Irish Pirate Radio Audio Archive

Northeast series: Highlights of a day on Radio Carousel Navan — Radio Carousel Navan sticker (courtesy Ian Biggar).

Radio Carousel Navan (1982-1988) was one of several stations in the Carousel network run by Hugh Hardy from Omeath in Co. Louth. The Navan station occupied a high-profile position in a glass kiosk in the Meath town’s new shopping centre and listeners would often drop in requests in person.

This airchecked recording of Carousel was made not long after its launch and begins around 1345 with the end of Al O’Rourke’s lunchtime show, followed by station manager Kieran Murray. Kieran’s voice is also heard on adverts for local businesses. News at 1800 is read by Mike Ahern (Richard McCullen), who would go on to work in Boyneside Radio in Drogheda. The final section is of the Nightlight show with Nick Butler, which includes some surreal requests from local kids. The station closes down at 2300 with the Radio Carousel anthem Don’t Stop the Carousel.

The recording was made on 30^th March 1982 from 1386 kHz (210 metres) and is from the Anoraks Ireland Collection.

7th September 202627th August 2026

More AM and FM radio as heard in Dublin in 1980

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This is another recording made by English anorak Leon Tipler during his visit to Ireland in summer 1980. First up is a selection of pirates on AM including Chris Barry on Capitol Radio (1332 kHz), Paul King on Radio City (1164 kHz) and Jason Maine on Radio 257 (1152 kHz). Adverts are heard on Big D (1116 kHz) along with an advertising promo voiced by Bryan Lambert, Big D news and a snippet of what sounds like Mark Boland on Southside Radio (999 kHz). News in Irish on RTÉ Radio 1 on AM is followed by Radio 2 on FM with Jim O’Neill finishing up a live show from Galway, the late Gerry Ryan with the Rock Steady show and Paschal Mooney with Keep it Country. Next up is Late Date with Morgan O’Sullivan on Radio 1 and Nightmoves on Radio 2 presented by Declan Meehan who had come from the pirates and would soon return to them. At the end is part of Dave Fanning’s late night show on Radio 2.

The tape was recorded on 29^th July 1980 and is from the Leon Tipler Collection, donated by Steve England.

4th September 202627th August 2026

Early Cork series: Leeside Community Radio from 1982

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Leeside Community Radio was a short-lived Cork station that broke away from another pirate, Capital Radio in 1982. Pat Anderson (Pat Galvin), formerly of Capital, was the driving force behind the new station and took many of the ex-Capital DJs with him. Unusually for the time, Leeside broadcast on FM only. It appears in a DX Archive log from August 1982 but not after that so must have fizzled out that autumn.

This short airchecked recording features the end of a news bulletin and part of an afternoon show presented by Mark Wilson. It was made from 102 FM on 2^nd March 1982 and is from the Anoraks Ireland Collection.

2nd September 202623rd August 2026

Saturday Soul on Sunshine Radio from 1985

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The late Tony Dixon’s 3-hour Saturday Soul slot on Dublin pirate Sunshine Radio gained a big following in the 1980s. Here he is from 1985 with the usual laid-back mix and requests and dedications. News is read by Kate McLean and a commercial break contains a promo for the Sunshine girls who are giving away £25 cash prizes in public places.

The tape is from the Anoraks Ireland Collection and was made on Saturday 2^nd November 1985 from 101.5 FM between 1803-1935.

31st August 202623rd August 2026

More 1980 Dublin radio including Radio 257

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This is another recording made by English anoraks Leon Tipler in summer 1980 during one of his frequent visits to Dublin to document the Irish pirate radio scene. From AM, it includes clips of Radio City from Capel Street in the city centre. Logs from that year mention Radio City slightly off channel on 1164 kHz. The adverts for businesses in the Capel Street area are voiced by the late Tony Allan. There are also snippets of Southside Radio on 999 kHz, Big D on 1116 kHz and Radio Dublin on 1188 kHz with plenty of distortion. From FM, we heard adverts and news from RTÉ Radio 1 followed by the start of the Gay Byrne Show and part of the Ronan Collins show on Radio 2.

The recording concludes with a longer clip of Jason Maine on the Radio 257 drivetime show, including a holiday giveaway to the Isle of Man and plenty of adverts. 257 news at 1700 is sponsored by the Weekend Star newspaper. The tape was made on 29^th July 1980 and is from the Leon Tipler Collection, donated to us by Steve England.