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Early Cork series: samples from a week on Radio City

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Early Cork series: samples from a week on Radio City
Geraldine O’Connor typing up the news in 1980 (courtesy Lillian O’Donoghue).

This post features recordings of Radio City Cork made over a week during the station’s first month on air in September 1980. It begins with Paul Cassidy presenting an evening show on 22nd September, who is followed by Pat O’Rourke (Smurf) with Sounds Around Midnight. Pat previously had a big following on CBC. Pat O’Rourke is then heard from 24th September signing off in the early hours followed by the national anthem. He is followed by Noel Evans (Welch) later on drivetime later that day. Next up from 25th September is Noel Evans on drivetime, followed by John Rice. The final snippets were recorded on 29th September and feature Ed Harris with the Afternoon Delight programme followed by Geraldine O’Connor and Noel Evans.

Early Cork series: samples from a week on Radio City
Paul Cassidy at Radio City in 1980 (courtesy Lillian O’Donoghue).

Audio quality is poor throughout as the recording was made by placing a tape recorder against a radio instead of using a radio-cassette recorder. Despite our best efforts, there is also some wobble on the cassette after many decades. The tape was made from 1512 kHz AM, announcing 199 metres. Thanks to Lilian O’Donoghue for the donation.

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Sunday evening on Dublin country music station Treble TR

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Sunday evening on Dublin country music station Treble TR
Studio shot of Treble TR in 1983 with unidentified DJ (courtesy DX Archive).

Dublin’s country and Irish music station Treble TR broadcast from spring 1981 until the end of 1988, building up a loyal listenership during that time. This recording was made on a Sunday night in 1983 and features some of the variety of programmes on the station.  

Shay Eustace is up first with the final part of his Irish traditional and folk music show. He is followed by John Deane with his mixture of country and ballads until midnight. There are some agency adverts and commercials for various Dublin businesses, including the Red Corner Shop, a regular advertiser on the pirates.

The airchecked recording is from the Anoraks Ireland Collection and was made from 99.5 FM between 2000-2230 on Sunday 9th October 1983.

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Early Cork series: Second week on Radio City

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Early Cork series: Second week on Radio City
Karl Johnson (Dan Noonan) at Radio City in 1981 (courtesy Lillian O’Donoghue)

This recording was made during the second week of broadcasting of the Cork pirate Radio City, that came on the air in September 1980. It features snippets from a variety of daytime and evening programmes, including Karl Johnson (Dan Noonan) with Afternoon Delight, Paul Cassidy with the Golden Hour and Tony Walsh with new music until midnight. Many DJs refer to their gigs in local hotels or nightclubs, which was common among pirate radio presenters anxious to supplement their income in the lean 1980s.

The recording was made on Wednesday 10th and Friday 12th September 1980 from 1512 kHz, announcing 199 metres, and is courtesy of Lillian O’Donoghue.

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Sunday afternoon on Metro Radio

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Sunday afternoon on Metro Radio

Metro Radio was a small short-lived AM pirate station broadcasting from Clontarf on the northside of Dublin in 1983. Anoraks UK first logged it on 1557 kHz on 31st May but it does not appear consistently in listings and seems to have been an irregular or hobby rather than a full-time operator. The same frequency was also used by another irregular pirate, Diamond Radio, around this time and indeed Diamond reoccupied 1557 kHz in 1984 after the apparent demise of Metro Radio by the end of 1983.

This short airchecked recording is from the Anoraks Ireland Collection and was made from 1557 kHz, announcing 192 metres, between 1300-1500 on Sunday 16th October 1983. The DJ is John Young and only one advert is heard during the broadcast.

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‘The Smurf’ on Radio City Cork

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'The Smurf' on Radio City Cork
Pat O’Rourke at Radio City in 1981 (courtesy Lillian O’Donoghue).

Pat O’Rourke, also known as ‘The Smurf’, was one of the popular DJs on the early Cork pirates. Heard initially on the Cork Broadcasting Company (CBC), his show had a huge following as reflected in its large weekly mailbag. Pat joined Radio City when it began broadcasting in 1980 and this recording features part of his first show on the new station.

The recording was made on 6th September 1980 from 2030. Audio quality is poor for the first part as it was made by placing a tape recorder against an AM radio. The second part was recorded from 95.5 FM using a radio-cassette recorder and seems to have been made at a later date. Thanks to Lillian O’Donoghue for the donation.