Full recordings Archives - Page 66 of 134 - Irish Pirate Radio Audio Archive

24th December 202214th November 2023

Centre Radio on Christmas Eve 1986

Of the many pirates in the decade 1978-1988, Centre Radio was not well known beyond its immediate area in northeast Dublin but it is an important part of the history of Pirate.ie because both co-founders of this site were involved with it. Brian Greene, known as Bobby Gibbson on air, was one of those who started Centre Radio on 19^th December 1986 at the Baldoyle Youth Club in Dublin 13 and John Walsh was also involved. Reflecting the young age of the DJs, Centre Radio was only on air during school holidays in 1986 and 1987 but began daily broadcasting in spring 1988. It closed at midnight on New Year’s Eve that year.

Centre Radio broadcast on several frequencies on the FM band during its two years on air, beginning with 88 MHz during its first outing at the end of 1986. In this recording from Christmas Eve that year, Eric Delaney is on air and is followed by Brian Greene at 9pm. Adverts for local businesses are also heard. Another familiar name on radio in this part of Dublin, Derek Jones, is to take over from 11pm.

Our tape was recorded from 2020-2105 on December 24^th 1986 and is from the Leon Tipler Tapes Collection, donated to us by Steve England.

24th December 202214th November 2023

South Coast Radio on Christmas Eve

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This recording of South Coast Radio is from Christmas Eve 1982, at the end of the popular Cork station’s first year of broadcasting. On air is veteran English DJ Stevie Dunne who had previously worked on offshore stations Radio Caroline and the Voice of Peace. He was also heard on Sunshine Radio and Radio Nova in Dublin during the pirate era. Stevie is currently programme director of Dutch AM station Radio Seagull. There are promos for a broadcast of the original ‘War of the Worlds’ programme by Orson Welles from 1938 and a spot featuring South Coast Radio’s very own Cinderella on Christmas Day. News is edited and is read by an unidentified presenter.

The recording was made from 104 FM from 1846-1935 on Friday 24^th December 1982. It is from the Anoraks Ireland Tapes Collection, donated to us by Paul Davidson. Although the label refers to an ‘ERI Song for Christmas’, the tape includes a song about South Coast Radio itself, with no obvious reference to its rival station.

24th December 202214th November 2023

Christmas Eve into Christmas Day on Radio Nova

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This recording of Radio Nova was made on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day 1982, by which time the station was well established as one of the leading pirates in Dublin and Ireland. The tape kicks off with Scott Williams who finishes his show with a Christmas tune from a group of singers in studio. ‘Independent radio news from Ireland’ at midnight is read by Siobhán Purcell. ‘Clutterfree Nova’ – continuous music – follows for the next 40 minutes or so before Roland Burke (RIP) signs on until 6am on Christmas morning. Among the requests from listeners is one from Liverpool, reflecting the wide range of Nova’s coverage.

The tape was recorded from 88.2 FM. Since August, Nova was also broadcasting on 819 kHz AM but the cassette label refers to the earlier frequency of 846 kHz.

Part 1 above runs from 2348 and Part 2 below from 0039.

Part 2 from 0039.

The recording is from the Anoraks Ireland Tapes Collection, donated to us by Paul Davidson.

23rd December 202216th December 2022

Kingdom 102 nears the end of its run

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Kingdom 102 broadcast from Killarney in Co. Kerry in 1988 at the end of the pirate era. This recording is of the final edition of the Golden Hour Show with PJ O’Neill. News on the hour is read by John Kiely. PJ was a competent presenter who had broadcast previously on earlier Killarney station WRKY but in his final show, he throws caution to the wind somewhat. John Kiely worked previously for Tralee station Kerry Local Radio. There are plenty of local festive advertisements and professional jingles and station idents. ‘The late, great Rob Orbison’ is compared by PJ to ‘the late, great Kingdom 102’, who says that the history of radio broadcasting in Ireland about to be remade.

Part 1 above runs from 1345-1430 and Part 2 below from 1440-1525. The tape was recorded from 102 FM on 23^rd December 1988. The recording is from the Anoraks Ireland Tapes Collection, donated to us by Paul Davidson.

Part 2 from 1440.

It is not clear when exactly Kingdom 102 closed down, but it is thought to have continued until the end of the year in line with other pirates.

20th December 20228th December 2022

Limerick’s Sound Channel at Christmas 1988

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Sound Channel logo (courtesy Andy Carter).

Sound Channel broadcast from Limerick City from November 1986 to December 1988 and quickly gained a reputation as a professional operation. A rebranding in summer 1988 introduced the tagline ‘Power 98’ but in this recording both names are used, which seems to dilute the station’s identity. The DJ is Stuart Clark, formerly of the Voice of Peace and ABC in Waterford, who notes that a listener is ‘taping for posterity’, a reference to the fact that the 1980s pirate era was coming to an end. There’s mention of the Radio Nova satellite service from midnight, which was carried by many pirate stations overnight in 1988. News is from Independent Radio News in the UK and a £500 shopping voucher is given away during the show. Sound Channel/Power 98 closed down on 30^th December 1988 in line with new broadcasting legislation.

Limerick's Sound Channel at Christmas 1988 — Original cassette label from Anoraks Ireland Collection.

Our tape was made from 98.7 FM on Thursday 20^th December 1988. Part 1 above runs from 1412-1457 and Part 2 below is from 1459-1544.

Part 2 from 1459.

The recording is from the Anoraks Ireland Tapes Collection, donated to us by Paul Davidson.