Cork’s Big Brother Radio adds AM transmitter

Cork's Big Brother Radio adds AM transmitter

This short recording of Big Brother Radio was made sometime early in 1981 near the beginning of the station’s short run. Big Brother began broadcasting on 88.6 FM but in this recording ‘Philip G’ (presumably founder Philip O’Connor) announces that the station is to add 220 metres medium wave (approximately 1359 kHz) the following Monday. FM broadcasting was still underdeveloped so obviously Big Brother felt that it needed to be AM also. On the same day, the station was to would introduce all-day programming and required additional DJs. The AM transmitter was located at the snooker club in Blackpool but didn’t last long due to a weak signal. Thanks to Pat Galvin for the donation.

History of Cork City Local Radio (CCLR)

History of Cork City Local Radio (CCLR)
Some of the original CCLR DJs (courtesy of Lillian O’Donoghue).

We’re delighted to return to our Early Cork Series with a number of recordings of Cork City Local Radio (CCLR). CCLR was launched as Cork City Radio in February 1978 in competition with the Cork Broadcasting Company (CBC), which had begun broadcasting in January of that year. According to The Jolly Roger: Pirate Radio Days in Cork, CCLR was set up by Dubliner Shay Curran, who moved to Cork to set up a record store on Patrick Street. Pirate radio was a natural progression, and Curran remembered climbing across roofs near Paul Street of Half Moon Street to set up an antenna and being questioned by a Garda. The station was initially called Radio Shandon, a reference to another city centre district, because its signal was not travelling far.

‘There was a great buzz about it but, for me at least, a certain amount of paranoia because of the threat of Department of Posts and Telegraphs and Garda raids. There was a certain amount of fear involved’, Curran said. Initially CCLR was announcing 199 metres although its exact frequency is not known. From 1979 it announced 261 metres and frequencies around 1143 kHz were noted. The station was logged by DXers on more than one occasion in 1980 operating around 1119 kHz.

One of those involved with CCLR in the early days was John Creedon, now a well-known broadcaster on RTÉ. Using the on-air name of Jill St Clair, Patricia Deeney was one of the few women to be heard on pirate radio in Cork at the time. Another DJ, Philip Johnston (Philip Knight), remembered getting involved when a sales rep from CCLR came into the clothes shop where he worked. Neil Prendeville (Jim Lockhart) recalled doing outside broadcasts from gigs in 1979-80. Other CCLR presenters who would go on to have careers in the media were Paul Byrne, PJ Coogan, Ken Tobin, Trevor Welch, Rob Allen, Ken O’Sullivan and Colin Edwards.

History of Cork City Local Radio (CCLR)
Former CCLR DJs at a reunion in recent years (courtesy of Lillian O’Donoghue).

Based originally on Sheares Street, CCLR later moved to French Church Street within a short distance of CBC. In September 1982 the station introduced FM transmissions on 95.6 MHz for the first time in its existence. At this time, CCLR was still being run by two full-time people without any major backing.

Ian Biggar remembers: ‘Whilst working at ERI we heard that there had been a cash injection to CCLR. This was around Christmas 1982. Sure enough, new jingles by CPMG were introduced as well as a new transmitter. The transmitter site was around Glanmire where, strangely enough, the ERI DJ house was. The signal strength was massive in that area, but modulation was low. If I remember correctly, the medium wave transmitter had always been at the studio site in the city centre and the power was low, probably around 100 watts. I seem to remember being told the new transmitter was running around 500 watts.

The station revamped its programming during 1983 and introduced new station management. CCLR now included a lot more community items in its programming, rather than being just another jukebox. CCLR closed on 4th November 1983 and in the December issue of Offshore Echos, it was reported that it was off the air due to problems with the medium wave transmitter. They had done some tests on FM, but the feeling was that the station was set to close. And so, with ERI and South Coast cleaning up in the city and beyond and using much higher powered transmitters, CCLR was destined to join the likes of Capital Radio and Radio City, both of which closed during 1982.

