Irish Pirate Radio Audio Archive

Death of Raidió Fáilte co-founder Gearóid Ó Cairealláin — Gearóid Ó Cairealláin in the 1980s (photo Kevin Cooper/Gearóid’s Facebook page)

The co-founder of Belfast’s Irish language radio station Raidió Fáilte, Gearóid Ó Cairealláin, has died after a short illness. Raidió Fáilte was founded as a pirate station in west Belfast in 1985 and was part of a local media infrastructure that included an Irish language newspaper Lá. It broadcast sporadically without a licence for the best part of twenty years, aimed at the west of the city where most Irish speakers are located. Licensed by OFCOM in 2006, Raidió Fáilte now broadcasts on a community licence over a ten-mile radius of the centre and west of the city. From humble origins on the Falls Road, its impressive studios are now located close to the city centre and are arguably the best community radio facility in all of Ireland.

Tá Gearóid Ó Cairealláin, duine de bhunaitheoirí stáisiún raidió Gaeilge Bhéal Feirste, Raidió Fáilte, tar éis bháis. Bunaíodh Raidió Fáilte mar staisiún bradach in iarthar Bhéal Feirste in 1985 chomh maith leis an nuachtán Lá agus tionscadail Ghaeilge eile. Chraol sé ag amannta éagsúla ar feadh fiche bliain, dírithe ar iarthar na cathrach áit a bhfuil an chuid is mó de phobal na Gaeilge lonnaithe. Tar éis dó ceadúnas a fháil ó OFCOM in 2006, tá Raidió Fáilte ag craoladh go dleathach anois thar raon deich míle i lár agus in iarthar na cathrach. Tá dul chun cinn éachtach déanta aige ó bunaíodh é i lóistín sealadach ar Bhóthar na bhFál agus d’fhéadfaí a rá go bhfuil an stiúideó ina bhfuil sé suite anois ar an gceann is fearr dá bhfuil ag aon stáisiún raidió pobail in Éirinn.

The station emerged from language activism in the nationalist west of the city in the 1980s. A group of people led by Gearóid Ó Cairealláin wanted to develop Irish language cultural activities and media based on a community development ethos. Ó Cairealláin had been influenced by earlier Irish language initiatives and he and other activists saw the establishment of local media as essential to the revival of Irish. They were aware of previous local pirates, particularly Radio Free Belfast that was set up by Republicans at the start of the Troubles, and Galway pirate Saor-Raidió Chonamara from 1970. Raidió Fáilte began broadcasting in spring 1985 on a trial basis but it and other related projects were set back by a fire in the premises. The group moved into the Conway Mill building on the Falls Road in 1986 and began rebuilding the radio and other initiatives, cycling around Ireland to raise funds. They acquired a new AM transmitter from one of the many pirate stations in Dublin and began broadcasting on a regular basis. Raidió Fáilte moved into the new Irish language cultural centre, the Cultúrlann, on the Falls Road in 1991. The broadcasts were sporadic at this stage but Raidió Fáilte returned on a more regular basis in the mid-1990s and benefited from a larger group of volunteers and a new FM transmitter.

This recording of Raidió Fáilte during its pirate days features Malachy Duffin with a musical mix ranging from traditional to classics. It was recorded in Belfast from 107 FM on 1^st April 2005 between 1836-1914. Thanks to Ian Biggar for the donation. We extend our sympathy to the family and friends of Gearóid Ó Cairealláin and pay tribute to his enormous contribution to Irish language media in Belfast. We also thank Eoghan Ó Néill for sharing the history of Raidió Fáilte with John Walsh in previous interviews.

Déanaimid comhbhrón ó chroí le muintir agus le cairde Ghearóid Uí Chairealláin agus aithnímid an obair éachtach a rinne sé ar son na Gaeilge agus na meán i mBéal Feirste. Gabhaimid buíochas chomh maith le hEoghan Ó Néill as stair Raidió Fáilte a roinnt linn.

18th December 202418th December 2024

Gareth O’Callaghan on Energy 103 drivetime

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Energy 103 quickly made inroads in the competitive Dublin radio market after it emerged from the ashes of Radio Nova in the spring of 1986. This recording is of popular DJ Gareth O’Callaghan presenting the drivetime show on a balmy summer evening in 1986. The show includes gig and event guides, a teaser, birthday slot, weather forecasts from Dublin and across Europe and the usual agency adverts associated with Energy 103. Gareth O’Callaghan continues to broadcast on Irish radio to this day.

The recording was made from 103 FM from 1805-1853 on 7^th July 1986 and is from the Anoraks Ireland Collection.

17th December 202416th December 2024

Border series: Resumption of WABC Hot Hits

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After a temporary hiatus in the broadcasts of Donegal station WABC Hot Hits over the summer of 1990, by October that year the chart music service had returned to the air and was blasting its signal across the border into Derry and beyond. In November 1990 Free Radio News from Ireland confirmed the resumption of transmissions from WABC Hot Hits on 101.7 MHz and reported that WABC Gold had installed a new aerial system for the 101.2 MHz transmissions resulting in increased signal strength in the Coleraine area. Staff shortages was given as the reason for the delay in getting the Hot Hits station back on air.

This recording is of the Hot Hits service following its resumption. Declan Gill is on air and regularly uses the strapline ‘Hot Hits 101’. There are plenty of advertising promos for both Hot Hits and Gold and adverts for small businesses in Counties Derry and Antrim, many voiced by station founder Paul Barnett (RIP) and his then wife Krissi Carpenter. The recording was made from 101.7 FM on 10^th October 1990 from 1315-1445 with Declan Gill and ‘network news’ at the top of the hour is read by Krissi Carpenter. Thanks to Ian Biggar for the donation and for background information.

13th December 202410th December 2024

Border series: mid-morning on WABC Gold

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By August 1990, both transmitters of Donegal pirate WABC were carrying the oldies station WABC Gold. Earlier that year, WABC had split into two parallel stations, Hot Hits and Gold, but due to staff shortages it was decided to concentrate on the oldies service only for a while. This recording from autumn 1990 features Paul Bentley (Paul Barnett, RIP) and his then wife Krissi Carpenter, who formed the backbone of WABC Gold. First up is Paul with the end of the breakfast show, including a What’s On Guide for the station’s main listening area in Portstewart (Co. Derry) and Portrush (Co. Antrim). There are also adverts from both towns and surrounding areas. News at 1100 is read by Paul and is followed by Krissi with the lunchtime show.

The recording was made from 1015-1115 on Thursday 6^th September 1990 from 101.2 FM and is courtesy of Ian Biggar.

9th December 202424th November 2024

Good Day Sunshine with Tony Dixon

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Tony Dixon (RIP) was one of the best-known DJs on Dublin’s Sunshine Radio in the 1980s, presenting Good Day Sunshine every afternoon and also a popular weekend soul programme. This recording from 1982 features part of Good Day Sunshine with the usual mix of music and chat. A commercial break includes a promo for the Sunshine Radio Roadshow in a Dublin nightclub that weekend and there’s also a weather check at half past the hour.

Tony began his radio career on early Dublin pirate Big D in the late 1970s, before moving on to Sunshine. In the licensed era, he broadcast on Dublin station FM104 but died prematurely on 25^th November 2010. This recording is airchecked and was made after 3pm on 29^th August 1982 from 100.5 FM. Thanks to Shay Geoghegan for the donation.