Irish Pirate Radio Audio Archive
Open Free Radio Archive
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This is another recording of the early days of KISS FM from Foley Street in Dublin’s north inner city (1985-86). Our recording features Clem Francis in a late-night slot not long after the station was launched. It is from the Anoraks Ireland Collection and was made from 104.2 FM (announcing 105) between 2242-2328 on 18th May 1985.
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KISS FM from Foley Street in Dublin’s north inner city was one of several pirates using that name over the decades. This KISS FM (1985-86) emerged from the second iteration of Dublin Community Radio (DCR), was owned by two German businessmen and managed by David Baker. This recording was made not long after the station’s launch and features Peter Collins on the breakfast programme. Despite the time of day, adverts are scarce and there are some technical issues with the music, so the station was clearly still finding its feet.
The tape was made from 104.2 FM (announcing 105) between 0830-0915 on 7th May 1985. It is from the Skywave Tapes Collection. Radio Skywave International was a 1980s shortwave station broadcasting from Baldoyle in northeast Dublin.
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Sunshine Radio (1980-1988) was located in the Sands Hotel in Portmarnock, which also housed the popular Tamango’s nightclub. Adverts for the club were heard on Sunshine and the station regularly broadcast from there. First up in this recording is Jim Kenny with the end of his weekly Midnight Megamix live from Tamango’s. News at 0200 is read by Stephen Plunkett, who is followed by Barry (Éamon) Falvey, with All-Night Sunshine.
The recording was made from 101.5 FM on Saturday 17th August 1985 between 0135-0220 and is from the Anoraks Ireland Collection.
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Magic 103 was launched by Radio Nova on April 29th 1985, promoting itself as an easy-listening and information service for Dublin. This placed the station more in competition with RTÉ Radio 1 than Radio 2, but it never really found its feet and presentation and production standards were mixed during its short period on air. Magic 103 closed on 22nd September and the laying off of staff worsened a dispute with the National Union of Journalists, which would ultimately contribute to the demise of Radio Nova.
The tape begins with the end of the afternoon show with Mark Weller (Costigan) and Linda Conway, which includes an interview related to one of the day’s news stories. ABC Network News on the hour is broadcast on both Magic 103 and Radio Nova. Shane Mac Gabhann and Dave Johnson (Andrew Hanlon) follow the 1700 news with a drivetime news and music show, including a newspaper review, sports news, community information, a book feature and an entertainment guide.
The recording is from the Anoraks Ireland Collection and was made from 103.5 FM between 1645-1818 on Wednesday 17th July 1985.
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The Free Radio Campaign (FRC) show with Gerard Roe on Radio Annabel was a must for radio anoraks in Dublin in the mid-1980s. The weekly show shared news from the pirate radio scene at home and abroad, including recordings shared by listeners. This show from early 1985 begins as usual with news from the same period the previous year, including a new version of the long-promised local radio legislation, the jamming of Radio Nova on FM and the closure of Radio Dublin Channel 2, where Gerard Roe had previously presented his FRC. This show also contains a Sunshine Radio tribute to Radio Caroline on its 20th anniversary and an interview with Chris Cary about Radio Nova. Nova is also reported to be audible on telephones in south Dublin, an issue causing annoyance to certain politicians. There are also promos for Anoraks UK and Anoraks Ireland and UK free radio news including the raids on Radio Jackie.
The recording is from the Anoraks Ireland Collection and was made from 92 FM on Sunday 17th February 1985 from 1658-1828. Radio Annabel also broadcast on 1323 kHz (227 metres) and a recording of the FRC was relayed every week on shortwave pirate Westside Radio International.