Full recordings Archives - Page 3 of 99 - Irish Pirate Radio Audio Archive

11th March 202411th March 2024

Festival station Community Radio Dollymount

Community Radio Dollymount was another name for Echo Radio that broadcast from the north Dublin suburb of Dollymount in 1982. Echo Radio was run by John Thewlis, who operated various pirates from the Clontarf/Dollymount area during the 1980s. According to Offshore Echoes from December 1982, Echo began testing in May that year on 186 metres (equivalent to 1611 kHz, although this would have been beyond the range of many receivers), beginning official broadcasts in June and later adding another transmitter on 97.3 FM. Community Radio Dollymount was a short-lived festival station and just a name change for Echo Radio. Ken Baird of DX Archive logged Echo Radio on 18^th July 1982 announcing a test for Community Radio Dollymount and further tests were heard the following day and again on 19^th August with presumably fully programmes.

A DX Archive listing from August that year includes Echo Radio on 1600 kHz (187 metres). Shortwave News from October 1982 refers to ‘R. Echo, alias Community R. Dollymount’ and reports that it was being relayed by shortwave station Westside Radio International on 6280 kHz. According to the same source, Echo/Community Radio Dollymount closed down in October 1982.

This recording of Community Radio Dollymount was made from 2019-2149 on Saturday 28^th August 1982 from 1600 kHz, announcing 188 metres. The DJs listed are Aidan Hughes and Donal Summerville and requests from listeners and adverts for local businesses are heard. Audio quality is fair to poor with variable levels and co-channel interference worsens as night falls. Cassette degradation is probably also a factor. The tape is from the Anoraks Ireland Collection, donated to us by Paul Davidson. Thanks to Ian Biggar and Ken Baird for further information.

6th March 20243rd March 2024

78s Show on Community Radio Galaxy

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Radio Galaxy was one of the pioneering Irish pirates, broadcasting from as early as 1955 and operating regularly on Sundays from 1969. It was operated by Tony Boylan (RIP) who first experimented with pirate radio in 1945 and operated stations over the years from different parts of Dublin. Tony’s love of 78s made him unique in the pirate radio world and his programmes, co-presented on occasion with his wife Fran, gained loyal listeners across the decades. In 1986, he retired and moved with Fran to the Isle of Man, having sold his extensive 78s collection.

This recording was made just a fortnight before Radio Galaxy closed down for good. It begins with continuous music followed by the weekly 78s Show. There are several requests from listeners around Dublin and from as far afield as Lancashire. Tony announces that he is moving to the Isle of Man shortly and says he hopes to get a slot on Manx Radio, noting the absence of pirate radio in the island. The tape was made from 1512 kHz AM (196 metres) from 1138-1223 and 1230-1315 on Sunday 7^th September 1986. It is from the Anoraks Ireland Tapes Collection.

Radio Galaxy’s final broadcast was on 21^st September 1986. Tony died in the Isle of Man in 2010.

1st March 202425th February 2024

Afternoon shows on Echo Community Radio

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Echo Community Radio was a shortlived pirate broadcasting from Blanchardstown in west Dublin in 1985. This recording from a Wednesday afternoon in August that year begins with a mix of chart music and olders tunes with Ben Thomas. There are adverts for local businesses, some voiced by DJ Lee, a well-known presenter who worked on several Dublin pirates. A series of British comedy inserts sounds out of place between the songs and isn’t helped by muffled sound. Next up is Eamonn Kelly, who worked previously and subsequently on larger and more professional stations in Cork and Dublin.

The tape was made from 1407-1452 and from 1517-1604 on Wednesday 7^th August 1985. Although recorded from 105.5 FM, audio quality is poor with some distortion. Echo Community Broadcasting was also heard on 1071 kHz AM, announcing 280 metres. The recording is from the Anoraks Ireland Tapes Collection.

21st February 202426th February 2024

Morning shows on Echo Community Radio

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Echo Community Radio was a shortlived station broadcasting from west Dublin in the second half of 1985. First up in this recording is Dave Canning with the final part of his breakfast programme. He is followed by Workers’ Playtime presented by Gerry Marsden, a familiar name on 1980s pirates including Radio Dublin, which he went on to manage. Adverts are heard for local businesses, many in the Centrepoint Shopping Centre in Blanchardstown where Echo was located. There’s also a promo seeking DJs, newsreaders and sales representatives for the station.

Both 280 metres (1071 kHz) and 105.5 FM are announced by the DJs. The recording was made from 1071 kHz from 0918-1049 on Wednesday 7^th August 1985 and is from the Anoraks Ireland Collection. Audio quality is fair, with some distortion.

14th February 202412th February 2024

DJ Lee on Echo Community Radio

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Echo Community Radio was one of several small Dublin stations that came and went during the 1980s. It broadcast from Blanchardstown in west Dublin and was first logged by DX Archive in July 1985. The station broadcast on AM only initially and was located in the Centrepoint Shopping Centre. According to Anoraks UK Weekly Report, it closed down by January 1986. There is no known connection to the earlier Echo Radio based in Clontarf in 1982.

This recording of Echo Community Radio features DJ Lee, a familiar voice from the 1980s pirates, presenting an afternoon slot. There’s a listeners’ competition for cinema tickets but tellingly, no adverts are heard over 90 minutes of primetime radio listening. The station claimed to broadcast to the Greater Dublin Area but clearly power was low as there is co-channel intereference, likely from Radio Carousel North on the same frequency of 1071 kHz (announced by Echo as 280 metres).

The tape was made from 1555-1737 on Wednesday 26^th June 1985 and is from the Anoraks Ireland Tapes Collection.