dave Fanning’s late night show on Radio 2.

The tape was recorded on 29^th July 1980 and is from the Leon Tipler Collection, donated by Steve England.

31st August 202623rd August 2026

More 1980 Dublin radio including Radio 257

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This is another recording made by English anoraks Leon Tipler in summer 1980 during one of his frequent visits to Dublin to document the Irish pirate radio scene. From AM, it includes clips of Radio City from Capel Street in the city centre. Logs from that year mention Radio City slightly off channel on 1164 kHz. The adverts for businesses in the Capel Street area are voiced by the late Tony Allan. There are also snippets of Southside Radio on 999 kHz, Big D on 1116 kHz and Radio Dublin on 1188 kHz with plenty of distortion. From FM, we heard adverts and news from RTÉ Radio 1 followed by the start of the Gay Byrne Show and part of the Ronan Collins show on Radio 2.

The recording concludes with a longer clip of Jason Maine on the Radio 257 drivetime show, including a holiday giveaway to the Isle of Man and plenty of adverts. 257 news at 1700 is sponsored by the Weekend Star newspaper. The tape was made on 29^th July 1980 and is from the Leon Tipler Collection, donated to us by Steve England.

24th August 202624th August 2026

Dublin AM and FM bandscan from 1980

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This recording consists of a selection of snippets from radio as heard in Dublin in summer 1980 by English anorak Leon Tipler on one of his many visits to Ireland. These and other recordings were the raw material for his acclaimed documentary series The Irish Pirates. Tipler tunes up and down the AM band and comes across items such as a legal advice slot on Radio 257 from the Crofton Airport Hotel, Radio Dublin with DJ Lee and various clips of the Big D, including the 6pm news bulletin. Some UK stations are also received on AM.

Of note from the pirates is an advert for the Stardust nightclub, which was destroyed in February 1981 in a devastating fire in which 48 people died. There is also an advert for Tamango’s nightclub at the Sands Hotel in Portmarnock, later to be home of Sunshine Radio. On the relatively empty FM band are RTÉ Radio 1, Radio 2 and Raidió na Gaeltachta. The 6.30am opening of Radio 1 is heard with the O’Donnell Abú interval signal and an early music show presented by Eileen Dunne, who would go on to become one of the station’s main newsreaders. Radio 2 DJs in the recording include Jim O’Neill and Dave Fanning.

The recording was made on and around 29^th July 1980 and is from the Leon Tipler Collection, donated to us by Steve England.