1981 Archives - Page 2 of 16 - Irish Pirate Radio Audio Archive

27th February 202627th March 2026

Early Cork series: Test broadcast by Radio City 2

This recording is of a test broadcast by Radio City 2, which was linked to the early Cork pirate Radio City (1980-1982). The frequency is 88.8 FM, distinct from the main channel on 95.5, but the station’s AM frequency on 1512 kHz (199 metres) is also mentioned. The presenter is Pete Andrews (O’Neill) and sound quality is poor at first, due to distorted audio levels in studio. This sounds more like an engineering test than the beginnings of an offshoot station, but there were later broadcasts of a distinct FM service using the name Radio City 2.

The airchecked recording is from an undated Saturday night but we estimate it to be from April or May 1981. Thanks to Lilian O’Donoghue for the donation.

20th February 202615th February 2026

Early Cork series: Alan Edwards and Luke Ward on Radio City

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

This is another recording of Alan Edwards on his regular Saturday early evening slot on Radio City from 1981. There are the usual requests and a mixture of contemporary hits and oldies. Plenty of adverts are heard, and news headlines are read by Alan himself. He is followed at 1900 by Luke Ward with the weekly Rock City Interviews show.

The partially airchecked recording was made between 1700-1900 on 25^th April 1981 from 95.5 FM. Radio City also broadcast on 1512 kHz AM, announcing 199 metres. Thanks to Lilian O’Donoghue for the donation.

4th February 202631st January 2026

Early Cork series: Saturday evening on Radio City

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

This is another edition of the Saturday early evening show on Cork pirate Radio City in spring 1981. On air is Alan Edwards with a mixture of contemporary hits and oldies. Alan shares requests and an announcement from a listener who wants to sell a flight from Cork to London, a sign of the times when air travel was less restricted than now. There are more adverts than in other recordings from around this time, one of which is voiced by Eric Hansen (the well-known RTÉ presenter John Creedon).

The tape was made from 95.5 FM from 1700-1900 on Saturday 11^th April 1981 and is courtesy of Lilian O’Donoghue.

28th January 202618th January 2026

Early Cork series: More of the lunchtime show on Radio City

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

This is another recording of the lunchtime show on Cork pirate Radio City, presented by one of the station founders, Pete Andrews (O’Neill). There are plenty of community notices in this edition, as well as requests and dedications and the usual Golden Year feature. Following Pete, fellow Radio City founder Carl Johnson (Dan Noonan) is heard with the beginning of his Afternoon Delight show.

The partially airchecked recording was made from 95.5 FM between 1202-1403 on Wednesday 8^th April 1981 and is courtesy of Lilian O’Donoghue. Radio City also broadcast on 1512 kHz AM, announcing 199 metres.

19th January 202617th January 2026

Early Cork series: Various Saturday shows on Radio City

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

This recording of Cork pirate Radio City was made on a Saturday evening in spring 1981. Up first is the final part of Dave Johnson’s sports results programme. He is followed by Alan Edwards with his popular early evening show, complete with plenty of requests, a notice about a lost dog, adverts and mashed-up station idents. Among the hits played is Ireland’s entry to the 1981 Eurovision Song Contest, which is to be held that evening in Dublin. After Alan we hear the first few minutes of Luke Ward’s Rock City Interviews show.

Audio quality is poor in the first half, possibly because the receiver was slightly off channel, but it improves in the final hour. The recording was made on 4^th April 1981 from 1654-1906 from 95.5 FM. Radio City also broadcast on 199 metres medium wave (1512 kHz). Thanks to Lilian O’Donoghue for the donation.