Prince Terry on Centre Radio

Prince Terry on Centre Radio
A home-made Centre Radio flyer from the days on 92.5 FM.

Centre Radio was a small FM-only youth station broadcasting from Baldoyle and Bayside in northeast Dublin from 1986-1988. It is especially important for us because it played a big part in our teenage lives: Brian Greene was one of the founders and a regular DJ and John Walsh had his own show also. Centre began broadcasting on 19th December 1986 and was heard during school holidays only. From February 1988, it moved to Bayside and broadcast every weekday evening and all day long at the weekends. It was one of the last stations in Dublin to close at midnight on 31st December 1988.

Prince Terry on Centre Radio
Prince Terry (Roger Lloyd) on Westside Radio International c. 1987.

This recording was made from 94.2 FM on Sunday 13th March 1988 from 1630-1800. It begins with pirate veteran Prince Terry (Roger Lloyd) presenting a once-off show. Prince Terry was the operator of Westside Radio International, a long-running shortwave pirate and indeed this show was recorded to be broadcast on shortwave the following Sunday. The music begins with oldies but later changes to heavy metal in line with Roger’s taste!

Prince Terry on Centre Radio
Dave Evans (Eamonn Roe) in Centre Radio on 31 December 1988.

Dave Evans (Eamonn Roe) takes over at about 1740 with more music and community news. The recording was made by Roger Lloyd and is courtesy of DX Archive.

Bandscan: who’s still on air on 31st December 1988?

Bandscan: who's still on air on 31st December 1988?

Centre Radio (94.2 FM from Bayside in northeast Dublin) was one of the few stations to remain on air until the final deadline of midnight on the 31 st of December. In this recording Bobby Gibbson (Brian Greene) and Dave Evans (Eamonn Roe) discuss who is still on air in the early hours of the morning of the 31st . We then hear another bandscan from just before 0800 and a very optimistic prediction about the availability of new licences in 1989. You can read about the history of Centre here.

Final overnight of Centre Radio, 30th to 31st December 1988

Final overnight of Centre Radio, 30th to 31st December 1988
Centre Radio flyer from 1987 (from Brian Greene).

This is an aircheck of the northeast Dublin station Centre Radio recorded from 2300 on 30th December 1988 to 0530 on 31st, the final day of broadcasting before the pirates were silenced. On air overnight is Bobby Gibbson (aka Brian Greene). Centre had just finished broadcasting a live variety concert from its studio location at the Mid-Sutton Community Centre. The decision was taken to broadcast through the night for the last time before the closedown at midnight on the 31st.

Final overnight of Centre Radio, 30th to 31st December 1988
Poster for Centre Radio disco, 1987 (from Brian Greene).