Tag: Radio West

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Radio West Anoraks’ Show (15th June 1986)

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Radio West Anoraks’ Show (15th June 1986)
Radio West flyer from the days on 765 kHz (courtesy DX Archive).

This edition of the Radio West Anoraks’ Show was recorded in June 1986, a few months after the show first occupied its weekly slot on the midlands pirate. On air in this show are Phil Hilton and station boss Shaun Coyne, who reports on the pirate scene in London following a recent visit. There is a phone call from ABC Radio in Waterford and other stations featured include new Galway station Emerald FM, new Louth pirate East Coast Radio and the large Cork station ERI, which is temporarily off the air. Commercial breaks include a promo for Anoraks UK voiced by the legendary Bob Gallico (RIP) and the programme is relayed by shortwave pirate Radio Rainbow International.

The recording was made from 765 kHz AM between 1111-1159 on Sunday 15th June 1986 and is from the Anoraks Ireland Collection.

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Radio West Anoraks’ Show (18th May 1986)

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Radio West Anoraks' Show (18th May 1986)
A Radio West sticker from the station’s period on 765 kHz (Anoraks Ireland Collection).

This is part of the weekly Radio West Anoraks’ Show from spring 1986, presented by Phil Hilton and station boss Shaun Coyne. Stations discussed include Centre Radio in Kildare, the new Independent Radio Longford, Big M in Monaghan, Cavan Community Radio and Boyneside Radio. There are letters from people selling AM and FM transmitters and reference to DX programmes broadcast on public broadcasters around Europe.

The recording is from the Anoraks Ireland Collection and was made from 765 kHz AM between 1136-1200 on Sunday 18th May 1986.

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Radio West Anoraks’ Show (28th June 1987)

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Radio West Anoraks' Show (28th June 1987)
Radio West offices in 1987 (courtesy Andy Carter).

This recording of the weekly Radio West Anoraks’ Show dates from summer 1987. Presented by station boss Shaun Coyne and Don Allen (RIP), it begins with a discussion of surveys of pirate radio listenership. Radio West’s new AM frequency is about to go live on 711 kHz in Galway and there are plans for a promotional campaign in the city and county. In other news from Galway, WLS is off the air following a dispute. Other stations mentioned include KTOK in Donegal, Longford Community Radio, Kandy Radio, Power 102 and the new pirate Independent Radio Mayo. There is also speculation about forthcoming changes in the Irish media landscape as the government discusses licensing of independent radio and television.

The partially airchecked recording is from the Anoraks Ireland Collection and was made from 702 kHz AM on Sunday, 28th June 1987 from 1045-1145.

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Radio West Anoraks’ Show (21st June 1987)

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Radio West Anoraks' Show (21st June 1987)
Radio West’s AM site at Tyrrellspass in 1987 (courtesy Andy Carter).

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 21st 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.

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Radio West Anoraks’ Show (15th November 1987)

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Radio West Anoraks' Show (15th November 1987)
Radio West van from 1987 (courtesy Andy Carter).

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 15th November 1987. It is from the Leon Tipler Collection, donated by Steve England.