LLCR business card from the early days (courtesy DX Archive)
Peter Madison (RIP) was an English DJ who broadcast on many Irish pirate stations in the 1980s. In this recording from 1986, he is heard on Liberties Local Community Radio (LLCR), a newly-established station serving the Liberties area of Dublin’s southwest city centre. Using the name ‘Skip Cameron’, Peter presents the lunchtime golden oldies programme and regularly refers to the station as ‘Big L’. He then hands over to John Keogh for Afternoon Delight. No adverts are heard during the hour-long broadcast, a concern for a new station with bills to pay.
LLCR was set up on 4th April 1986 from Weaver’s Square in Dublin 8. Focused initially on the local community, it was later re-named Liberty 104 and expanded its coverage, carving out a commercial niche in the Dublin radio market. Liberty 104 closed suddenly before Christmas 1988. This recording was made from 1035 kHz AM between 1303-1410 on Wednesday 23rd April 1986 and is from the Anoraks Ireland Collection.
FM 100 was one of many pirates that defied the new broadcasting legislation in 1989. Based in Monaghan town, it was owned by Frank McCarthy (RIP) and programmed by Lawrence John. Using the studios and transmitter of former pirate KITS that closed at the end of 1988, FM 100 was first noted testing by Anoraks UK Weekly Report on Saturday 15th July 1989. An AM frequency of 1116 kHz was added on 19th July and regular live shows were expected within days. As stated by Weekly Report: ‘For the first time since the end of 1988, Radio Star Country (981) has a neighbour, although most certainly not competition, due to their 100% country and Irish format’.
FM 100 launched on 26th July 1989, with the first live show presented by John Friday (Lawrence John), formerly of Monaghan super-pirate KISS FM and various other stations. The station’s aim was to secure a music licence for Northern Ireland to fill the gap left by the demise of the pirates south of the border. Weekly Report of 29th July commented: ‘The latest area to show dissatisfaction with the current radio situation is the border area of Ireland. A province-wide drive to try to persuade the Home Secretary to grant a licence for an all music station for Northern Ireland is already underway. The “Campaign for Music Radio in Ulster” is being spearheaded by the new Monaghan-based station “FM 100” and expected to be assisted by all the other border and NI pirate operators. Apparently a survey has shown that 83% of the 15-39 age group want a music station, whilst the IBA and Government continue to ignore their requests for this type of radio for which a demand clearly exists. Marches and rallies are expected to be organised in the province to support the cause’.
American-produced messages to support the campaign were due to be aired on FM 100 and other border pirates but these failed to materialise because, according to Weekly Report, the tapes went missing while crossing the Atlantic. Many of the presenters were originally from KITS and former Louth pirate Zee 103, with names other than John Friday including Graham Marks, Ollie Clarke, Noel McStay, Paul Thomas, Gary Peach, Terri Hooley, the Gooseman and Roy McKee. Adverts were heard as well as promos for the ‘music radio for Ulster’ campaign and by August there was an increase in power and a relay into Newry by Magic 103 on 103.25. A big night out was planned in a Belfast nightclub in September where petitions would be available, along with t-shirts and car stickers.
FM 100 lasted for a few months but failed to get much traction with the local audience. It was also interfering with Century Radio’s Dublin FM transmitter, although this was not aimed at the border region. Eventually FM 100 changed to 102 FM and re-named as KIKX Kicks 102 in November but lasted only a few more weeks before leaving the airwaves.
This recording is of Peter Wright (ex KITS) from 1235-1409 on Thursday 19th October 1989, recorded from 102 FM. It is from the Anoraks Ireland Collection. Thanks to Rodney Neill for background information and the stickers.
Cara 95 was a temporary name given to the Dublin love songs station Heartbeat FM (1986-1988). Rebranded as Cara in 1987, the change was shortlived as listeners prefered the original title. The diet of love songs proved popular even in the crowded Dublin radio market and Heartbeat had built up a loyal following by its closure at the end of 1988. It returned as a pirate in the 1990s, subsequently broadcast under a temporary licence and continues today online.
This recording of Cara 95 features the evening drivetime show presented by Eamonn Kelly, formerly heard on Cork station ERI and Dublin station Q102. There are adverts for local businesses but not a huge amount for the time of day, perhaps reflecting waning popularity due to the name change. The show includes traffic updates, a holiday magazine slot and a mystery movie competition. News is read by Maurice Nevin (RIP). Of note is the reference to ‘digital stereo on CD’, reflecting the growing popularity of the compact disk at the time.
The tape is from the Anoraks Ireland Collection and was made from 95.5 FM on Thursday 1st October 1987 from 1620-1751.
Energy studios in 144 Upper Leeson St in 1986 (courtesy Andy Carter)
Energy 103 was one of the most successful Dublin stations at the end of the pirate era, broadcasting from April 1986 until March 1988. This recording is of a familiar voice on Energy, Gerry Stevens (Lang) with a lunchtime show in the summer of 1986. There are the usual high-level adverts for larger businesses and brands and the slick Energy jingles. News is read by Dave Johnson (Andrew Hanlon) and George Long (Henry O’Donovan, RIP). The daily news quiz attracts many callers during lunch hour.
George Long (Henry O’Donovan, RIP) (courtesy Seán McCarthy)
The recording is from the Anoraks Ireland Collection and was made from 103 FM on Wednesday 23rd July 1986 from 1244-1420. Energy 103 also broadcast on 738 kHz AM.
Radio Leinster sticker (Anoraks Ireland Collection).
Radio Leinster was a multi-format station broadcasting to Dublin and surrounding areas from 1981-1983. The music style was MOR/easy-listening and there were also specialist programmes covering a wide range of genres.
This recording features a familiar voice on the Dublin pirates, DJ Lee, presenting the evening Bumper to Bumper show. The programme includes traffic reports, a listeners’ competition, featured albums, the Ramble Around Dublin slot, TV movies and a city events guide. Adverts are heard for businesses throughout Dublin and news on the hour is read by Gary Miley, who would later work for Sunshine Radio and eventually RTÉ. News at 1900 is edited out but Lee is followed by Conor Brooks with a Top 40 show, presumably one of Radio Leinster’s specialist programmes. Conor would later be heard on alternative/indie station Capitol/Nitesky 96.
Original cassette inlay from Anoraks Ireland Collection.
Radio Leinster broadcast on 738 kHz AM (announcing 406 metres), using a professionally-built 1kW transmitter, and on 93 FM. It closed suddenly on 19th May 1983, following the raids on Sunshine and Radio Nova. This recording was made from FM on Tuesday 18th January 1983 between 1730 and 1908 and is from the Anoraks Ireland Collection.
