Full recordings Archives - Irish Pirate Radio Audio Archive

16th July 202514th July 2025

Border series: Radio North rebranded as Radio North 2000

Radio North 2000 was a shortlived rebranding of the Donegal pirate Radio North as it approached the millennium. The name change was implemented after the station was taken over by Paul Barnett (RIP), who previously ran another Donegal pirate WABC, and American Mike Dobbins (RIP). The format moved away from the previous Irish country music diet and was replaced by American country, oldies and some contemporary. One DJ, Steven Lynch, recalls being unhappy with the new name as it was not clear what the station would be called once the year 2000 arrived. It later reverted to the original Radio North after the departure of Mike Dobbins.

This recording of Radio North 2000 features an unidentified DJ signing off at the end of her evening show, followed by continuous music interspersed with plenty of station liners and adverts, some of which are voiced by Paul Barnett. The music consists of pop and chart hits with some oldies.

The tape was made in Scotland by Ken Baird from 846 kHz AM on 16^th May 1998 from 1942-2112 and is courtesy of Ian Biggar. Thanks to Steven Lynch for background information.

9th July 202510th July 2025

Border series: Summer sounds on Radio North from 1997

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This recording of Donegal pirate Radio North was made in the summer of 1997 and shows how the station continued to generate significant advertising revenue many years after the enactment of the new broadcasting laws. Up first is Steven Lynch, who continues to present on the station to this day, with the end of his mid-morning show. He is followed at lunchtime by Norman Dougherty of Derry pirate Riverside 101 and its licensed successor Q102.9. The music is a mixture of country and Irish, oldies and pop or chart. Long commercial breaks feature adverts for businesses almost exclusively from the North, some of which are voiced by Paul Barnett (RIP), who would go on to take over the station in later years.

The tape was made between 1256-1338 on Thursday 17^th July 1997 from 104 FM. There is plenty of fading as it was recorded some distance from the transmitter. Thanks to Rodney Neill and Ian Biggar for the donation.

7th July 20253rd July 2025

‘The Smurf’ on Radio City Cork

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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 6^th 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.

2nd July 20252nd July 2025

Border series: plenty of requests and adverts on Radio North

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By 1997, Radio North was still broadcasting from Inishowen in east Donegal, aiming its diet of country and Irish music at Northern listeners. This tape from summer that year begins with the final part of a show presented by Connie Cooper (RIP), followed by Big Bad Jon (Jon Knox) with more music despite problems with a temperamental CD player. There’s plenty of chat between Jon and another DJ in studio, ranging from hair dye to turkeys! Despite the passage of almost a decade since the new broadcasting legislation, there is no sign of a lack of advertising on Radio North. Copious adverts are heard, mostly from the North, as well as requests from both sides of the border.

The recording was made from 846 kHz AM on 18^th May 1997 from 1850-2020 and is courtesy of Ian Biggar.

25th June 202522nd June 2025

Border series: lunchtime on Radio North

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As was often the case in long-running pirate radio stations, Radio North has seen splits and offshoots in its almost 40 years on air. One such split led to rival station North Atlantic Radio, that went on air in November 1989 and continued for 2 years in direct competition with Radio North. It was not sustainable to keep two similar stations on air in the Inishowen peninsula and Radio North closed down sometime near the end of 1991, leaving North Atlantic unopposed. However, on 31^st January 1994, North Atlantic reverted to the original Radio North name and has continued without significant break to the current day.

The recording of a lunchtime show was made in August 1994 and features DJ Wes with requests from both sides of the border and long commercial breaks for businesses in Donegal, Derry and Antrim. The familiar musical diet consists of country and Irish and gospel songs, including one sung by Wes himself and the Radio North anthem with the singing farmer John Watt. The show also includes the Radio North community noticeboard.

The tape was made from 846 kHz on 17^th August 1994 between 1400 and 1500. Thanks to Ian Biggar for the donation.