Irish Pirate Radio Audio Archive - Page 79 of 160

19th July 202114th July 2021

DXers’ programme on Galway’s KFM

KFM flyer (courtesy of Ian Biggar).

Programmes for radio anoraks or DXers were a feature of some Irish pirates during their 1980s heyday. One such station was KFM, which broadcast from 1986-1988 from a village near Galway before moving into the city itself. In the last few months of its existence from October to December 1988, KFM broadcast a weekly programme for DXers with a focus on the shortwave band.

This is a selection of airchecked undated excerpts from the DXers’ programme from that period, presented by Shane Keating. The programme is aimed at listeners new to the band and there are explanations of shortwave propagation, QSL cards and SINPO codes. A regular contributor to the programme was John Breslin, who is heard describing his experience of shortwave DXing during a phone-in to the show. There is also a recording supplied by John of Radio Berlin International from East Germany.

We thank John for donating this recording, which he made in north Co. Clare from 95.99 FM. Reception is fair because of the distance from the transmitter.

16th July 20216th August 2021

The Pirate.ie Podcast #7

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

In episode #7 of the Pirate.ie podcast, we look at aspects of the history of pirate radio in Northern Ireland. Brian Greene and John Walsh talk to broadcast historian Eddie Bohan about his research into the pirates of Derry and Belfast during the period 1969-1975. At that time, pirate radio was a tool of both nationalist/republican and unionist/loyalist communities during the turbulent early years of the Troubles.

The podcast covers stations such as Radio Free Derry, Radio Free Belfast, Radio Shankill and Radio Orange and describes how they fanned the flames of violence and sectarianism. Pirates on both sides were popular in their communities but were a headache for the British authorities and no-one was ever prosecuted for involvement in them.

We thank Eddie Bohan for sharing his fascinating research with us which will be presented in a book in the near future. See his blog for further updates about his work.

14th July 202115th July 2021

Independent Radio Mayo as heard in Scotland

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

This is a recording of Independent Radio Mayo (IRM) as received in Scotland from 1525-1720 on Friday 25^th July 1988 on 738 kHz AM. IRM was in fact heard by accident when Dublin station Q102, broadcasting on the same frequency, went off the air for approximately two hours. The recording begins with adverts on Q102 and a relatively strong signal due to the geography, followed by the weaker signal of IRM when the Dublin station goes off. However IRM’s 1kW professional transmitter, used originally by Radio Leinster in Dublin, was very effective and as can be heard, the signal travelled well as far as Scotland.

There follows almost two hours of IRM, including the afternoon show of one of the founders Gerry Delaney with plenty of community announcements, requests, the Golden Hour and a sports round-up. Joe Finnegan takes over at 5pm with his teatime programme and news is read on the hour by Chris Clesham. Of note are the long ad breaks featuring businesses from across Mayo and occasionally Sligo. At the end Q102 returns to the frequency, blocking out IRM.

This recording was made by Ken Baird and we thank Ian Biggar for sharing it with us. Reception is fair to poor but perfectly listenable for DXers.

12th July 202111th July 2021

The Golden Hour on Independent Radio Mayo

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Independent Radio Mayo (IRM) from Castlebar began broadcasting in July 1987, in competition with the popular local station Midwest Radio in Ballyhaunis. An advert in the Anoraks UK Weekly Report (left) shows that IRM had three FM frequencies: 96 MHz to east and south Mayo, 100 MHz in Castlebar and 102 MHz covering Ballina in the north. Test transmissions on 1044 kHz AM were mentioned but the station later switched to 738 kHz, using the old Radio Leinster transmitter from Dublin.

This recording of IRM was made from 99 FM from 1630-1719 on Friday 4th November 1988. It features the last part of the Golden Hour with Andy Rogers (formerly of the BBC) and Peter James, who review the music of 1972. The 5 o’clock news is read by Chris Clesham and this is followed by Joe Finnegan. The ‘Independent’ part of the station name was often dropped by presenters who referred simply to ‘Radio Mayo’. Along with most other pirates, IRM closed down on New Year’s 1988 in line with new radio legislation.

Reception is fair as the recording was made in Co. Clare, well outside IRM’s core FM coverage. We thank John Breslin for the donation.

10th July 202111th July 2021

Local news and chat on Independent Radio Mayo

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

This is another recording of the late Tommy Murphy Show on Independent Radio Mayo (IRM) from 4^th February 1988 from 1203-1248. Recorded from 99 FM, it begins with a syndicated US religious message following the midday news. Tommy thanks John Breslin from Co. Clare who sent in a recording of IRM as heard in the Banner County. There’s also an interview with a representative of Castlebar Swimming Club, a hospital requests slot, snooker results from Ballina and entries to the phone-in quiz from across Mayo.

We thank John Breslin for his donation of this recording.