History of Cork City Local Radio (CCLR)
Karl Johnson (Dan Noonan) pictured at another pirate CBC in 1979 (courtesy Lillian O’Donoghue).

This recording was made in January or February 1980 and features Karl Johnson (Dan Noonan) with the Sunday ‘Afternoon Delights’ show from 1615 until about 1700 but airchecked. Audio quality is poor and there is some background noise as this was recorded by placing a tape recorder up to a radio. Thanks to Lillian O’Donoghue for the donation. CCLR was featured in Leon Tipler’s documentary about the Irish pirates.

Closedown of Westside Radio International

Closedown of Westside Radio International
Westside Radio International QSL (courtesy Ian Biggar).

This is a recording of the closedown of the long-running shortwave pirate Westside Radio International on December 31st 1988. Westside was set up by the late Dr Don (Don Moore) in 1975 and broadcast on Sunday mornings before Radio Dublin came on the air. It was taken over by Prince Terry (Roger Lloyd) in 1977 and remained a stalwart on the 49-metre band every Sunday for the following eleven years. Westside embodied the pirate spirit and was popular with anoraks because of its regular updates about radio in Ireland and abroad.

This airchecked recording was made from 6280 kHz between 1200 and 1348 on New Year’s Eve. Prince Terry and Gary Lewis present music and discuss the radio scene as the new legal regime was about to come into effect. There are hints that Westside may return in 1989 and in fact the station was heard again under various guises in 1989 and continued to broadcast as Ozone Radio for many subsequent years.

Reception is poor and is of DX standard in places but but this gives a sense of how many shortwave listeners experienced the closedown of Westside Radio International. We thank John Breslin for his donation.

Dr. Don and Prince Terry on Radio Dublin

Dr. Don and Prince Terry on Radio Dublin
L-R: Eddie Caffrey, Ken Harley, Brian Greene and Don Moore at the Pirate.ie meet-up in 2018.

This recording features two of the early pioneers of Radio Dublin, Dr Don (Don Moore, RIP) and Prince Terry (Roger Lloyd). It was made from 253 metres on Sunday 22nd February 1976 from about 2pm and is airchecked. Don is his usual flamboyant self and the canned laughter and Tarzan sound effects only add to the atmosphere of anarchy. Other DJs who get a mention are ‘Cool Enough Seamus’ and ‘Jiving Joey’ and we hear a few links from Seamus whose real name is the less exotic Des Byrne. He is followed by Roger Lloyd who is very happy to have received 10 letters during the week. The postal address given is 90 Ranelagh, Dublin 6.

Thanks to Ian Biggar for sharing this recording, which was made originally by Kieran Murray.

Simon Young from Sloopy’s nightclub

Simon Young from Sloopy's nightclub
Sloopy’s advert from 1977 courtesy of Retro Now.

The late Simon Young referred regularly to Sloopy’s nightclub in Fleet Street in his soul and disco show on the Big D and there were live broadcasts from there on Tuesday nights.

On this occasion, Simon hosts a round of the Miss Sloopy competition at the club with the assistance of Martin King. The ten contestants are interviewed by Simon, Rose of Tralee style, and at the end there’s a surprise appearance from an eleventh entrant, ‘Julie Carriage’ who sounds like an early version of Agnes Brown!

The recording is undated but we estimate it to be from August or September 1981. Sound quality is poor and it was necessary to aircheck some of the recording.

The advert for the Miss Sloopy contest is from 1977 and before Big D’s time, but there are some interesting names among the judges! Many thanks to Brand New Retro for the image and to Shay Geoghegan for the recording, which was made from 99.5 FM.

Below are two sides of a Big D card sent by Simon Young to Ian Biggar in 1979. The first side features current advertisers with the station and the other provides a schedule. There are some big names among the DJs, many of whom would go on to national prominence on RTÉ Radio 2, including Marty Hall (Whelan), Dave Fanning and Neil O’Shea. Of course, that was where Simon himself ended up.

Simon Young from Sloopy's nightclub
A Big D card from 1979 sent by Simon Young to Ian Biggar (thanks to Ian).
Simon Young from Sloopy's nightclub