1982 Archives - Page 2 of 19 - Irish Pirate Radio Audio Archive

24th April 202322nd April 2023

Radio Carousel reports on Bisto Soapbox Derby

Soapbox derby competitions began in the United States in the 1930s and were revived in Ireland in the 1980s where they are often known as go-karting. The All-Ireland Soapbox Derby was held in Dunleer, Co. Louth in 1982 and sponsored by gravy company Bisto. Dundalk pirate station Radio Carousel was at the event and broadcast a special half-hour programme in the Carousel Tonight slot on Monday 16^th August. Presented by Kieran Murray, the programme consisted of interviews with organisers and participants at the event, including with local TD Bernard Markey and a representative of Bisto. As the pirates gained listeners during the 1980s, political parties attempted to prevent elected representatives from being interviewed on the pirates but politicians knew that they would gain publicity if heard on their local station.

This is a studio copy of the programme provided by Kieran Murray. It is from the Anoraks Ireland Tapes Collection, donated to us by Paul Davidson. Watch an RTÉ television report on the same event here.

27th March 202326th March 2023

Final day of Radio Ringsend 1982

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Radio Ringsend was one of several temporary community stations under the umbrella of the Community Broadcasting Co-operative (CBC) in the 1980s. Set up by Dave Reddy, the pop-up stations went on air to coincide with local community festivals in Dublin and surrounding counties. Based in the southeast inner city, Radio Ringsend broadcast for the first time during the Ringsend and District Community Festival in 1982 and continued each year until summer 1988.

This recording from 1982 is of part of the final day of Radio Ringsend’s first run. Up first is Victor Ryan with music, a copious number of requests and community notices. He is followed at 4pm by Al O’Rourke and at 6pm by Mick Nugent who hosts the final show until 8pm. There’s a real community feel with local kids interviewed in studio between the records. Adverts for local businesses such as corner shops, chippers, garages and pubs are aired. The airchecked tape begins before 3pm on Sunday 18^th July 1982 and was recorded from 1512 kHz (199 metres). Radio Ringsend also broadcast on 104 FM. This recording is from the Anoraks Ireland Tapes Collection, donated to us by Paul Davidson.

24th March 202323rd March 2023

Tony Allan on KISS FM

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Tony Allan (1949-2004) was one of the most iconic broadcasters of the pirate era, whose distinctive voice was heard on offshore and Irish stations from the late 1960s, including Radio Caroline, Sunshine Radio and Radio Nova. This is a recording of Tony presenting a mid-morning show on Radio Nova offshoot KISS FM. The music is an eclectic mix of chart sounds, rock and even country but is linked effortlessly by the flawless presentation. Commercial breaks feature many agency adverts, reflecting the station’s impact on the Dublin market. News is read by another Radio Nova veteran, the late Bob Gallico.

Part 1 above runs from 1002 and Part 2 below from 1053.

Part 2 from 1053 – news is airchecked.

The recording was made from 102.7 FM on Thursday 10^th October 1982 and is from the Anoraks Ireland Tapes Collection, donated to us by Paul Davidson.

1st February 20231st February 2023

Big D Automated – an idea ahead of its time

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Big D Automated was an experimental service established in 1982, after Big D itself ceased to be a commercial station with live DJs. Set up by station founder James Dillon, Big D Automated consisted only of continuous music interspersed with a modest amount of adverts and robotic sounding station idents. Broadcasting on AM and FM, Big D Automated had petered out by the end of 1982.

The continuous music format was a concept ahead of its time, especially when considered in the light of widespread audio automation today. However, it was no match for the new large commercial operators that were well established in Dublin by 1982. This recording was made on 21^st February 1982 from 102 FM. Part 1 above runs from 1420 and Part 2 below from 1508.

Part 2 from 1508.

The tape is from the Anoraks Ireland Collection, donated to us by Paul Davidson.

24th December 202214th November 2023

South Coast Radio on Christmas Eve

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This recording of South Coast Radio is from Christmas Eve 1982, at the end of the popular Cork station’s first year of broadcasting. On air is veteran English DJ Stevie Dunne who had previously worked on offshore stations Radio Caroline and the Voice of Peace. He was also heard on Sunshine Radio and Radio Nova in Dublin during the pirate era. Stevie is currently programme director of Dutch AM station Radio Seagull. There are promos for a broadcast of the original ‘War of the Worlds’ programme by Orson Welles from 1938 and a spot featuring South Coast Radio’s very own Cinderella on Christmas Day. News is edited and is read by an unidentified presenter.

The recording was made from 104 FM from 1846-1935 on Friday 24^th December 1982. It is from the Anoraks Ireland Tapes Collection, donated to us by Paul Davidson. Although the label refers to an ‘ERI Song for Christmas’, the tape includes a song about South Coast Radio itself, with no obvious reference to its rival station.