Community radio Archives - Irish Pirate Radio Audio Archive

Concord Community Radio explains aims of community broadcasting — Concord Community Radio flyer (Alan MacSimoin Collection).

Concord Community Radio began broadcasting in March 1983 to the Artane district of the northside of Dublin, before changing its name to North Dublin Community Radio (NDCR) in 1984. It was one of a number of stations committed to developing licensed community broadcasting in Ireland and a leading member of the National Association of Community Broadcasters. Like the other pirates, NDCR closed at the end of 1988 but many of those involved went on to form NEAR FM, the licensed community station for northeast Dublin that launched in 1995.

This short recording of Concord Community Radio includes an unidentified DJ and a promo outlining the philosophy of community radio, reflecting the political debate about the licensing of local radio at that time. It was made from 891 kHz AM on Saturday 21^st May 1983, just days after the raids on the large commercial Dublin stations Radio Nova and Sunshine Radio. The tape is from the Leon Tipler Collection, donated to us by Steve England.

5th September 20254th September 2025

Sunday afternoon on Community Radio Youghal

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Community Radio Youghal (in its unlicensed form on air from 1979-1988) was one of several pirate stations espousing a community radio ethos. This short airchecked recording features programming from a Sunday afternoon in 1983 and gives a sense of some of the variety on the station. It begins with the end of the the CRY On Tour slot, an example of the station travelling around east Cork to make programmes. This is followed by Programme Signpost and community notices for east Cork and west Waterford. There are also sung jingles and a bilingual station ident, following by John Roche with the Good News Programme.

The recording was made from 1485 kHz, announcing 202 metres, from around 1300 on Sunday 20^th March 1983. It is from the Leon Tipler Collection, donated to us by Steve England. Community Radio Youghal returned as a licensed station in 1995 and continues to broadcast to east Cork on FM and online.

4th July 202521st July 2025

Sunday afternoon on Wicklow Community Radio

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Wicklow Community Radio began as a temporary festival station in the summer of 1982, but due to its success soon became a full-time operation. In 1985, it changed its name to Wicklow Local Community Broadcasting (WLCB) and in 1987 it was relaunched as Viking 105, with a more commercial focus.

This recording begins with the Top 30 countdown and the number 1 record, presented by Gerry Lang. This is followed by Willie Naughton’s Sunday Special show featuring album tracks. Voices on adverts include those of Scott Williams and David Harvey, both of whom would become big names on 1980s pirate radio and who continue to work in the media industry to this day. An announcement of a festival in east Wicklow includes a reference to the popular Radio Nova disco roadshow! The station signs off for the night with a bilingual announcement at 1900.

This airchecked recording is from the Anoraks Ireland Collection and was made from 1512 kHz AM, announcing 198 metres, on Sunday 4^th September 1983 between 1700-1900.

23rd May 202524th May 2025

Sunday shows on Clonmel Broadcasting Corporation (CBC)

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

CBC (Clonmel Broadcasting Company) began broadcasting on 14^th November 1981 and was one of the leading pirates supporting the community radio ethos, continuing on air until the end of 1988. These snippets from Sunday afternoon shows giving a sense of the variety of material on the station and its importance to listeners in south Tipperary.

First up is a hospital requests show with Mary Burke featuring mostly country and Irish music and ballads. This is followed by the Sunday Postbag presented by Billy McLellan (RIP) with a phone-in quiz for listeners. There are also public information notices about candidates in the forthcoming general election, provided by CBC itself rather than the political parties. These are voiced by Gerry Gannon, who was the managing director of the station. Use of pirate radio by politicians was a contentious issue throughout the 1980s.

The airchecked recording from the Anoraks Ireland Collection was made from 828 kHz AM (362 metres) on Sunday 24^th October 1982 between 1455-1655. Thanks to Jimmy Williams and Jonathan Ryan for assistance.

5th May 202530th March 2025

Sunday afternoon on Community Radio Fingal

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Community Radio Fingal (CRF) broadcast to the region of Fingal in north Co. Dublin between 1982 and 1988. A mostly community-oriented service, it was based initially at the Rockabill Hotel in the coastal town of Skerries and then moved to founder Brian Matthews’ house in the village of Loughshinney. At a later stage the station was based at the Swords shopping centre. CRF began broadcasting on 1584 kHz but later moved to the better channel of 1575 kHz. 189 metres was announced throughout.

This short airchecked recording from summer 1982 begins with an unidentified DJ and is followed by a double-hander with Debbie and Damien presenting a music and requests show. There are adverts for small businesses around Swords but in very low audio. The recording was made by Kieran Murray from 1584 kHz on Sunday 18^th July 1982 and is from the Anoraks Ireland Collection.