Tag: 1981

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Early Cork series: summer Saturday on Radio City

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Early Cork series: summer Saturday on Radio City
Jamie Roberts at Radio City in summer 1981 (courtesy Lilian O’Donoghue).

This recording of Cork pirate Radio City features Pat O’Rourke (Smurf) on a Saturday morning in summer 1981, followed by the start of Paul Cassidy’s show. The recording begins around 1020 but is partially airchecked. Paul announces 189 metres (1584 kHz) but this is likely to be a mistake as there is no log of Radio City on that frequency although by July 1981 it had moved to 1243 kHz, announcing 240 metres. The second half features Jamie Roberts with his Midnight Serenade show.

The tape was made from 88.4 FM on 13th June 1981 and is courtesy of Lilian O’Donoghue.

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Early Cork series: phone-in requests on Radio City

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Early Cork series: phone-in requests on Radio City
Alan Edwards in March 1981 at Radio City (courtesy Lilian O’Donoghue).

This is another recording of the Saturday evening show with Alan Edwards on early Cork pirate Radio City. This edition features listeners phoning in requests live on air and is followed by Rock City Review with Luke Ward. At the very end are a few undated airchecks from programmes presented by Noel Evans (Noel Welch) and Paul Cassidy.

The main recording of Alan Edwards was made from 95.5 FM between 1823-1900 sometime in May 1981, possibly Saturday 23rd. Radio City was also using 88.4 MHz around this time, sometimes for separate programming. Thanks for Lilian O’Donoghue for the donation.  

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Early Cork series: another test by Radio City 2

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Early Cork series: another test by Radio City 2
Radio City advertising card (courtesy DX Archive).

Radio City 2 appears to have been a short-lived experiment broadcasting in 1981 on a different FM frequency to the main Radio City, one of the early pirates in Cork City. This short recording is of Pete Andrew (O’Neill) around 1400 on a Sunday afternoon, testing on 88.8 FM. The main service continues on 95.5 and 199 metres medium wave and Pete invites listeners who want to hear the Top 50 to switch over to Radio City 1. Reception is poor and there is some background interference.

No date is given but we estimate this recording to be from late May 1981. Thanks to Lilian O’Donoghue for the donation.

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Early Cork series: Radio City Top 30 with Noel Evans

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Early Cork series: Radio City Top 30 with Noel Evans
Noel Evans at Radio City in 1980 (courtesy Lilian O’Donoghue).

This is recording of the weekly Top 30 show on early Cork pirate Radio City. The DJ is Noel Evans (Welch) and the programme was recorded from a new FM frequency of 88.4 MHz. It is partially airchecked and was made from between 1755-1900 on Wednesday 20th May 1981. Thanks to Lilian O’Donoghue for the donation.

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Sunday with Tony Dixon on early Sunshine Radio

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Sunday with Tony Dixon on early Sunshine Radio
Tony Dixon pictured in the Sunshine Review 1985 (Anoraks Ireland Collection).

This is another recording of Dublin pirate Sunshine Radio during its first summer on air in 1981. It begins with Tony Dixon (RIP) with music in the laid-back and soul style that was so associated with him on Sunshine. Tony is followed by what appears to be a live concert by Irish singer Chris de Burgh.

The tape was made from 531 kHz AM, announcing 539 metres, from 1933-2018 on Sunday 19th July. It is from the Anoraks Ireland Collection.