Posted on

Signal 106 from south Dublin

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Signal 106 from south Dublin

Signal 106 was a hobby station from the southside of Dublin which broadcast at the end of the pirate era. It was set up at Christmas 1978 by the youthful Kevin Branigan and Mike Ormonde and broadcast from Rathfarnham then and during the following summer holidays, returning for a final run at Christmas 1988. Because its antenna was on a height, Signal got out well despite its low power on 106 FM, as indicated by the good reception across the city in Bayside where these recordings were made.

In the first clip we hear Graham Turner (aka Justin Leonard) and Dave Adams (aka Andrew Mangan). The top of the hour jingle is by Seán Ashmore who did many station idents in the late 1980s. The second and third clips feature Graham Turner. The date is 29th December 1988, the day before Signal closed down. These recordings are from the Pirate.ie collection.

Clip 1
Clips 2 and 3
Posted on

Airchecks: CAU FM

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Airchecks: CAU FM

CAU FM was a short-lived station broadcasting on 103.5 FM from Foxrock in south Dublin from the summer of 1987 until the summer of 1988. Although more a hobby than a commercial station, it had a professional sound and slick jingle package and was run by Locky Butler who still works professionally in audio and sound recording. This is an aircheck of a longer recording in our collection from 1988 (unfortunately we have no date) featuring Locky Butler on air.

Posted on

Advert: The Red Corner Shop

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Sometimes the ads ran for so long they became famous. The Red Corner Shop on Dorset Street advertised heavily on the Dublin pirates. This recording is from Radio Dublin in 1987.

Advert: The Red Corner Shop
Posted on

Interview: Jack Byrne – NDCR

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Interview: Jack Byrne - NDCR

North Dublin Community Radio (NDCR) broadcast from 1982 to 1988 from the north Dublin suburb of Coolock and had a strong community broadcasting ethos. It first aired as Concord Community Radio before changing its name to NDCR. It could be heard on 1008 kHz AM and on 100 FM, abandoning medium wave at a later stage in common with many other stations. In this interview with Wireless on Flirt FM from May 2017, NDCR founder Jack Byrne talks about the early years of the station, the philosophy of community radio and the establishment of NDCR’s licensed successor, NEAR FM. 

Interview: Jack Byrne - NDCR
Posted on

Final Alternative Top 30 on Capitol Radio/Nitesky 96

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Final Alternative Top 30 on Capitol Radio/Nitesky 96
Clippings from Alan MacSimoin collection before the launch of Nitesky 96 in 1986.

Capitol Radio/Nitesky 96 specialised in indie and alternative music and was one of the last stations in Dublin on air on New Year’s Eve 1988, broadcasting live from Side’s nightclub. This recording from the Pirate.ie collection is from 30th December 1988 and features Conor Brooks promoting the listeners’ all-time Alternative Top 30 that was to be broadcast on the 31st, the final day. The suggested bands and songs give a good indication of Capitol’s unique musical style. The Alternative Top 10 based on listeners’ votes was a popular weekly feature on the station. Capitol Radio/Nitesky 96 closed down at midnight on 31st December 1988.