Irish Pirate Radio Audio Archive

Border series: Radio Star Country claims coverage of 15 counties — Gerry Byrne and Isobel Byrne (RIP) in 1988 (courtesy Andy Carter).

On Monday 6^th February 1989, Radio Star Country left the air on 981 kHz as a result of stormy weather and torrential rain causing the mast to fall down. The station returned to the air on the evening of Tuesday 7^th February. On the morning of Wednesday 8^th February, the station claimed that it was broadcasting from County Tyrone, although by the afternoon, the Swan Lake Hotel in Monaghan Town was mentioned. The reference to Tyrone was no doubt to give the impression that the station was not in breach of the Republic’s new broadcasting laws but Radio Star Country was never in fact located in the North. The previous week it had said that it was broadcasting from its AM transmitter site in Emyvale, Co. Monaghan, close to the border. It was also noted at this time that Radio Star Country’s signal on 981 kHz was reaching into the north-west of the UK much better than its previous efforts on 891 kHz.

This recording was made on 9^th February 1989 from 981 kHz and features station founder Gerry Byrne with small ads, a birthday file and star signs. Plenty of adverts are aired for local businesses on both sides of the border, some of them voiced by Don Allen who is to present a show later. There are references to both the Swan Lake Hotel and Tyrone as the station’s locations. Another promo claims that Radio Star Country is broadcasting to 15 counties including all of Northern Ireland and a population of three million people.

We thank Sean Brady for his assistance with the text and Ian Biggar for the donation of the recording. Part 1 above runs from 0819 and Part 2 below from 0905.

Part 2 from 0905.

The tape was recorded in Scotland and features daytime groundwave reception with some electrical interference.

23rd January 202319th January 2023

Launch of new Dublin super-pirate Q102

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These recordings are of the launch of the new Dublin super-pirate Q102, that began broadcasting on Wednesday 23^rd January 1985. The station shook up the competitive Dublin radio market, offering another professional music-based station for listeners and introducing innovative features such as Eye in the Sky, traffic news reported from a helicopter flying over the city. The first recording above starts at 1613 and is of the countdown to the launch, featuring continuous music and promos. The second part below is from 1701.

Part 2 from 1701.

The next recordings begin at 1850 and include the official launch at 1900 with a Cold War-style promo voiced by Lawrence John, one of the original station founders. He is followed by Jason Maine until 2000 and then John Kenny with the night-time show. There are some comedy-style commercials but no actual advertisements.

Part 3 from 1850 including launch.

Part 4 from 1935.

The next recording begins at 2018 and includes more of John Kenny’s programme. The cassette was damaged and only the first 40 minutes has been digitised.

Part 5 from 2018.

The final recording begins at 2302 and features John Kenny with a more relaxed late night sound.

Part 6 from 2302.

These recordings were all made from 102 FM and are from the Anoraks Ireland Collection, donated to us by Paul Davidson. The first 90 minutes of Q102, including the launch, were recorded originally by Kieran Murray. Q102 closed down on 30^th December 1988 at 1800.

21st January 202317th May 2023

Border series: Radio Star Country thrives in 1989

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Having defied the new broadcasting laws that came into effect at the end of the 1988, Radio Star Country entered 1989 on a high. The Anoraks UK Weekly Report of 7^th January commented that ‘Star Country carried many adverts and it was as if news of the legislation had not yet reached that quarter!’ On Friday 27^th January, the station announced on-air that it was going to move AM frequency, from 891 kHz to 981 kHz. This latter frequency had been used by Hometown Radio in Castleblayney, County Monaghan until Saturday 31^st December 1988. Radio Star Country moved frequency on Friday 3^rd February 1989 at 3.37pm and station owner Gerry Byrne was heard on air.

Similar to Radio Dublin which also defied the new laws, Radio Star Country was issued with notices that its telephones and electricity supply would be cut off after 14 days. In possible anticipation of a raid, Anoraks UK reported on 21^st January that the station had introduced a new sales number in Armagh where it was not illegal to take advertising.

Despite the increased risks of pirate broadcasting, 1989 was a bumper year for Radio Star Country. In February, the veteran pirate DJ Don Allen (RIP) joined the station with his popular ‘Country and Western Jamboree’, taking over the breakfast slot. Station owner Gerry Byrne was heard at lunchtime and there were live shows all day with tapes overnight. Advertising revenue was strong and the verdict of Anoraks UK on 11^th February was: ‘The station gets ten out of ten for its fighting spirit’. In March, Radio Star Country even advertised for additional sales staff, such was the demand from businesses wishing to buy time on the station.

This recording was made from 0832-1002 on 23^rd January from the old frequency of 891 kHz. On air is Isobel Byrne (RIP), late wife of former station owner Gerry Byrne. There are long ad breaks featuring mostly Northern businesses but the Swan Lake Hotel has a spot also. Part 1 above runs from 0832 and Part 2 below from 0917.

Part 2 from 0917.

Reception is fair as the recording was made in Scotland. We thank Ian Biggar for the donation and Seán Brady for assistance with the text.

20th January 202319th January 2023

Second night on Nova replacement Zoom 103

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Zoom 103 was a short-lived replacement for Dublin super-pirate Radio Nova after it went into receivership and closed on 19^th March 1986. Zoom began identifying itself shortly after 10pm that evening and the following day’s programming featured the normal Nova presenters but without an AM service. Nova founder Chris Cary denied any involvement in the new station and said he was leaving Ireland. Zoom 103 was based at 144 Upper Leeson Street in the city centre but lasted only until 24^th March, when the Nova receiver seized the transmitter. On 28^th March, a new station called Energy 103 began broadcasting from the same location, continuing until 11^th March 1988.

This recording of Zoom 103 features Richard Jackson with a late night show on the second day of the station. There are very few commercials and no jingles or idents, but listeners are reportedly hearing the station as far away as Belfast and Blackpool. Our tape was made on 20^th and 21^st March 1986 from 103.1 FM. Part 1 above is from 2246 and Part 2 below from 2359.

Part 2 from 2359.

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

18th January 202317th January 2023

Eddie Coady on Crystal City Sound

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Crystal City Sound broadcast from Waterford city from 1985-1988, replacing an earlier station, Suirside Radio. Crystal City Sound retained the AM frequency of 1332 kHz and also broadcast on FM. It changed its name to NCR in April 1988, closing down at the deadline of 31^st December. The station claimed to offer a broader range of programmes than other Waterford pirates WLR and ABC. In this recording from its early days in 1985, the final few minutes of Kevin McCarthy’s show are heard before station manager Sandra Penkert reads lunchtime news.

Sandra is followed by Eddie Coady (RIP) with his Saturday sports show, featuring plenty of racing results. Some adverts for local businesses are heard but Crystal City Sound clearly had yet to establish a stronger commercial base in the city. Eddie was a popular local DJ and huge Elvis fan who also ran a chip shop and he was well known in the city. He died tragically in a car crash in 1994.

The recording was made on 9^th November 1985 from 97.8 FM between 1300-1347. It is from the Anoraks Ireland Collection, donated to us by Paul Davidson.