Irish Pirate Radio Audio Archive

7th February 20253rd February 2025

Stuart Scott on Eastside Radio

Cork’s most successful pirate station Radio ERI (1982-1988) began its life in early 1982 in the east Cork village of Ballycotton. It was known various as Cork Eastside Radio, Eastside Recording Ireland, Eastside Radio and then Eastside Radio Ireland, abbreviated to ERI. The station expanded its operations in 1983, moving to better studio facilities and installing a powerful 5kW AM transmitter on the edge of Cork city. It saw off competition from many other aspiring stations and remained dominant in the Cork market until its closure at the end of 1988.

This recording of Eastside Radio, as it was then known, was made a few months after the station began broadcasting, when it was still based in Ballycotton. Presenting the breakfast show is long-time supporter of Pirate.ie, Ian Biggar, known by his on-air name of Stuart Scott. Adverts are scarce for the time of day, perhaps reflecting the fact that the station was still establishing itself. News headlines are read by Ian on the half-hour, the new Top 40 is announced and he mentions that Eastside is to hold an outside broadcast later that day from the seaside town of Youghal.

The recording is from the Anoraks Ireland Collection and was made from 102.2 FM from 0653-0827 on Monday 23^rd August 1982. Eastside/ERI also broadcast on 1305 kHz (announcing 225 metres) at this time and for most of its existence.

5th February 202520th February 2025

Border series: More early Radio North from Donegal

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This is another early recording of the long-running Donegal pirate Radio North shortly after its launch in the winter of 1986. On air is ex-Voice of Peace DJ Mark Warner with a morning musical mix of folk, oldies, country and some pop. The first adverts for local businesses are aired in the busy pre-Christmas period. An advertising promo for the station mentions businesses in Northern Ireland, where Radio North always had a following. News is read by former Radio Caroline DJ Ian Akers.

The recording was made on 9^th December 1986 from 98 FM between 0918-1020. Radio North also broadcast on 1404 kHz AM at this time, before moving to the clearer frequency of 846 kHz in 1987. Thanks to Ian Biggar for the donation.

3rd February 202526th January 2025

Bee Bop Gold on Sunshine 101

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Bee Bop Gold was a popular oldies show on Dublin pirate station Sunshine 101 towards the end of its eight years on air. It was presented by Nails Mahoney, who went on to have a successful radio career in Ireland, the UK and Canada and now runs a radio consultancy.

By 1988, Sunshine was Dublin’s leading station and was hotly tipped to get one of the city’s two licences to be awarded in 1989 after the closedown of the pirates. That was not to happen and Sunshine’s managing director Robbie Robinson took an unsuccessful case against the Independent Radio and Television Commission.

This recording of Bee Bop Gold was made during Sunshine 101’s final month on air in 1988. It is slick and professional and features the high-level adverts and imaging associated with a successful commercial station. The tape was made on Sunday 4^th December 1988 from 101.1 FM between 1344-1430 and is from the Anoraks Ireland Collection.

31st January 202526th January 2025

Liam Quigley on Cork’s ERI

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By 1985, ERI was well-established as the leading pirate station in Cork and claimed coverage of the entire Munster region on AM and FM. This recording is of an afternoon show presented by Liam Quigley, who went on to work in various licensed stations after the closedown of the pirates. Adverts include a mixture of brands and local businesses from Cork to Limerick and there is a job search slot and a promo for the forthcoming ERI Nike road race. News headlines are read by John O’Connor at half-past the hour and three minutes to.

The recording was made on Monday 2^nd September 1985 from 97.1 FM between 1413-1543 and is from the Anoraks Ireland Collection.

29th January 202520th February 2025

Border series: early recording of Radio North

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We’re delighted to launch a new strand in our border series, this time focusing on one of Ireland’s longest-running pirate stations, Radio North from Co. Donegal. Broadcasting under various names more or less continuously since 1986, Radio North continues to operate today on 846 kHz AM and online. The station was launched on 18^th November 1986 from Carndonagh on the Inishowen peninsula, a short distance from the border with Co. Derry and throughout its almost 40-year existence, has aimed at listeners in Northern Ireland.

The arrival of Radio North was reported by Anoraks UK in its Weekly Report of 23^rd November, which referred to the ‘radio explosion’ in Donegal such was the number of pirates based there. Anoraks UK said the station was easily audible on 1386 kHz in Blackpool during early morning skywave conditions but was swamped by foreign stations after dark. Within 3 days, the frequency had changed to 1404 kHz which improved daytime listening but was still prone to night-time interference. Among the better-known names in the line-up were Australian Mark Warner, who had done a stint on the Voice of Peace, and English DJ Ian Akers, formerly of Radio Caroline. There was an hourly news service from 0800 to 1800 and 3 FM frequencies were also noted (the main one on 98.1 with link frequencies on 100.1 and 103).

The Weekly Report of 30^th November noted that although 1404 kHz was an improvement, night-time interference was still audible even within the service area. Reflecting the crowded AM band of the 1980s, it added: ‘Clearish night-time channels are just about nonexistent, and at this time of year, interference can be terrible at times, even a few miles from the transmitter’. In 1987, Radio North moved to the vastly superior frequency of 846 kHz, where it remains to this day. In a letter to Ian Biggar in January 1987, Mark Warner wrote that he had joined Radio North because the owner wanted someone with experience to run the station. However, Mark did not have confidence in the owner and moved to a rival Donegal station, Northwest Community Radio, before the end of 1986, following a botched attempt to takeover Radio North.

Our first recording was made just a few days after the launch of Radio North and features Ian Akers presenting a drivetime show with a mixture of country and pop music. The postal address of Bridge Street, Carndonagh is read out and there are several requests from listeners. News is read by Mark Warner but there are no adverts. The recording was made 23^rd November 1986 between 1600-1649 from 98 FM and is courtesy of Ian Biggar. Audio quality is mostly good but there are crackles in places as if from electrical interference.