Irish Pirate Radio Audio Archive

Northeast series: Afternoon Delight on Boyneside Radio from 1984 — Eddie Caffrey at Boyneside in 1986 (courtesy of Eddie himself).

Eddie Caffrey is one of Ireland’s longest-serving broadcasters, having spent a decade with the Drogheda pirate, Boyneside Radio, before moving to licensed local station LMFM. This recording is of his daily Afternoon Delight programme from summer 1984. It includes the Golden Hour, news on the hour with Shane Harrison (who went on to a career with the BBC), the tea break feature with three songs by Queen, racing results and the birthday spot. The large number of requests reflects the popularity of Eddie’s programme with listeners. Also of interest is an advert for a Drogheda venue hosting the Radio Nova Night Out, a popular club arranged by the Dublin pirate.

The airchecked recording runs from 1400-1620 on Thursday 16^th August 1984 from 98.1 FM. It was made originally by Kieran Murray and is part of the Anoraks Ireland Collection.

2nd November 20261st November 2026

Saturday evening on ABC Radio from Waterford

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ABC Radio was a popular and professional pirate station broadcasting from various locations in Co. Waterford from 1982-1988. It was set up by four English DJs in a caravan in the coastal resort of Tramore but expanded over time and moved into a more professional facility in Waterford City in 1984. From then on ABC grew into a successful and popular station covering the southeast.

This recording of a Saturday evening show was made in the autumn of 1986. First we hear the final few minutes of the Andy Ellis programme, followed by news also read by Andy. Next is Dave Hunt with the Music for Heads show and a promise of features on Eric Clapton and David Bowie later that evening. The tape was made on between 1857-1942 on Saturday 4^th October 1986 from 103.2 FM, which was the station’s Tramore relay at the time. Its main frequency was 1026 kHz AM.

27th October 202627th October 2026

Saturday evening on Galway’s Quincentennial Radio

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Quincentennial Radio was a short-lived Galway station that came on air in early 1989 in defiance of the New Year’s Eve deadline for the pirates to leave the airwaves. It broadcast from 2^nd January until sometime in April, when it closed following a warning from the authorities. This recording is of a Saturday evening programme presented by Shane Martin and Brian Walsh, two DJs previously heard on former Galway pirate Coast 103. Station idents are voiced by the late Tony Allan.

The tape was made from 98.4 FM between 1751-1936 on Saturday 28^th January 1989 and is from the Anoraks Ireland Collection. Audio quality is generally good but there is slight wobble in places due to the age of the cassette.

26th October 202624th October 2026

Hallowe’en on The Sound Channel

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Sound Channel logo from the Anoraks Ireland Collection.

The Sound Channel was a professional Limerick pirate station broadcasting from 1986-1988. This recording was made on its final Hallowe’en in 1988, two months before the station closed down in line with new broadcasting legislation. On air is Stuart Clark, formerly of ABC in Waterford, with the Afternoon Plus show. Syndicated bulletins from the UK service Independent Radio News (IRN) are broadcast every hour.

The recording was made from 98.7 FM between 1345-1515 on Bank Holiday Monday 31^st October 1988 and is from the Anoraks Ireland Collection.

21st October 202621st October 2026

Radio West Anoraks’ Show (15th June 1986)

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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 15^th June 1986 and is from the Anoraks Ireland Collection.