1982 Archives - Page 15 of 19 - Irish Pirate Radio Audio Archive

12th May 202110th March 2024

Sunday morning bandscan from 1982

This is a bandscan of Dublin radio by British radio enthusiast Leon Tipler during a visit to Dublin in 1982. It was made from about 0800-0930 on the morning of Sunday 12^th September 1982 and features both AM and FM stations. The bandscan begins with Bryan Dobson reading the news on Radio Nova and is followed by the start of that day’s broadcasting on the brand new Nova offshoot KISS FM. Some of Nova’s main service on 88 FM is also heard. There are snippets of Boyneside Radio, Radio City and Radio Dublin, including a promo for the Lebanon Requests Show presented by DJ Angie. There’s also a short extract of ‘RTÉ Radio 1 on VHF’ and BBC Radio Scotland on FM as well as an unidentified English station on AM.

The recording concludes with part of a Christian programme on Radio Nova called ‘Good News Tracks’, featuring religious music and reflections. Nova experimented with such specialist programmes in the early days, and Tipler’s documentary refers to another religious show on the station.

This recording is from the Leon Tipler Tapes Collection, donated to us by Steve England.

10th May 20217th August 2021

The breakfast show on Boyneside Radio

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The history of Boyneside Radio has already been well-documented in our special Northeast Series and numerous full recordings, airchecks and jingles can be heard here. This newly-digitised recording is of the original tape of Boyneside made by British radio enthusiast Leon Tipler during a 1982 trip to Ireland and featured in his documentary ‘The Irish Pirates’.

The date is Monday 13^th September and Mike Cluskey is on the breakfast programme, standing in for Daire Nelson. The recording begins at 0818 and includes news headlines and plenty of ads, including one for units to let at Donaghy’s Mill in Drogheda, where Boyneside was based. 225 metres medium wave and 98 and 99 FM are announced.

There is interference towards the end of the recording, which was made in Dublin. This was the beginning of a period of growth for Boyneside after the station was reunited with the breakaway Community Radio Drogheda in the summer of 1982.

This recording is from the Leon Tipler Tapes Collection, donated to us by Steve England.

7th May 20217th May 2021

Short-lived adult music station Capitol 98 FM

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Capitol Radio was a short-lived Dublin pirate specialising in adult contemporary music and was on air for a few months from mid-1982. Both experienced and up-and-coming broadcasters were involved in the station including Tony Allan, Peter Madison, Steve Marshall, Scott Williams, Paul Allen, Eddie West and Lawrence John. Capitol specialised in adult-oriented contemporary music and was aimed at listeners from 17 to 35 years. It also promised community programmes, advice slots and a local news service. The station was located in Robert Emmet House in Milltown in south Dublin. It closed in the autumn of 1982, probably due to increased competition in the Dublin radio market.

Capitol’s promotional material referred to 999 kHz AM but it’s not clear if the station was ever on medium wave. The FM transmitter was 3 kW in power and 98.3 MHz was announced on air. This recording was made on 11^th September 1982 and although it contains a station ID and ads, there’s no sign of a DJ so the station may have been nearing the end of its run. Audio quality is variable but it’s not clear if this is because the recording was made a distance from the transmitter or due to a technical issue. It seems that this Capitol was linked with another pirate of the same name that ran from 1983-1988 and eventually became an indie music station.

This recording is from the Leon Tipler Tapes Collection, donated to us by Steve England. Thanks to David Baker and Steve Marshall for background information.

5th May 20212nd May 2024

Radio Nova from September 1982

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Continuing our focus on the tapes of British radio enthusiast Leon Tipler, this is a recording of Radio Nova that he made during a trip to Ireland in September 1982. The recording runs from 1728-1808 on Saturday 11^th September and features DJ Hugh O’Brien followed by Bryan Dobson (one of RTÉ’s leading journalists up to his retirement in 2024) and Michael O’Brien reading news. After the news is the US syndicated show The American Country Countdown with Bob Kingsley. Nova was announcing 846 kHz AM and 88 FM at the time.

Ads are heard for Hickson Holidays, the Sunday World newspaper, Tiger shoes and the newly-released film Bladerunner with Harrison Ford. This recording is from the Leon Tipler Tapes Collection, donated to us by Steve England.

3rd May 20213rd May 2021

Sunday afternoon on Radio Leinster

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The British radio enthusiast Leon Tipler visited Ireland regularly in the late 1970s and early 1980s to record the local pirate scene and interview those involved. Pirate.ie has received Tipler’s tapes collection courtesy of Steve England and is delighted to share these as they are digitised.

This is a recording of the easy listening station Radio Leinster on 93 FM from 1440-1607 on Sunday 12^th August 1982 made by Tipler during one of his visits to Dublin. The station also broadcast on 406 metres (738 kHz) and could be heard over a wide area. On air is Mike Moran with an eclectic mix followed by Jean Howard with her choice of easy listening favourites. It was rare enough to hear women’s voices on the pirates but Radio Leinster was an exception and other female presenters included Daphne Mitchell, Anna Craig (aka Chisnell), Shauna Cusack and Anne Kent. Ads are heard for various businesses including the Elvery’s chain of sports shops, Maxime’s Night Club and Lamb Doyle’s restaurant in Sandyford right next door to the station.