Irish Pirate Radio Audio Archive

24th April 202322nd April 2023

Radio Carousel reports on Bisto Soapbox Derby

Soapbox derby competitions began in the United States in the 1930s and were revived in Ireland in the 1980s where they are often known as go-karting. The All-Ireland Soapbox Derby was held in Dunleer, Co. Louth in 1982 and sponsored by gravy company Bisto. Dundalk pirate station Radio Carousel was at the event and broadcast a special half-hour programme in the Carousel Tonight slot on Monday 16^th August. Presented by Kieran Murray, the programme consisted of interviews with organisers and participants at the event, including with local TD Bernard Markey and a representative of Bisto. As the pirates gained listeners during the 1980s, political parties attempted to prevent elected representatives from being interviewed on the pirates but politicians knew that they would gain publicity if heard on their local station.

This is a studio copy of the programme provided by Kieran Murray. It is from the Anoraks Ireland Tapes Collection, donated to us by Paul Davidson. Watch an RTÉ television report on the same event here.

21st April 202317th April 2023

Saturday shows on Smile FM

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Smile FM began broadcasting from the suburb of Ballyfermot in west Dublin in January 1987 and continued until the pirate closedowns at the end of 1988. It was set up by former Radio Dublin manager Brian Paige and first noted around 94 FM by Anoraks UK in its Weekly Report of 11^th January 1987. The edition of the following week reported that an easy listening format was planned originally but that Smile FM had opted for Top 40 music instead.

In this recording from about six weeks before the closedown of Smile FM, we hear airchecks of Saturday morning and evening shows. First up is Rob Davis from 10am with chart hits, adverts for small local shops and businesses and a community noticeboard. An announcement advises about the impending closedown of pirate radio and invites listeners to express their support for Smile FM. A promo is aired for a Sunday Anoraks Programme about the radio scene, a feature on various pirate stations of the era. Links from the drivetime show with Graham Turner are heard towards the end of the recording, featuring a more easy listening format. Station idents are voiced by Seán Ashmore.

This recording was made on 12^th November 1988 from 94.3 FM by Kieran Murray, who is mentioned by the DJs. It is from the Anoraks Ireland Tapes Collection, donated to us by Paul Davidson.

19th April 202317th May 2023

Border series: Radio Star Country bids farewell to 2004

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Monaghan station Radio Star Country was still going strong 16 years after the licensing of independent radio in Ireland. In this recording, Country Girl Claire shares New Year’s greetings from listeners in her final programme of 2004. Adverts are heard from north and south of the border, including as far away as Larne. There’s the first reference in this series to euro prices in the Republic and traffic and travel news is also broadcast. The date is significant because on New Year’s Eve 1988, the vast majority of Ireland’s pirates fell silent to comply with the new laws. Radio Star Country was one of the few that stayed on air.

The tape was made in Troon in Scotland from 981 kHz AM between 1302 and 1348 on 31^st December 2004. Thanks to Ian Biggar for the donation.

16th April 20239th April 2023

New Q102 breakfast show presenters

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Q102 changed the presenters of its Good Morning Dublin breakfast show in April 1985 just a few months after the new station’s launch. Scott Williams took over as DJ and Gary Hamill (aka Seán McCarthy) became newsreader. In this recording, we hear the usual morning gossip from the papers and news is read by Gary at the top of the hour and at 0820. There are agency adverts and a promo for a holiday giveaway. The jingle package ‘828, you’re looking great’ refers to Q102’s then AM frequency. It sounds fresh and was an example of the distinctive station imaging.

This recording was made from 0744-0832 on Thursday 16^th April 1985 from 102 FM. It is from the Anoraks Ireland Tapes Collection, donated to us by Paul Davidson.

14th April 202331st December 2023

Border series: Radio Star Country enters 2003

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This recording of Monaghan station Radio Star Country was made on New Year’s Day 2003. On air is Country Girl Claire with requests and dedications phoned in to a Monaghan number. An advertising promo includes numbers for sales representatives in the North and there are plenty of adverts from both sides of the border, including for country music stars. News from IRN is heard on the hour and the tape finishes with the Wednesday morning gospel programme, evidence of the station’s religious backing.

This recording was recorded in Scotland on 981 kHz AM from 0903-1003 on 1^st January 2003 and suffers from electrical interference at times. Thanks to Ian Biggar for the donation.