Northeast series: Radio Carousel Navan as heard in Donegal

Northeast series: Radio Carousel Navan as heard in Donegal
Christine Reilly and Kieran Murray in the Radio Carousel Navan studio in 1982 (courtesy Kieran Murray).

Radio Carousel Navan was one of four stations in the Carousel network at its height in the early 1980s. The original Dundalk operation was set up by the late Hugh Hardy in 1978 and later expanded to satellite stations for Drogheda (Co. Louth), Navan (Co. Meath) and Newry (Co. Armagh and Co. Down), with a short-lived experiment in Castleblayney (Co. Monaghan). The Navan station had a high-profile location in the middle of the town’s shopping centre. Hugh Hardy began winding down the Carousel network from late 1987 and the Navan station was the last to close in June 1988.

This recording of Radio Carousel Navan was made by from 1386 kHz by station manager Kieran Murray while on holidays in Carrick, Co. Donegal, about 170km to the northwest. As expected, the signal is weak but is nonetheless an interesting example of daytime groundwave reception on a busy pirate frequency, shared with Kilkenny Community Radio and North Cork Community Radio. The Carousel AM transmiter was situated in the Navan shopping centre and ran about 400 watts. On air is Tina Anderson (Christine Reilly) with a requests programme and the voices of Kieran Murray and another DJ Mike Ahern (Richard McCullen) are heard on adverts.

The tape was made from about 1100 on 3rd July 1984 and is from the Anoraks Ireland Collection, donated to us by Paul Davidson.

First test broadcasts on Royal County Radio

First test broadcasts on Royal County Radio
RCR envelope (Anoraks Ireland Collection).

Royal County Radio broadcast from 1982 to 1984 from Navan in Co. Meath and was managed by the late Don Allen, a stalwart of the offshore and Irish pirate scene. The station launched on 8th October from the Trimgate Arcade in the centre of Navan, announcing 245 metres although the cassette label records the actual wavelength as 254 metres (1179 kHz although it is unlikely that the station was so close to Radio Dublin on 1188). Royal County Radio moved around the medium wave band before settling on 355 metres (846 kHz).

This recording is of the first test broadcasts of Royal County Radio and is undated but seems to be from more than one day, so we estimate 8th and possibly 9th October 1982. The voice of station manager Don Allen is heard on promos and a single advert and other DJs include Lynsey Shelbourne (Dolan), John Stevens and Fab Ollie. Audio levels are uneven and a heterodyne is heard at night, suggesting that the transmitter was slightly off channel. To the strains of 2001: A Space Odyssey, Don Allen closes down the station at midnight. RCR was in direct competition with Radio Carousel Navan and left the airwaves by the middle of 1984.

This recording was made by Kieran Murray and is from the Anoraks Ireland Tapes Collection, donated to us by Paul Davidson.

Royal County Radio during 1983 raids

Royal County Radio during 1983 raids
Royal County Radio flyer (courtesy Ian Biggar).

This recording of Co. Meath station Royal County Radio was made during the infamous raids by the Department of Posts and Telegraph on the super-pirates in May 1983. It was recorded on the morning of Thursday 19th May, a few hours after Sunshine Radio in Portmarnock was raided, and a day after Radio Nova was shut down.

Royal County Radio broadcast from Navan from October 1982 until the middle of 1984. In this recording, Al O’Rourke refers to a quiz coming up the following Monday but adds ‘fingers crossed’, a reflection of the nervousness among pirates at the time. Many stations closed down temporarily as a precaution in the days after the raids.

This extract begins at 1117 and is partially airchecked. It was recorded from 846 kHz, announcing 355 metres. Audio quality is fair to poor as the signal is groundwave reception recorded outside the Navan area. This recording is from the Skywave Tapes Collection. Radio Skywave International was a shortwave station broadcasting from northeast Dublin in the 1980s.

More Boyneside Radio from Kells, Co. Meath

More Boyneside Radio from Kells, Co. Meath
Boyneside Radio Kells rates card (courtesy of Kieran Murray).

These recordings of Boyneside Radio are of its service from Kells, Co. Meath in 1986. The one above begins at 0900 on 20th May with the breakfast show presented by Mike Ahern (Richard McCullen), relayed from the main service in Drogheda. Following the 1100 news, the Kells opt-out service takes over with station manager Kieran Murray’s mid-morning show. Local adverts from Meath are heard along with household tips and a housewives’ quiz. Made from 98.1 FM, audio quality is fair with some hiss.

More Boyneside Radio from Kells, Co. Meath
Cassette label from Anoraks Ireland Collection.

Audio quality is much better on the second recording below, which was made the following day, 21st May 1986, from the same transmitter. It begins at 1235, also features Kieran Murray and is also airchecked. Among the features are racing tips, ‘Tradio adverts’ and the new UK Top 40. At 1315 Kieran switches over to Drogheda for the main lunchtime news with Mike Ahern and Áine Ní Ghuidhir.

Recording of 21st May 1986

Both recordings were made by Kieran originally and are from the Anoraks Ireland Tapes Collection, donated to us by Paul Davidson. Further material from this collection is available on Radiowaves and the Irish Pirate Radio Archive.

Boyneside Radio from Kells, Co. Meath

Boyneside Radio from Kells, Co. Meath
Manager Kieran Murray in the Boyneside studio in Kells (photo courtesy of Kieran).

In its ten years on air, Boyneside Radio expanded from a local station for Drogheda in Co. Louth to a large regional service that could be heard across the northeast of Ireland. It also had various relay transmitters and opt-out services focusing on local audiences. One such service was based in the town of Kells, covering Co. Meath and south Co. Cavan.

Today we bring you two recordings of Boyneside Radio Kells from early 1986. The first one above is an airchecked version of Tony Johnson’s show made from about 1340 on Sunday 12th January. There are promos for the new service, which is aimed at Meath and south Cavan, and plenty of local advertisements. Monaghan’s Sport Centre, Kells is given as an address and there is also a local phone number. The second recording below is also airchecked and begins just before 1700 on Monday 13th January. It features Eddie Caffrey signing off on his Afternoon Delight show from Drogheda, followed by news with Áine Ní Ghuidhir and a local programme from Kells with Ian Scott. Both were recorded from 100.3 FM in mono. Boyneside Radio Kells also broadcast on 1323 kHz AM.  

Aircheck from just before 1700.
Boyneside Radio from Kells, Co. Meath
Cassette label from Anoraks Ireland Collection.

These recordings were made by Kieran Murray, who managed the Boyneside Kells service. They are part of the Anoraks Ireland Tapes Collection, donated to us by Paul Davidson. Listen to Kieran’s memories of moving to Boyneside in this interview. Further material from the Anoraks Ireland collection is available on Radiowaves and the Irish Pirate Radio Archive.