Interview: Bill Ebrill, transmitter man

Interview: Bill Ebrill, transmitter man

Radio engineer Bill Ebrill built transmitters for many of the early pirates including Radio Caroline Dublin, Radio Dublin, Big D, Radio Carousel and Northern Radio. In this interview, he discusses transmitters and the early days of pirate radio with Dónal Greene.

The interview was recorded on October 20th 2018 when over 100 radio anoraks gathered in the Ballsbridge Hotel in Dublin. The purpose was to meet and record oral history of the pirate radio era.

Interview: Eamonn O’Connor

On October 20th 2018 over 100 radio anoraks gathered in the Ballsbridge Hotel Dublin. The purpose was to meet and record oral history of the pirate radio era.

Eammon O’Connor is a radio enthusiast and ham radio operator from Raheny in Dublin 5. He is very well known to the AM pirate operators of the 1970s from his correspondence with stations. Eamonn spoke to Dónal Greene about his radio memories.

Interview: Derek Jones (Radio Valleri)

Interview: Derek Jones (Radio Valleri)
Derek Jones at Radio Valleri, Drumcondra, Dublin, late 1970s.

One of Ireland’s longest serving DJs and radio operators, Derek Jones sat down to tell his radio story, from AM Raidió Bhaile Átha Cliath (Radio Dublin) in the 1960s, to his long running SW station Radio Valleri, to Christmas FM and Retro FM. Derek also discusses his favourite radio memories including his nine years on Radio Caroline Dublin in Sutton.

Interview: Derek Jones (Radio Valleri)
image via dxarchive.com

Interview: Maureen Maguire (Radio Pirate Woman, Radio Sinn Féin)

On July 29th 2017, East Wall History Group held the Sarah Lundberg Summer School, an event set up to commemorate the life of Sarah Lundberg, an activist, historian and scholar who was involved in the group. One of Sarah Lundberg’s interests was pirate radio and that was the focus of the 2017 Summer School.

Interview: Maureen Maguire (Radio Pirate Woman, Radio Sinn Féin)
Undated flyer (possibly 1990) about Radio Pirate Woman (courtesy of Eddie Bohan).

In this edited interview Alan MacSimoin (RIP) talks to Maureen Maguire about her memories of political pirate radio in Ireland, including the unique Galway station Radio Pirate Woman, run by left-wing activist Margaretta D’Arcy from the 1980s.

Interview: Maureen Maguire (Radio Pirate Woman, Radio Sinn Féin)
The Woodquay area of Galway from where Radio Pirate Woman broadcast (photo by John Walsh).

Maureen Maguire was also involved with Radio Sinn Féin which broadcast on 298 metres (1008 kHz) in 1983. The station was one of several set up by the party as a protest against Section 31 of the Broadcasting Act which banned interviews with members of certain organisations including Sinn Féin.

Interview: Maureen Maguire (Radio Pirate Woman, Radio Sinn Féin)
Article about Radio Sinn Féin from An Phoblacht/Republican News, November 1983 (Alan MacSiomoin collection).

There were several such stations during the 1980s including many supporting Republic prisoners on hunger strike who stood in the general election of June 1981 under the Anti H-Block banner. A short recording of Radio H-Block based in Dublin can be heard here (courtesy Skywave Collection) It also broadcast on 298 metres.

Interview: Paul Allen (Sunshine Radio)

On October 20th 2018 over 100 radio anoraks gathered in the Ballsbridge Hotel Dublin. The purpose was to meet and record oral history of the pirate radio era.

Paul Allen (aka Paul King) was involved in East Coast Radio, BLB, WLR & Sunshine Radio on air. He also worked on the Sunshine Radio Review.

Interview: Paul Allen (Sunshine Radio)
Interview: Paul Allen (Sunshine Radio)
Interview: Paul Allen (Sunshine Radio)