Irish Pirate Radio Audio Archive - Page 19 of 160

3rd July 20233rd July 2023

‘Dance Radio’ on South Coast Radio

The fluid nature of pirate radio gave breaks to sometimes very young DJs, many of whom went on to carve out careers in broadcasting. John Ashford (real name John Buckley, RIP) was one of the younger part-time presenters on Cork station South Coast Radio, which came on air in spring 1982. Joining South Coast in the summer when he was aged only 19, John presented weekend shows including a Sunday afternoon request programme called ‘Dance Radio’.

In this recording, there are plenty of requests and commercial breaks include local businesses and larger companies. The voices of Siobhán Walls and Hugh Browne (RIP), both of whom went on to have careers in radio, are heard on adverts. Before joining South Coast, John worked in smaller stations Cork City Local Radio and Radio City.

The tape was made from 102.7 FM (announcing 104) on 22nd August 1982. Part 1 above runs from 1614 and Part 2 below from 1700.

Part 2 from 1700.

The recording is from the Anoraks Ireland Tapes Collection, donated to us by Paul Davidson.

28th June 202314th August 2023

Border series: Sean Brady heard on Radio Star Country in Norway

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

This DX-quality recording of Monaghan station Radio Star Country was made in western Norway in 1992. On air is Sean Brady with a drivetime mix of country music and requests, with adverts from Derry, Fermanagh Tyrone, Monaghan and Cavan, some of them read live by the DJ. There are promos for events in Northern towns Keady and Magherafelt but no news bulletin at the top of the hour. A Monaghan number is announced for requests.

As would be expected given the distance from the transmitter, audio quality is poor for the most part with fading later in the recording. It was made in Solsvik on the west coast of Norway from 1627-1705 from 981 kHz on 29^th October 1992. The receiver used was a Drake SPR-4 with a 200-metre antenna facing southwest. Thanks to Svenn Martinsen for the donation.

21st June 202321st June 2023

Border series: Don Allen heard in Norway on Radio Star Country

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Don Allen (RIP) was a familiar voice on the Irish pirate scene and did a stint at Monaghan station Radio Star Country in 1989 and the early 1990s. This recording of Radio Star Country features Don with his live afternoon American country music show, as received in Norway due to the magic of AM propagation. Don is also heard on promos and adverts, as is station founder and owner Gerry Byrne.

The recording was made from 1632-1645 on 17th January 1990 from 981 kHz in Solsvik on the western Norwegian coast using a Drake SPR-4 receiver with a 200-metre antenna facing the southwest and Ireland. Audio quality is poor with deep fading and the Algerian station also broadcasting on 981 kHz dominates for a time, all part of the fun of DXing. Thanks to Svenn Martinsen for the donation.

20th June 202318th June 2023

Q102 outside broadcast from Dublin city centre

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Q102 logo from 1987 (Alan MacSimoin collection).

By summer 1987 after more than two years on air, Q102 was well established as one of the leading pirate radio stations in Dublin and Ireland. It and other super-pirates repeatedly pushed the boundaries in terms of content, standards and technology and this tape is a good example of the high levels of professionalism attained by the bigger stations towards the end of the 1980s pirate era.

Q102 outside broadcast from Dublin city centre — Original cassette label from Anoraks Ireland Collection.

The recording features an outside broadcast by Q102 from the Switzer’s department store during the Midsummer Madness party taking place there. There are vox pops with shoppers and kids on Grafton Street, some of whom have just finished school exams, £5 gift vouchers and ice creams are given away as prizes. The OB features various presenters including Mickey Joe, Scott Williams, Mike Hogan, Dave Kelly, Greg Gaughren, Martin Block and Anne Cassin. The usual agency ads are heard and there is a competition for tickets for the iconic U2 concert in Croke Park on June 28^th. News at 3 minutes to the hour is read by Maura O’Neill.

The tape was made from 102.1 FM on Saturday 20^th June 1987. Part 1 above runs from 1342-1430 and Part 2 below from 1430-1518.

Part 2 from 1430

At this time Q102 also broadcast on 819 kHz AM and 103.5 FM. The tape is from the Anoraks Ireland Tapes Collection, donated to us by Paul Davidson.

16th June 202312th June 2023

Summer sounds on Munster Broadcasting Corporation

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

The Munster Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) was one of the smaller Limerick pirates, broadcasting in 1986. Despite the gradiose name, the station was situated in a tiny loft room on Catherine Street in the city centre. It claimed coverage of counties Limerick, Clare and Tipperary on various FM frequencies, but most of the advertisements were from Limerick City itself. This recording from July 1986 features the lunchtime show with current pop hits presented by Will Rogers, who had one of the stranger mid-Atlantic accents of the pirate era. He also features on many of the adverts. MBC was relaunched as Stereo Radio Munster in 1987.

The tape may have been recorded from one of the Limerick City frequencies, 95.9 or 98.6 FM. There is no date but Part 1 above runs from 1304-1349 and Part 2 below from 1351-1437.

Part 2 from 1351.

The tape is from the Anoraks Ireland Collection, donated to us by Paul Davidson.