Non-stop music on Carnival Radio

Non-stop music on Carnival Radio

Carnival Radio was a short-lived station broadcasting to Dublin in 1984. According to Offshore Echos no. 52 of May 1984, it began tests in late January that year on 1116 kHz and a 24-hour pop service was planned. It appeared to have links with the former Community Radio 257 which was raided the previous November. The phone number was used by 257 before its move to Portmarnock and several former 257 staff worked on it. An Anoraks UK report from 23rd February 1984 suggested the same relationship. The strength of the signal in this recording suggests that the tranmission site was close to the receiver in northeast Dublin but we have been unable to unearth any more information about Carnival Radio. The recording is not of much assistance either as it contains no station idents and consists of continuous music only.

The wavelength of 257 metres is listed on the cassette, roughly equivalent to 1161 kHz although that would have clashed with several UK stations so 1116 kHz is more likely. The recording was made from 1535-1623 on 20th February 1984 and is from the Skywave Tapes Collection. Radio Skywave International was a 1980s shortwave station broadcasting from Baldoyle in northeast Dublin. Thanks to Ian Biggar for further information.