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New Year’s Eve on Sunshine Radio

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New Year's Eve on Sunshine Radio
Early Sunshine sticker (courtesy Ian Biggar).

Sunshine Radio celebrated its first Christmas and New Year on air in 1980, having begun broadcasting on 13th September that year, with an official launch on 29th September. By using high-powered transmitters, professional staff and a commercial model, Sunshine would change the direction of Irish radio in the coming years.

This recording is of Sunshine’s first New Year’s Eve and features Manon Christie, daughter of Robbie Robinson (Robbie Dale), one of Sunshine’s founders. Manon was a DJ in the station’s early period. The other founder was of course Chris Cary, who would leave Sunshine in January 1981 to set up Radio Nova. Manon goes through the headlines of the year and also live-reads some adverts. News at midday is read by Adrian Horsman.

The tape was made in Leeds from 531 kHz AM and suffers from foreign co-channel interference, exacerbated by the time of year. It was recorded between 1157-1333 on 31st December 1980 and is courtesy of DX Archive. Thanks to Ian Biggar for his assistance.

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Country station TTTR at Christmas 1981

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Country station TTTR at Christmas 1981
Photo of TTTR studio in 1982 (Anoraks Ireland Collection).

Treble TR (also written as TTTR) was a country and Irish station broadcasting from Dublin from spring 1981 until the end of 1988. TTTR began on 945 kHz AM, announcing 317 metres, adding FM from 1983. A second AM frequency on 891 kHz was added in 1987. TTTR carved out a specialist niche in the Dublin market and held its own until it closed at the end of 1988.

This recording of TTTR at Christmas 1981 features two unidentified DJs playing country tunes, interspersed with adverts for businesses in Dublin and surrounding areas. It was made by Kieran Murray from 945 kHz at around 1500 on 28th December 1981 and is from the Anoraks Ireland Collection. The Sunday Journal radio listings from 1981 list Miss Elli and Grace Porter in these timeslots, so it is possible that they are the presenters in question. Audio quality is fair due to a combination of a weak AM signal, cassette degradation and co-channel interference on the frequency due to the time of year. Thanks to Ian Biggar for additional research.

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Dublin Community Radio at Christmas 1981

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Dublin Community Radio at Christmas 1981

The original Dublin Community Radio (DCR) had its origins in Downtown Community Radio, which was set up by long-time radio anorak Joe King in 1979 in the south Dublin suburb of Ringsend. It was renamed Dublin Community Radio after moving from a community hall to a shed behind Joe’s house and later transferred to better premises in Gardner Street in the city centre. DCR claimed to be the first community radio station in Dublin, making links with several community groups and broadcasting specialist shows. DCR broadcast on 963 kHz, announcing 312 metres, as well as FM. There is no known link with a later DCR, set up on FM only in 1984.

This airchecked recording from Christmas 1981 begins with the end of the Golden Years show presented by an unidentified DJ. He hands over to another presenter who continues the music and has various community announcements. There are scratchy sounding adverts and station liners voiced by Tony Allan (RIP), referring to DCR as ‘Dublin’s first and only community radio station’. Other identified DJs on the recording are Mike Sheridan, who makes a questionable decision to sing ‘Jingle Bells’ live on air, and Paul Caffrey.

The tape was made by Kieran Murray from 98.4 FM between 1600-2000 on 27th December 1981 and is from the Anoraks Ireland Collection. Audio quality is fair due to an aging cassette and possible issues with studio output at the time.

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Island Radio on St. Stephen’s Day 1981

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Island Radio on St. Stephen's Day 1981

Island Radio was a short-lived pirate broadcasting from the Dalkey area of south Dublin in late 1981 and 1982. It launched as an FM operation only but later added AM due to the reality of radio listening at the time. The station tried out a format of album tracks only and DJs were expected to bring quality music for their shows. Island Radio never really got off the ground though and was closed in early 1982 after objections from local residents.

This recording is of Island Radio on St. Stephen’s Day 1981, just two weeks after its launch. First up is Tony Adams and he is followed by Tommy Greene, who continues to broadcast today on licensed Wicklow station East Coast FM. There are sung jingles and a live-read advert for a local business. 229 metres (1314 kHz) is mentioned, a frequency that was logged by DX Archive at the time.

The airchecked recording was made on 26th December 1981 from 98.1 FM beginning after 1500 and is from the Anoraks Ireland Collection.

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Sunshine Radio on Christmas Day 1981

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Sunshine Radio on Christmas Day 1981
Group shot of the early Sunshine crew in 1980 (from Sunshine Review 1985).

This recording features snippets from Christmas Day 1981 on Dublin pirate Sunshine Radio, by then one of the city’s two leading stations alongside Radio Nova. The station was still on 91.6 FM at that stage, as well as its AM frequency on 531 kHz. DJs in this airchecked recording from throughout the day are Declan Meehan, Stevie Dunne, David Lyons and John Lewis. News on the hour is read by a hungry Siobhán Walls, who is dreaming of her Christmas dinner.

The recording was made by Kieran Murray from 91.6 FM on December 25th 1981 and is from the Anoraks Ireland Collection. Audio quality is fair with some cassette wobble due to the passing of time.