Full recordings Archives - Page 82 of 118 - Irish Pirate Radio Audio Archive

8th July 202111th July 2021

Tommy Murphy on Independent Radio Mayo

Independent Radio Mayo (IRM) was launched in Castlebar in mid-1987 on 738 kHz AM, using the old Radio Leinster transmitter from Dublin, which gave it a good range across the region. It also broadcast on 99 MHz FM and later on 95.7 and 101.6. One of those involved was Gerry Delaney who had founded Mayo’s first pirate station, Atlantic Radio, in 1978. According to Magic and Madness, a history of Midwest Radio written by James Laffey: ‘IRM was mainly targeted at a younger audience and its playlist was not dissimilar to RTÉ Radio 2 but it also had a strong local feel to it and was a credible rival to Midwest’. IRM also drew the attention of the national media when Sharon Flynn, daughter of the Minister for the Environment Pádraig Flynn, began presenting an Irish language programme on the station.

This recording from 99 FM is of the late Tommy Murphy from 1115-1200 on 4^th February 1988. The music is country and Irish and plenty of requests and ads from all over the county are heard. There’s also a phone-in quiz and an interview with a listener organising a charity event in Ballina. Tommy went on to work at the licensed Midwest Radio and died in 2012. News at midday is read by Chris Clesham, who went on to work in RTÉ.

We thank John Breslin for his donation of this recording.

6th July 202115th June 2024

Border series: Weekend sounds on Donegal’s KTOK

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

KTOK broadcast from Donegal Town from mid-1987 until the end of the 1988, one of many stations from a county that has long boasted a pirate tradition. It was set up by Russ Padmore who had come from North West Community Radio in Buncrana. KTOK was first noted on 1566 kHz on 24^th May 1987 in the Anoraks UK Weekly Report. By July that year, FM frequencies on 96, 98 and 103 MHz were also logged. Russ Padmore closed down KTOK on New Year’s Eve 1988 when the Irish airwaves fell largely silent. He now works for the BBC.

This recording was made from 95.9 FM (announcing 96FM for south Donegal, Sligo and Leitrim) on 26^th August 1988 from 1934-2021 and features ‘Laura Live’ (Laura Hughes) with Weekend Sounds. Another transmitter on 99 FM covered north Donegal. There are ads from across central and south Donegal and from Sligo Town. Thanks to John Breslin for the donation.

4th July 202110th July 2021

West Coast Radio from Co. Clare

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

West Coast Radio (WCR) was an FM-only station broadcasting from Ennis in Co. Clare for four years from 1984 until the end of 1988. It is listed first by DX Archive in March 1985 on 100 FM and changed frequency regularly during its existence. WCR coexisted with another Ennis station, Radio Clare, for a short period in 1985 but as was the case in many small Irish towns, there wasn’t enough advertising revenue to support two stations and there are no listings of Radio Clare from 1986 onwards.

This recording was made from 104.2 FM on Saturday 17^th September 1988 from 1323-1411. Ollie Byrnes is on air until 2pm with a mix of music including plenty of soul and folk. At 2pm Marty G. takes over with a pop format and promises cross-channel soccer results. There are ads for local businesses in Ennis and one in Ennistymon 25 km away.

We thank John Breslin for his donation of this recording.

2nd July 20211st July 2021

Keeping it local on Laois Community Radio

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Laois Community Radio (LCR) broadcast from early 1982 for six years from the town of Mountrath, closing down on New Year’s Eve 1988 along with most other pirates. This recording is from the early days of the station and gives a sense of a station putting down roots as a truly local operation. It’s Sunday 31^st October 1982 and the unidentified presenter plays easy listening music and reads out plenty of community notices, including one inviting local groups to use LCR to get their message across. The recording, made from 88.8 FM, starts at around 1130 but it seems some of the music has been airchecked. Audio quality is fair and there is some fading at times, possibly due to distance from the transmitter.

We thank Ian Biggar and DX Archive for this recording.

28th June 202128th June 2021

Laois Community Radio from Mountrath

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

LCR logo (courtesy of Ian Biggar).

Laois Community Radio (LCR) broadcast from the town of Mountrath in Co. Laois from 1982 to 1988. It was first logged by DX Archive in April 1982 on 1160 kHz, slightly off-channel. It later moved to 1170 kHz before settling on 1242 kHz from late 1986 onwards, where it remained until the closedowns at the end of 1988. LCR was one of a small number of pirates that broadcast right up to the midnight deadline on December 31^st. FM frequencies logged over the years included 88.8, 102.3 and 102.8 FM. This short recording of LCR was made on 26^th February 1983 from 1306-1320. The DJ is unidentified.

Laois Community Radio from Mountrath — A view of Mountrath today (photo by John Walsh).

The recording of LCR is from the Leon Tipler Tapes Collection, donated to us by Steve England.