Irish Pirate Radio Audio Archive

13th November 202418th November 2024

Southside Radio FRC programme from 1981

Southside Radio was one of the early Irish medium wave pirates of the late 1970s and early 1980s, based in various places in north Wicklow and south Dublin. It began broadcasting in December 1978 from a caravan to Bray for a few hours daily before extending its coverage. Southside Radio was raided in 1979 but a rate card and schedule from December that year showed an ambitious full-time schedule including accomplished broadcasters such as Bryan Dobson, Cathy Cregan, Sybil Fennell, Hugh Browne (RIP) and Paul Nicholas (Andy Ruane). Southside claimed to be the ‘major radio station on the southside of Dublin’ and said it had a community emphasis in its programmes. In spring 1980, a lightning strike and a break-in damaged equipment and disrupted broadcasts. In June that year, Southside moved to the Victor Hotel in Dún Laoghaire and became a round-the-clock operation. A report by DX Archive from April 1982 said that Southside was on its last legs and that the station closed the following month for good.

Of interest in the Southside schedule was the weekly Free Radio Campaign (FRC) show by Mark Boland on Sunday mornings, which was also relayed on shortwave stations Westside Radio International and Radio Condor and therefore heard well beyond Ireland. This recording is of an edition of the FRC that includes free radio and station news, a report from Liverpool, a tape of Australian station OZFM and Radio Caroline jingles from the 1960s. There are plenty of adverts for local businesses on the southside, including the voice of Tony Allan (RIP), who also features on station idents.

The tape was made on Easter Sunday 19^th April 1981 between 1133-1305 from 999 kHz, announcing 300 metres. It is from the Anoraks Ireland Collection.

11th November 20249th November 2024

Interview with Aidan Cooney on Radio Dublin in 1979

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English radio anorak Leon Tipler (RIP) returned to Ireland in August 1979 to record more of the Irish pirates and interview some of those involved in the expanding scene. This original recording from his collection features a visit to Radio Dublin and an interview with Aidan Jay (Aidan Cooney) about how the station was faring, its coverage area and plans to go on FM in the coming weeks.

A shorter version of this interview was included in Tipler’s acclaimed documentary series The Irish Pirates. This recording was made on 30^th August 1979 and is donated to us by Steve England. Aidan Cooney continues to broadcast on radio to this day.

8th November 20243rd December 2024

Border series: Donegal pirate WABC in 1988

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Continuing our series on Donegal pirate WABC, today’s recording is from 1988, the last year of the station’s first period on air before new broadcasting legislation was introduced. On 10^th January 1988, WABC was heard on a new frequency of 101.7 FM. The move was due to interference at 107 and the fact that not everyone wanted to tune so high up on the FM dial. Also in January 1988, power on 1242 kHz was noted at about 150w and the studios were said to be in a mobile home about 5 miles from Inishowen Head. The target areas were Derry City, Coleraine and Limavaddy.

On 27^th March, Weekly Report noted WABC on 6300 kHz shortwave as well as medium wave and FM. It added: ‘The station seems bright and lively and must be gaining listeners amongst the younger end in Coleraine and surrounds. Some adverts are noted, and plenty of “Laser-type” jingles’. Around this time, the Sunday World newspaper carried a feature about the station and its first road show which was a success. On 10^th April 1988, the FM transmitter of WABC on 101.7 was reported to have an output of 900w. The main FM was to be moved from the existing site at the studio at about 230 feet above sea level to a new site about 600 feet above sea level so the new signal would cover a much greater area. Reference was made to a recent setback when a number of items were stolen from the station, including a transmitter. On 24^th April, no doubt in response to the new transmitter site, Anoraks UK reported a ‘super signal’ for WABC on FM in Blackpool. On 12^th June, it noted that WABC had moved from Garvagh to Greencastle where their new studios were located. It also reported a new FM transmitter for Derry City on 100.8 and Moville and the Donegal coast on 99.8. Both MW and SW were off air at the time due to a lack of valves.

Our recording was made on a drizzly summer morning and features the end of the Breakfast Club with Paul Bentley (Paul Barnett, RIP), followed by Krissi. There are plenty of tagliners and station idents and adverts for businesses in Co. Antrim. The tape was made on 7^th July 1988 from 101.7 FM between 1019-1105 and is kindly donated by Ian Biggar.

6th November 20243rd November 2024

More highlights of Dublin radio in 1979

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In this post, we bring you more highlights of Dublin radio in 1979 as recorded by English anorak Leon Tipler (RIP) during one of his regular visits to Ireland. This recording begins with Tony Allan (RIP) on his afternoon show on ARD, including news and requests. Later in the tape, Tony conducts an interview with the Friends of Medieval Dublin about the controversial development of the Wood Quay site in Dublin for new civic offices. Simon Young (RIP) is interviewed by another DJ on Big D, and talks about the various gigs that he did around town. There are also snippets of Radio Dublin and Capitol Radio. Parts of these recordings were used in Leon’s acclaimed documentary series The Irish Pirates.

The tape was made on 29^th August 1979 from various AM frequencies. We thank Steve England for his donation of the Leon Tipler Collection to Pirate.ie.

4th November 20243rd November 2024

Tony Allan on ARD in 1979

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Continuing our series on recordings made by English radio anorak Leon Tipler in Dublin, today’s tape features the sounds of an August afternoon in 1979 after he returned to Ireland for another visit. Tipler put his microphone up against a radio in his hotel room and recorded snippets of the city’s leading pirate, Alternative Radio Dublin (ARD) and a commentary on his impressions of the city at the time. This extracts were later used in his acclaimed documentary series The Irish Pirates that can be heard on this website.

The recording features the voice of the legendary Tony Allan (RIP) presenting the afternoon show on ARD and reading news headlines on 28^th August 1979. Tipler was staying in the Ormond Hotel overlooking the River Liffey and gulls and passing traffic can be heard in the background. Audio quality is variable due to degradation of the cassette. We thank Steve England for donating Leon Tipler’s collection to us.