Full recordings Archives - Page 59 of 128 - Irish Pirate Radio Audio Archive

25th December 202214th November 2023

David Baker on Christmas Day Radio Annabel

David Baker was a familiar voice on many Dublin stations throughout the 1980s. In this recording, he is heard on Radio Annabel on Christmas Day 1984. Reflecting David’s own taste, the music is in the laid-back and easy listening style. There are plenty of requests and dedications from listeners as well as a competition to win a bottle of wine. No adverts are aired as is the custom for Christmas Day but festive Radio Annabel jingles are heard.

Radio Annabel was one of the smaller Dublin pirates and broadcast from the north inner-city from 1983 to 1985. Listings from around Christmas 1984 logged it on 1323 kHz AM and 92.4 FM, although the cassette label mentions 91.8 FM. Part 1 of the tape above runs from 1406-1454 and Part 2 below from 1506-1554.

Part 2 from 1506.

The recording is from the Anoraks Ireland Tapes Collection, donated to us by Paul Davidson. Listen to our special podcast with David Baker here.

25th December 202214th November 2023

Christmas Night on Q102

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This recording of Dublin super-pirate Q102 is from Christmas Night 1986. It begins with Eamonn Kelly who is finishing up a marathon 6-hour shift. Talk is limited reflecting the station’s format and the day that’s in it, and there are just a few requests for listeners and a weather bulletin. An advert for the 1987 Q102 diary is heard and the top-of-the-hour promo is sponsored by Sony. Eamonn is followed at midnight by Ken Harley, who is facing into another 6-hour show.

Part 1 of the recording above runs from 2231-2319 and Part 2 below from 2349-0037.

Part 2 from 2349.

Eamonn was heard previously on Cork stations WBEN and ERI and KISS FM in Foley Street in Dublin. Ken also worked on Big D, ARD, Radio Leinster and Radio Nova, and had previously made adverts for Nova in Bay City Studios. Listen to an interview with him here.

The recording was made from 103.5 FM on December 25^th and 26^th 1986 and is from the Anoraks Ireland Tapes Collection, donated to us by Paul Davidson.

25th December 202214th November 2023

Laois Community Radio on Christmas Day

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Laois Community Radio (LCR) broadcast from early 1982 for six years from the town of Mountrath, closing down on 31st December 1988 along with the vast majority of the other pirate stations. This recording was made on Christmas Day 1987 and features Jimmy Hayes with the Nashville Sound show. The music is country and bluegrass and there are Christmas requests and a promo urging listeners to support the businesses advertising on LCR. At the time, the station broadcast daily from 9am to 11pm on 1242 kHz and on 101.5 and 102 FM.

The recording was made from one of LCR’s two FM frequencies from 1713-1800 (the times on the label are incorrect) on 25^th December 1987. It is from the Anoraks Ireland Tapes Collection, donated by Paul Davidson.

24th December 202214th November 2023

Christmas Eve on Nova sister station KISS FM

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This recording of Radio Nova sister station KISS FM was made on Christmas Eve 1983, not long before the station closed. On air is Dave Harvey with the Airplay Top 40, aired every Saturday on KISS FM at the time. News on the hour is read by Bernie Jameson who continues to broadcast on independent radio today. There’s also a promo for a daily £100 giveaway.

KISS FM was set up in September 1982 as an experimental local station for Dublin and to absorb additional advertising revenue from Radio Nova. While the large number of Christmas adverts on this recording indicates commercial success, behind the scenes Nova was facing enormous challenges due to ongoing jamming by RTÉ. Against this backdrop, KISS closed less than a month later on 15^th January 1984. Dave Harvey was heard on various incarnations of Nova and subsequently on licensed stations including Century Radio, RTÉ and 4FM, now Classic Hits Radio.

Part 1 of the recording above begins at 0945 and Part 2 below at 1020. Towards the end of Part 2, the recording seems to switch to another channel for a few minutes.

Part 2 from 1020.

The recording was made from 102.7 FM and is from the Anoraks Ireland Tapes Collection, donated to us by Paul Davidson.

24th December 202214th November 2023

Final Christmas Eve on Heartbeat FM

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This is a recording of the final Christmas Eve on Dublin love song station Heartbeat FM from 1988. John Keogh is on air from an unnamed pub with plenty of festive music and requests. He reminds listeners that there are only six days left before Heartbeat closes down and the iconic ‘final countdown’ promo is aired. Adverts of interest include one for a course in computer keyboard skills and another for ‘Bros-look outfits’.

Heartbeat was launched in November 1986 and quickly gained a strong listenership due to its love song format. It changed its name to Cara 95 FM in 1987 but reverted back to Heartbeat due to popular demand. Heartbeat closed at the end of December 1988 in line with the new legislation.

The tape was recorded from 95.5 FM from 1417-1502 on 24^th December 1988 and is partly airchecked. It is from the Anoraks Ireland Tapes Collection, donated to us by Paul Davidson.