1983 Archives - Irish Pirate Radio Audio Archive

21st February 202516th February 2025

Summer Saturday on Clonmel Broadcasting Corporation

The origins of pirate radio in Co. Tipperary were in the experimental summer station Radio Clonmel in 1978 and bigger stations Radio Carrick and Clonmel Local Radio in 1980. In September 1981, Galway man Gerry Gannon, who was based in Carrick-on-Suir, began planning a radio station for all of south Tipperary . The result of his campaigh was the Clonmel Broadcasting Corporation (CBC), which began broadcasting on 14^th November 1981. CBC became one of the leading pirates to espouse a community radio ethos, in contrast with larger commercial operators in cities such as Dublin and Cork. It had deep roots in its local community and continued broadcasting until the end of 1988.

This short airchecked recording was made on a Saturday afternoon in summer 1983 in Cashel outside the core listening area, so quality is fair at best. Up first is DJ Pat with chart music and he is followed by Kevin Ambrose. Adverts are heard for small businsesses in Clonmel and surounding towns. The recording was made from 828 kHz AM by Kieran Murray on Saturday 16^th July 1983 from around 1800 and is part of the Anoraks Ireland Collection.

17th February 202515th February 2025

Daybreak on Cork station ERI

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By 1983, ERI had become Cork’s leading pirate station following the transfer of studios from the village of Ballycotton to the edge of Cork city and the installation of a powerful new AM transmitter giving coverage of Munster. These airchecked recordings of the Daybreak breakfast show were made around St. Patrick’s Day 1983 and give a sense of the station during this expansion phase.

First up is former offshore presenter Andy Archer between 0823-0900 on 18^th March 1983. News is read by Andrew Hewkin, who is on his final day with ERI. This is followed by Steve Marshall between 0845-0930 on 21^st March 1983 with news read by Seán O’Sullivan. Adverts feature businesses around Cork city and county and there is a promo for a syndicated show, Soundtrack of the Sixties.

ERI broadcast on 102 and 105.8 FM at the time as well as 1305 kHz AM. This recording was made from AM by Kieran Murray and is part of the Anoraks Ireland Collection.

16th October 20247th October 2024

Sunshine Radio breakfast show in October 1983

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Following the raids on the big Dublin pirates Sunshine Radio and Radio Nova in May 1983, the radio scene settled down again temporarily in the summer of that year. Having returned to the airwaves in June, Sunshine re-established itself as one of the city’s most popular stations particularly among listeners on the northside, reflecting its base in Portmarnock. A jamming campaign by RTÉ against Radio Nova and later Sunshine would soon be cranked up a gear but for the moment the Portmarnock station was able to broadcast unimpeded.

This recording of Sunshine is from autumn 1983 and features part of the breakfast show presented by Deirdre Mulins, who as well as the usual mix of music has horoscopes, a review of the papers and a weather update. News is read by Paula Daly. The tape was made from 101 FM between 0643-0733 on Friday 21^st October 1983 and is from the Anoraks Ireland Collection.

18th September 202412th September 2024

Bank holiday competition on Kilkenny Community Radio

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Kilkenny Community Radio (KCR) was one of Ireland’s longest-running pirates in the 1970s and 1980s and among a small number of stations officially affiliated with the National Association of Community Broadcasters. It launched in May 1979 and closed at the end of December 1988 in line with the new broadcasting legislation. The station was based on a co-operative structure, chaired initially by local priest Fr. Gerry Joyce. The current licensed station Community Radio Kilkenny City has links with the original pirate station.

This short airchecked recording of KCR was made in the summer of 1983. The unidentified DJ announces a competition to win a voucher for a local furniture shop. There are adverts for local businesses in Kilkenny City and County and also for national chain Trustee Savings Bank. Audio quality is fair with some fading in places, as the receiver may have been outside the core listening area.

The tape was made from 1625-1643 on Monday 6^th June 1983 from 100 FM. It was recorded originally by Kieran Murray and is from the Anoraks Ireland Collection. KCR also broadcast on 1386 kHz AM at this time.

16th September 20246th September 2024

Radio West closes temporarily following 1983 raids

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Following the raids by Gardaí and the Department Posts and Telegraphs on the large Dublin pirate stations in May 1983, panic spread throughout the sector and many stations left the airwaves, some for good. One such station to turn off its transmitters was Radio West, that had been broadcasting to the midlands from Mullingar in Co. Westmeath since early 1982.

This airchecked recording is of the last 2½ hours of Radio West on the night of 19^th May 1983. The station announces that it is closing on a voluntary basis as a gesture of solidarity with Radio Nova but will return to the airwaves if the situation changes. The station says it has run out of petition forms but urges listeners to lobby their TDs for licensed local radio. Among those calling the station with good wishes is Kieran Murray of Radio Carousel Navan. DJs include Mike McCartney, Davina Carroll, Mike Young, Dave Murphy, Mike Lewis, Willie Harte, Helen Bradley, Harry Burns and Michael O’Flaherty. The final word goes to station owner Shaun Coyne and Radio West closes with the iconic spoken word version of the poem Desiderata by Les Crane, followed by the national anthem.

The airchecked recording was made from 702 kHz (430 metres) from about 2230 until 0015 on 19^th and 20^th May 1983. It is from the Anoraks Ireland Collection and was recorded originally by Kieran Murray. There is some wobble on the cassette due to degradation over time. The closedown was short-lived and despite the on-air drama, Radio West returned to the airwaves in less than two weeks and continued to broadcast until the end of 1988.