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New Year’s Eve on Sunshine Radio

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New Year's Eve on Sunshine Radio
Early Sunshine sticker (courtesy Ian Biggar).

Sunshine Radio celebrated its first Christmas and New Year on air in 1980, having begun broadcasting on 13th September that year, with an official launch on 29th September. By using high-powered transmitters, professional staff and a commercial model, Sunshine would change the direction of Irish radio in the coming years.

This recording is of Sunshine’s first New Year’s Eve and features Manon Christie, daughter of Robbie Robinson (Robbie Dale), one of Sunshine’s founders. Manon was a DJ in the station’s early period. The other founder was of course Chris Cary, who would leave Sunshine in January 1981 to set up Radio Nova. Manon goes through the headlines of the year and also live-reads some adverts. News at midday is read by Adrian Horsman.

The tape was made in Leeds from 531 kHz AM and suffers from foreign co-channel interference, exacerbated by the time of year. It was recorded between 1157-1333 on 31st December 1980 and is courtesy of DX Archive. Thanks to Ian Biggar for his assistance.

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Early Cork series: Holiday drivetime on Radio City

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Early Cork series: Holiday drivetime on Radio City
Mike Cagney at Radio City in 1980 (courtesy Lilian O’Donoghue).

This recording of Cork pirate Radio City features Mike Cagney presenting the drivetime show during the Christmas holidays 1980. The city is teeming with shoppers due to the New Year sales. Mike has a listeners’ competition, quiz of the week and a review of the news and best albums of the year.

The recording was made from 95.7 FM on 29th December 1980 between 1737-1908 and is partially airchecked. Thanks to Lilian O’Donoghue for the donation.

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Early Cork series: Christmas 1980 on Radio City

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Early Cork series: Christmas 1980 on Radio City
L-R: Eric Hansen (John Creedon) and Alan Reid (Henry Condon, RIP) at Radio City (courtesy Lilian O’Donoghue).

The Cork pirate Radio City celebrated its first Christmas on air in 1980, 4 months after going on the air. This recording from that day features a lively show with Carl Johnson (Dan Noonan) who is joined in studio by John Mariner and Eric Hansen (John Creedon, now of RTÉ). There are plenty of Christmas greetings from listeners, including live callers, some of whom are related to the DJs. Karl and the others are followed by Hospital Radio Special with Pete Andrews (O’Neill) and Susan James (O’Neill), who are joined later by Mike Cagney. The programme includes Christmas music, more requests and pre-recorded interviews.

Early Cork series: Christmas 1980 on Radio City
Susan James (O’Connor) at Radio City in 1980 (courtesy Lilian O’Donoghue).

The airchecked recording was made from 95.7 FM between approximately 1200-1500 on 25th December 1980. Radio City also broadcast on 1512 kHz AM, announcing 199 metres. Thanks to Lilian O’Donoghue for the donation.

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Early Cork series: More Christmas Day on Radio City

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Early Cork series: More Christmas Day on Radio City
Pat O’Rourke in festive mood at Christmas 1980 (courtesy Lilian O’Donoghue).

This additional recording from Christmas Day 1980 on Cork pirate Radio City features popular DJ Pat ‘the Smurf’ O’Rourke, complete with canned Smurf laughter. Pat shares requests from listeners and reads out a letter from number one fan Lilian McCarthy (O’Donoghue). He is followed by Steve Douglas and Luke Ward, who promise an interview with Bono of U2. Audio quality is fair with some variation in levels and there are issues with the microphone at times.  

The partially airchecked recording runs from around 1600-1825 on 25th December 1980 and was recorded from 95.7 FM. Thanks to Lilian O’Donoghue for the donation.

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Early Cork series: More of the launch of Radio City

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Early Cork series: More of the launch of Radio City
Susan James at Radio City in 1980 (courtesy Lilian O’Donoghue)

This recording features more of the launch broadcast of Cork pirate Radio City at the end of August 1980. Pete Andrews (O’Neill) is in the chair with music and a preview of the planned programmes with various DJs including Susan James, Seán Collins, Derry O’Callaghan, Dave Johnson, Steve Douglas, John Marner and Dave Powell. There’s a cryptic reference to DJs from rival station Capital Radio who are said to be outside but not invited to the launch. Full programming on Radio City began the following day.

Early Cork series: More of the launch of Radio City
Derry O’Callaghan at Radio City in 1981 (courtesy Lilian O’Donoghue)

This recording was made from 1512 kHz, announcing 199 metres between 1634-1711 on Sunday 31st August 1980 and is courtesy of Ken Baird. Audio quality is fair with variable levels.