Irish Pirate Radio Audio Archive

2nd June 202515th May 2025

June bank holiday 1986 on Energy 103

By the summer of 1986, Energy 103 was established as one of the three big Dublin pirate stations, following the sudden closure of Radio Nova earlier that year. This recording was made on a sunny bank holiday Monday in Dublin and contains plenty of references to the fine weather and people listening to their radios in the garden. Up first is Richard Jackson until 1500 and he is followed by Dave Johnson (Andrew Hanlon) who is standing in for Tony McKenzie. There is no news due to the bank holiday but a promo urging young people to vote in the forthcoming divorce referendum airs every hour.

As was typical of Energy 103, the recording contains the usual mixture of chart hits, loads of requests (including one from Tipperary) and slick imaging although there are no adverts, possibly due to the bank holiday. A promo for the syndicated American Music Magazine show with Rick Dees is also heard. The tape is from the Anoraks Ireland Collection and was made from 103 FM from 1433-1521 and 1557-1645 on Monday 2^nd June 1986.

30th May 202529th May 2025

Border series: Tom Hardy on KISS FM Monaghan

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Despite being on air for only 9 months in 1988, KISS FM from Monaghan Town was one of the more successful and ambitious stations during the peak period of pirate radio in Ireland in the 1980s. Tests began at the end of 1987 but the start date was delayed by technical problems in spring 1988 and full tests did not begin until the end of March with a full schedule commencing on 1^st April. High powered transmitters gave unparalleled coverage of Northern Ireland and FM reception was reliable even in parts of northern England and Scotland.

This recording of the early period of KISS FM features the experienced English DJ Tom Hardy (RIP), who had worked previously in offshore pirates and larger Dublin stations such as Sunshine Radio and Radio Nova. Adverts are heard for businesses in Armagh and Belfast but are not particularly plentiful, perhaps reflecting the fact that the station was little more than a month on air. There is the usual slick imaging with top-class jingles, idents and liners, news is read by Con McConville and Tom presents the regular Job Spot section. The KISS FM Ulster sailboard championships coming up that weekend in Antrim is an example of one of the many marketing events than the station excelled in during its short existence. The KISS FM closedown on 30^th December 1988, also presented by Tom Hardy, was emotional and dramatic and underlined the station’s popularity on both sides of the border.

The tape was made on 9^th May 1988 from 1008 kHz AM between 1000-1045 and 1138-1233. It was recorded in Ayrshire in western Scotland and is courtesy of Ian Biggar.

28th May 202528th May 2025

Border series: brief return of Radio North in 1992

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Radio North closed down towards the end of 1991 and its AM frequency on 846 kHz was taken over by North Atlantic Radio, a rival Donegal station that had itself broken away from Radio North in 1989. This was logged on 16^th February 1992 by DX Archive. Radio North made a short-lived return later that year, appearing on 1008 kHz after that frequency was vacated by another Donegal pirate Riverside 101. It appears that Radio North returned for one day only and this recording features station stalwart the inimitable Mickey Henry, who says that the station is in new ownership although the old jingles are still used.

This recording of the brief return was made in Scotland from 1008 kHz AM on 8^th September 1992 between 1803-1935 and was made by Ken Baird. Thanks to Ian Biggar for the donation. Audio quality is fair to poor and contains fading and co-channel interference as would be expected at nightfall and at a distance. There are also technical issues and variable audio levels and it seems that Radio North was not ready to return to the air on a full-time basis.

26th May 202523rd May 2025

Sunday night show on Radio Nova

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This short recording of the successful Dublin station Radio Nova is from the run-up to Christmas 1982. It features Dave Harvey with plenty of requests on a cold Sunday night and news with Siobhán Purcell. The usual high-level adverts for brands and larger businesses are heard, reflecting Nova’s commercial success particularly in the busy pre-Christmas period. There’s also an advert for the Nova Park nightclub featuring musical events and gigs with Nova DJs.

The airchecked recording is from the Anoraks Ireland Collection and was made from 88 FM on Sunday 12^th December 1982. Radio Nova also broadcast on 819 kHz AM at this time.

23rd May 202524th May 2025

Sunday shows on Clonmel Broadcasting Corporation (CBC)

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CBC (Clonmel Broadcasting Company) began broadcasting on 14^th November 1981 and was one of the leading pirates supporting the community radio ethos, continuing on air until the end of 1988. These snippets from Sunday afternoon shows giving a sense of the variety of material on the station and its importance to listeners in south Tipperary.

First up is a hospital requests show with Mary Burke featuring mostly country and Irish music and ballads. This is followed by the Sunday Postbag presented by Billy McLellan (RIP) with a phone-in quiz for listeners. There are also public information notices about candidates in the forthcoming general election, provided by CBC itself rather than the political parties. These are voiced by Gerry Gannon, who was the managing director of the station. Use of pirate radio by politicians was a contentious issue throughout the 1980s.

The airchecked recording from the Anoraks Ireland Collection was made from 828 kHz AM (362 metres) on Sunday 24^th October 1982 between 1455-1655. Thanks to Jimmy Williams and Jonathan Ryan for assistance.