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Tommy Murphy on Independent Radio Mayo

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Tommy Murphy on Independent Radio Mayo
IRM flyer from 1988 (courtesy of Ian Biggar).

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 4th 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.

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Border series: Weekend sounds on Donegal’s KTOK

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Border series: Weekend sounds on Donegal's KTOK
KTOK studio in 1988 with Russ Padmore in the blue shirt (photo courtesy of DX Archive).

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 24th 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.

Border series: Weekend sounds on Donegal's KTOK
KTOK flyer (courtesy of Ian Biggar).

This recording was made from 95.9 FM (announcing 96FM for south Donegal, Sligo and Leitrim) on 26th 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. 

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West Coast Radio from Co. Clare

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West Coast Radio from Co. Clare
Paul ‘Stoney’ Burke at WCR in 1988 (courtesy of Ken Baird, taken originally by Andy Carter).

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.

West Coast Radio from Co. Clare
West Coast Radio flyer from 1988 (courtesy of Ian Biggar).

This recording was made from 104.2 FM on Saturday 17th 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.

West Coast Radio from Co. Clare
A current view of 13 Parnell Street, Ennis where WCR was based (photo by John Walsh).

We thank John Breslin for his donation of this recording.

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Keeping it local on Laois Community Radio

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Keeping it local on Laois Community Radio
An unidentified DJ at LCR in 1986 (courtesy of Ken Baird, taken originally by Andy Carter).

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 31st 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.

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Radio Amore from Portlaoise

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Radio Amore from Portlaoise

Radio Amore was a shortlived station broadcasting from Portlaoise, Co. Laois in 1982 and 1983. It was logged by DX Archive on 1143 kHz (announcing 263 metres) in December 1982 but there is no mention of it in their April 1983 list. The arrival of Laois Community Radio in Mountrath around this time probably contributed to Radio Amore’s demise.

This recording is from 104.5 FM of Francis McNally at 9pm on Saturday 26th of February 1983, so Radio Amore must have disappeared soon after that date. There are requests from Portlaoise itself and Ballybrophy over 30 km away. Audio quality is poor with variable levels and due to the bad condition of the cassette, it was necessary to aircheck the recording. The incorrect spelling “Radio A’Moore” is on the cassette label, but in fairness to whoever typed it, Radio Amore was a strange choice of name for a station broadcasting from Portlaoise.

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