1981 Archives - Irish Pirate Radio Audio Archive

28th December 202530th December 2025

Country station TTTR at Christmas 1981

Treble TR (also written as TTTR) was a country and Irish station broadcasting from Dublin from spring 1981 until the end of 1988. TTTR began on 945 kHz AM, announcing 317 metres, adding FM from 1983. A second AM frequency on 891 kHz was added in 1987. TTTR carved out a specialist niche in the Dublin market and held its own until it closed at the end of 1988.

This recording of TTTR at Christmas 1981 features two unidentified DJs playing country tunes, interspersed with adverts for businesses in Dublin and surrounding areas. It was made by Kieran Murray from 945 kHz at around 1500 on 28^th December 1981 and is from the Anoraks Ireland Collection. The Sunday Journal radio listings from 1981 list Miss Elli and Grace Porter in these timeslots, so it is possible that they are the presenters in question. Audio quality is fair due to a combination of a weak AM signal, cassette degradation and co-channel interference on the frequency due to the time of year. Thanks to Ian Biggar for additional research.

26th December 202529th December 2025

Island Radio on St. Stephen’s Day 1981

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Island Radio was a short-lived pirate broadcasting from the Dalkey area of south Dublin in late 1981 and 1982. It launched as an FM operation only but later added AM due to the reality of radio listening at the time. The station tried out a format of album tracks only and DJs were expected to bring quality music for their shows. Island Radio never really got off the ground though and was closed in early 1982 after objections from local residents.

This recording is of Island Radio on St. Stephen’s Day 1981, just two weeks after its launch. First up is Tony Adams and he is followed by Tommy Greene, who continues to broadcast today on licensed Wicklow station East Coast FM. There are sung jingles and a live-read advert for a local business. 229 metres (1314 kHz) is mentioned, a frequency that was logged by DX Archive at the time.

The airchecked recording was made on 26^th December 1981 from 98.1 FM beginning after 1500 and is from the Anoraks Ireland Collection.

25th December 202519th February 2025

Sunshine Radio on Christmas Day 1981

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

This recording features snippets from Christmas Day 1981 on Dublin pirate Sunshine Radio, by then one of the city’s two leading stations alongside Radio Nova. The station was still on 91.6 FM at that stage, as well as its AM frequency on 531 kHz. DJs in this airchecked recording from throughout the day are Declan Meehan, Stevie Dunne, David Lyons and John Lewis. News on the hour is read by a hungry Siobhán Walls, who is dreaming of her Christmas dinner.

The recording was made by Kieran Murray from 91.6 FM on December 25^th 1981 and is from the Anoraks Ireland Collection. Audio quality is fair with some cassette wobble due to the passing of time.

15th December 202515th November 2025

Early Cork series: Lunchtime on Radio City

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Pete Andrews (O’Neill) was a familiar voice on Cork pirate radio, and was heard on the early stations of the late 1970s before setting up Radio City in 1980 with Dan Noonan. Here he is on the Lunchtime Special from spring 1981 with a mixture of chart, classics and a bit of country. Features include the Golden Year, for sale slot, featured album, record of the week, weather forecast and the Top 10 from the Radio City Top 50. Many of the adverts are voiced by Pete, who also reads news headlines on the hour. Such was the multi-tasking of pirate radio!

The recording was made from 95.7 FM between 1202-1403 on 23^rd March 1981 and is courtesy of Lilian O’Donoghue.

10th December 20251st December 2025

Early Cork series: Sunday shows on Radio City

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

This recording features a selection of Sunday programmes on Cork pirate Radio City from the spring of 1981. Up first is John Rice signing off at the end of his show, followed by Pete Andrews (O’Neill) with the Radio City Top 50 and then Susan James (O’Connor) with the Groove Galaxy. The last segment is from a Sunday morning show presented by John Mariner, possibly from another date.

This airchecked recording was made from 95.7 FM from around 1400 on 22^nd March 1981. Audio quality is generally good but there is some distortion and wobble due to cassette degradation. Thanks to Lilian O’Donoghue for the donation.