1982 Archives - Page 5 of 19 - Irish Pirate Radio Audio Archive

24th June 202211th June 2022

First test broadcasts on Royal County Radio

Royal County Radio broadcast from 1982 to 1984 from Navan in Co. Meath and was managed by the late Don Allen, a stalwart of the offshore and Irish pirate scene. The station launched on 8^th October from the Trimgate Arcade in the centre of Navan, announcing 245 metres although the cassette label records the actual wavelength as 254 metres (1179 kHz although it is unlikely that the station was so close to Radio Dublin on 1188). Royal County Radio moved around the medium wave band before settling on 355 metres (846 kHz).

This recording is of the first test broadcasts of Royal County Radio and is undated but seems to be from more than one day, so we estimate 8^th and possibly 9^th October 1982. The voice of station manager Don Allen is heard on promos and a single advert and other DJs include Lynsey Shelbourne (Dolan), John Stevens and Fab Ollie. Audio levels are uneven and a heterodyne is heard at night, suggesting that the transmitter was slightly off channel. To the strains of 2001: A Space Odyssey, Don Allen closes down the station at midnight. RCR was in direct competition with Radio Carousel Navan and left the airwaves by the middle of 1984.

This recording was made by Kieran Murray and is from the Anoraks Ireland Tapes Collection, donated to us by Paul Davidson.

18th June 202211th June 2022

Mid-morning on South Coast Radio

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This is part of Pete O’Neill’s popular mid-morning show on South Coast Radio in Cork on June 18th 1982. There’s the usual birthday file, which includes the news that Paul McCartney was 40 on that day. Other regular features include the What’s On In Munster slot. The recording begins after the 10am news and is partially airchecked. It was made from 104 FM but quality is only fair in places due to the age of the cassette. Thanks to Lillian O’Donoghue for the donation.

15th June 202214th June 2022

South Coast Radio from June 1982

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This is a selection of short recordings of Cork’s South Coast Radio from a week in June 1982. First up is Nick Richards from just after midnight on Tuesday 15^th June, who includes a request for number one South Coast fan, Lillian McCarthy (O’Donoghue). Then we hear extracts from Pete O’Neill’s mid-morning show from Thursday 17^th June. Pete says that the schedule will be different the following day because breakfast DJ Alan Reid (Henry Condon, also known as Henry Owens, RIP) will be celebrating his birthday that night. At the end we hear a snippet of the late Hugh Browne from his afternoon show on the same day.

These recordings were made from 104 FM and are courtesy of Lillian O’Donoghue.

13th June 202213th June 2022

John Ashford on South Coast Radio

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John Ashford (real name John Buckley, RIP) was one of the younger DJs who were heard on South Coast Radio in the summer of 1982. Aged only 19 at the time, John had started broadcasting at an even younger age at Cork City Local Radio and then Radio City. He joined South Coast in June 1982 and stayed on as a weekend presenter through the summer.

This recording is of John’s first show in the late night slot on 13^th and 14^th June 1982, from 2349-0026. There are some wobbles as John gets the hang of things. Some agency adverts are heard also. Thanks to Lillian O’Donoghue for the recording.

10th June 20229th June 2022

Pete O’Neill and Hugh Browne on South Coast Radio

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This is a recording of part of Pete O’Neill’s popular mid-morning show in the early days of the Cork super-pirate South Coast Radio. It’s a sunny Thursday morning, 13^th May 1982, and Pete has the usual bright and breezy mix of music, interviews and information. Regular slots include What’s On In Munster, the Adult Education Diary and the Listener’s Favourite 5 after the midday news. There are also announcements about community events such as a road race in Co. Clare (giving a sense of the station’s wide coverage on 1557 kHz AM) and an interview with a Cork band. Listeners are invited to call the Hitline and vote for their favourite record of the week and there are various promos for other shows including the Nightline with Nick Richards and Hit and Miss with John Kenny. Other promos of note include Flatline, an accommodation service, and Jobline, a vacancies slot.

Pete is followed by the late Hugh Browne, who has a competition for tickets to a forthcoming Don McLean concert. News is read by Mark Lawrence but is edited out of the original recording. Part 1 of the recording above runs from 1005. Parts 2 and 3 are below.

Part 2 from 1137

Part 3 from 1230

The recordings were made from 104 FM in stereo and are courtesy of Lillian O’Donoghue.