1983 Archives - Irish Pirate Radio Audio Archive

21st September 202620th September 2026

St. Patrick’s Day on Nova offshoot KISS FM

This recording of Radio Nova offshoot KISS FM was made on St. Patrick’s Day 1983. First up is the final part of the lunchtime show with Colm Hayes. He is joined in studio by Eurovision winner Johnny Logan, who is due to begin his nationwide tour in Nova Park that night. Colm is followed by John Clarke who continues the Irish musical theme, mixed with oldies. News on the hour is read by Bryan Dobson, who would go on to a long career in RTÉ. A promo for the ‘KISS FM £5,000 pay-off’ is also heard, one of the many extravagant giveaways by the Radio Nova network.

The recording was made from 102.7 FM on Thursday 17^th March 1983 between 1531-1705 and is from the Anoraks Ireland Collection.

11th June 20268th June 2026

Free radio show on Radio Dublin Channel 2 (6th July 1983)

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This recording of the Free Radio Campaign (FRC) show on Radio Dublin Channel 2 dates from summer 1983. It is presented by Tony Healy, who is filling in for Gerard Roe and making his first appearance on the station. The FRC features a Christmas recording from Radio Snowflake on 99.9 FM from December 1982, operating from Dollymount. There are medium wave, FM and shortwave bandscans and a recording of British pirate Radio Veronica recorded in Liverpool. The edition also features an Anoraks UK tape of interviews with Bob Gallico, Declan Meehan and Mike Moran.

The tape was made from 98.7 FM between 1958-2105 on Wednesday 6^th July 1983 and is from the Anoraks Ireland Collection.

27th May 202624th May 2026

Test broadcast by Blanchardstown Community Radio

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Blanchardstown Community Radio (BCR) was one of several short-lived pirate stations that came on air in Dublin in the second half of 1983, following the drama of the raids on Radio Nova and Sunshine Radio that spring. It was based in the western suburb of Blanchardstown and was set up by some of those involved in Westside Radio, another station in the same part of the city that closed down that summer.

The Anoraks UK Weekly Report commented that small stations came and went almost on a daily basis in Dublin during that period. The edition of 8^th September reported that BCR appeared on 7^th August at 1400 hours as announced, suggesting that it had been broadcasting loop announcements in advance. The station was logged again by Anoraks UK on 14^th September but there is no mention of it after that.

This short recording features an unidentified DJ followed by continuous music. Full programming is promised from the following morning. The tape is from the Anoraks Ireland Collection and was made on 7^th August 1983 between 1433-1449 from 1251 kHz, announcing 240 metres.

19th May 20268th March 2026

ABC Radio still on air after raids

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The small Dublin pirate ABC Radio was one of a handful to stay on the air after the raids on the bigger station Radio Nova and Sunshine Radio on 18^th and 19^th May 1983. This short recording of ABC was made before 2300 on the evening of 19^th May and includes a call from a listener who says she finds RTÉ Radio 1 and Radio 2 depressing and will miss pirate radio. The DJ is Jimmy Williams and the recording was made from 963 kHz, 312 metres. It is from the Anoraks Ireland Collection.

11th May 20263rd May 2026

More Chris Cary on KISS FM

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This is another recording of Radio Nova founder and boss, Chris Cary, using the name Harry cary on the Nova offshoot station, KISS FM. Chris mentions the visit of a youth club to the studios of Nova and KISS FM that day and says that other such groups would be welcome at the weekends. There are high-level agency adverts and news is read by Bryan Dobson, who would go on to a career in RTÉ.

The recording was made between 1837-1911 from 102.7 FM on Sunday 17^th April 1983 and is from the Anoraks Ireland Collection.