Ian Dempsey in the ARD/Radio 257 studios at the Crofton (courtesy Noel Hiney)
This is a selection of adverts, promos and clips from popular Dublin station ARD in 1979, including part of the station’s final day before relaunching as Radio 257 at the beginning of 1980. Included is a promo for a phone-in show presented by Ronan Collins who went on to become a household name in RTÉ. Part of Ian Dempsey’s final show on ARD is heard on 31st December 1979. There are also clips of Sylvia on the final day and of Dave Cunningham on the new Radio 257.
This recording was made by Kieran Murray from both FM and AM and is from the Anoraks Ireland Tapes Collection, donated to us by Paul Davidson.
This is a selection of the first cut of ARD jingles from 1978 and 1979. Many include reference to the station’s announced wavelength of 257 metres, which was equivalent to frequencies between 1134 and 1161 kHz during ARD/Radio 257’s existence. In the days before digital read-outs, the precise frequency was less important. Some jingles are generic and idents for ARD news, weather, sports and traffic are also heard. The set finishes with the original ’24 hours a day’ jingle from KACY 1520 in California that was re-cut by ARD and voiced by Tony Allan.
The recording was made originally by Kieran Murray and is from the Anoraks Ireland Tapes Collection, donated to us by Paul Davidson.
This is a recording of the founder of Big D, James Dillon, in the early days of the station in May 1978. The Big D song by fellow DJ John Paul is heard, as is the station’s former theme tune, Stayin’ Alive by the Bee Gees, James explaining that it was used on test transmissions. There are requests for listeners around the city, a live-read advert and a promo for a classical music show on Sunday morning.
We have no times for the recording but an edit is heard near the start. It was made from 1115 kHz (announcing 273 metres) by Alan Hilton, presumably in Co. Wicklow. Thanks to Ian Biggar for the donation.
This recording is of Big D founder James Dillon on air over the Christmas holidays 1980. James gives racing tips for the fixture at Leopardstown later in the day and thanks listeners for Christmas gifts. There’s a promo for a mystery sound competition later in which listeners can win an LP. Audio is variable on adverts and there is some distortion on the links.
Within a year, the Big D was in terminal decline as more professional stations came to dominate the Dublin scene. An attempt to relaunch as Big D Automated in 1982 was unsuccessful. The recording was made between 1208-1255 on 29th December 1980 from 98.2 FM. It is from the Anoraks Ireland Tapes Collection, donated to us by Paul Davidson.
The late Tony Allan in Big D in 1981 (courtesy DX Archive).
This is a selection of jingles and adverts from popular Dublin station Big D in 1980. The jingles are mostly generic but include some with the Big D name and others for the James Dillon show. Tony Allan voices an advert for Air Florida and there’s mention of a Big D trip to Florida itself. Simon Young is heard on a promo for Sloopy’s nightclub and other late night venues and an advert for the Red Corner shop refers to the inflation of the 1980s. A Big D promo is voiced by Bryan Lambert and there’s a advert for Tamango’s nightclub in Portmarnock, which would later be associated with Sunshine Radio based in the same hotel. Strangely, the adverts include one for the Nightmoves programme on RTÉ.
Big D began broadcasting on April 10th 1978 following a split from Radio Dublin. It was founded by former Radio Dublin DJ James Dillon and backed by businessman Noel Kirwan. Big D closed in December 1981 in the context of increased competition and professionalism in the Dublin radio market. There is some audio distortion and bleedthrough from another source, due either to an issue when recorded or to the deterioration of the cassette. Below is a a better quality but short recording of additional Big D jingles, made by Kieran Murray.
Additional Big D jingles
These recordings are from the Anoraks Ireland Tapes Collection, donated to us by Paul Davidson.
