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The weekly Radio West Anoraks’ Show from Mullingar was essential listening for radio enthusiasts far and near. Fronted by station boss Shaun Coyne, it was unscripted and unpredictable and relied heavily on juicy gossip and rumours about the pirate radio scene. Shaun was joined by another presenter each week – including the late Don Allen – but the second person often struggled to get a word in.
This recording contains highlights of the Anoraks’ Show from 1986 and 1987, with a focus on stations outside Dublin, in particular the west and southwest. It captures the rivalry and volatility in the pirate radio world as well as the continued dominance of AM outside Dublin well into the 1980s. The list of snippets is as follows:
2nd November 1986: Limerick information from a contributor.
16th November 1986: Limerick information from William Leahy, who went on to a career in RTÉ radio.
30th November 1986: Galway information from Noel Dooley.
27th November 1986: Raidió Luimní as heard on 1125 kHz when Radio Carousel was temporarily off the air.
7th December 1986: Paul Davidson of Anoraks Ireland with information from Limerick, Tipperary and Cork.
7th December 1986: Sligo information from James Headd.
1st February 1987: Further Limerick information from William Leahy.
1st February 1987: Further Galway information from Noel Dooley.
12th April 1987: Paul Davidson of Anoraks Ireland with information from around the country.
10th May 1987: Information about Tipperary (Nenagh) from a contributor.
10th May 1987: Joe Cashin from Kilkenny with local information.
10th May 1987: Galway and Mayo information from a contributor.
17th May 1987: Promo for interview with Owen Barry (Larkin) from Zee 103, who went on to work in Century Radio and Downtown Radio in Belfast.
24th May 1987: Owen Barry (Larkin) from Zee 103.
24th May 1987: Don Allen jokes about a statute being put up in honour of Heady Eddie (Eddie Caffrey), pioneer of pirate radio in Co. Louth.
24th May 1987: Nigel Gordon with Kildare information (Naas).
Undated 1987: Interview with Scottish anorak Jock Wilson of Radio Stella International who wishes to broadcast on shortwave from the Republic of Ireland.
26th July 1987: Keith York from Galway about Coast 103.
26th July 1987: David Baker from KLAS in Dublin about his recent short stint on offshore station Radio Caroline.
The recordings were made from 702 kHz AM in Scotland by Ian Biggar. DX groundwave reception by day meant variable audio quality due to the distance from Mullingar.