Irish Pirate Radio Audio Archive

17th December 202217th December 2022

Northeast series: Early afternoon on Boyneside Radio

This recording of popular northeast station Boyneside Radio was recorded from its Dublin FM relay in autumn 1986. From the main studio in Drogheda, the late Dave C. (Cunningham) presents his lunchtime programme, including the buy-and-sell slot Tradio and listener’s requests in the People’s Choice. He is followed by the Golden Hour with Kieran Murray, who is standing in for one of Boyneside’s founders, Heady Eddie (Eddie Caffrey).

Adverts for businesses in Counties Louth, Meath and Down are voiced by various Boyneside DJs and presenters including Kieran Murray, Eddie Caffrey, Dave C., Dermot Finglas and Mike Ahern (Richard McCullen). Main lunchtime news at 1.15pm, including local news and sport, is read by newsroom stalwarts Mike Ahern and Áine Ní Ghuidhir.

Part 1 above runs from 1304-1352 and Part 2 below from 1352-1440.

Part 2 froom 1352.

The tape was recorded from 105.5 FM on 15^th September 1986 and is from the Anoraks Ireland Tapes Collection, donated to us by Paul Davidson.

14th December 202213th December 2022

Gerry Stevens on Q102

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The Dublin super-pirate Q102 ended 1985 on a high after a successful first year of broadcasting. The station prided itself on being Irish-owned in contrast with the city’s other two big pirates, Radio Nova and Sunshine Radio. This recording is of Gerry Stevens on his drivetime show in November 1985. News on the hour is read by Anne Cassin. Gerry Stevens worked subsequently in the licensed Dublin station Q102, which was launched as Lite FM in 2000. Anne Cassin is a television presenter with RTÉ.

Our tape was made from 102.1 FM from 1635-1708 on 27^th November 1985. There is some wobble due to the age of the cassette. It is from the Anoraks Ireland Tapes Collection, donated to us by Paul Davidson.

9th December 20229th December 2022

Various shows on South Coast Radio from 1982

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These snippets of South Coast Radio in Cork were recorded in November 1982. The recording begins with Stevie Dunne who is filling in for Nick Richards on his Nightline show just after 11pm. He is followed by Steve Douglas, at the time South Coast’s youngest DJ who came from earlier Cork pirates Radio City and Capital Radio. Then another excerpt from the Nightline programme is heard followed by the late Alan Reid (aka Henry Condon, known as Henry Owens on later stations) with the breakfast show. South Coast’s number one fan Lillian McCarthy (O’Donoghue) is mentioned throughout the recording.

The tape is dated 14^th November 1982 but appears to cover more than one day. It was recorded from 104 FM and donated to us by Lillian O’Donoghue. Audio quality is fair with some distortion.

7th December 20222nd December 2022

Jason Maine and Anne Cassin on Q102

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This is a recording of Jason Maine on his afternoon show on Q102 in 1985, about 10 months after the successful Dublin station went on air. There are plenty of adverts in the run-up to Christmas, a competition to win a Fiat Uno car and a £10 giveaway to listeners on the streets who said they listened to Q102. Jason Maine had worked previously with other Dublin pirates including Radio Nova.

News is read by Anne Cassin, who went on to become a journalist with RTÉ and is now a presenter of Nationwide.

This recording was made from 102.1 FM on Wednesday, 27th November 1985. Part 1 above runs from 1321 and Part 2 below from 1411.

Part 2 from 1411.

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

5th December 20222nd December 2022

Sunday shows on Radio Skywave International

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Radio Skywave International was a shortwave station that broadcast from Baldoyle in northeast Dublin on Sunday mornings from 1985 to 1988. Skywave was one of many hobby shortwave stations broadcasting from Ireland during the pirate era. It was heard on 6260 kHz in the 48-metre band for the first two years or so and later moved to 6850 kHz.

These recordings were made on Sunday 1^st December 1985. The first hour above runs from 1100-1200 and is an edition of the Free Radio Programme presented by Dominic Dillon and Fergal. The show includes historical recordings including Radio Leinster on its final day, 19^th May 1983, a Christmas Day pantomime from Sunshine Radio (undated but possibly 1984) and Radio Dublin from Christmas Day 1984. There are the usual features on the medium wave, FM and shortwave bands. Free radio news includes mention of a test broadcast by Skywave later in the month on 7475 kHz. The address of PO Box 1686, Dublin 1 is given and there is a promo for Anoraks Ireland.

Sunday shows on Radio Skywave International — Original cassette from Anoraks Ireland Collection.

The second hour below consists of the Mailbag Show presented by station operator Michael Caine (Hegarty) from 1200-1300. He reads out letters and reception reports from Sweden, England and several from East Germany. There are more promos for Anoraks Ireland and Wavelength magazine.

Mailbag show from 1200.

Radio Skywave International began broadcasting on 29^th July 1985 and continued intermittently on Sunday mornings until 12^th June 1988. Both recordings are studio copies and are from the Anoraks Ireland Tapes Collection, donated to us by Paul Davidson. Radio Skywave International itself donated a large collection of recordings to Pirate.ie.