1985 Archives - Irish Pirate Radio Audio Archive

18th November 20249th November 2024

Peter Madison and Bob Gallico on Magic 103

Magic 103 was one of the many offshoots of the large Dublin station Radio Nova (1981-1986). It was short-lived, broadcasting for only about 5 months between April and September 1985. Magic became entangled in the dispute between Chris Cary and the National Union of Journalists that eventually contributed to Nova’s demise. This recording features two of the station’s star broadcasters, Peter Madison (RIP) and Bob Gallico (RIP), with a mix of chat, community announcements and Magic’s trademark easy-listening music. The conversation is natural and witty and reflects the skill and experience of two fantastic broadcasters at the top of their game.

Bob reads news headlines on the half-hour and there is also a news flash about a bomb explosion in Belfast courtesy of the Press Association wire that was mentioned hourly at the end of bulletins. The programme contains an interview with a representative of the Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals but virtually no advertising, a concern for a station already a few months on air.

The tape is from the Anoraks Ireland Collection and was made on Wednesday 31^st July 1985 from 103.5 FM between 1105-1241. Magic 103 also broadcast on 1512 kHz AM, announced as 199 metres in this recording.

25th September 202422nd September 2024

Dave Johnson on Magic 103 lunchtime

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Magic 103 was an offshoot of Dublin super-pirate Radio Nova, set up as an information and easy listening music service for the city. Its first full day was 29^th April 1985 but it closed only five months later on 22^nd September, citing financial difficulties. However, the station was also embroiled in the ongoing dispute between Nova boss Chris Cary and the National Union of Journalists, which eventually contributed to Nova’s demise in 1986.

This recording was made shortly after Magic 103 launched and features a lunchtime show presented by Dave Johnson (Andrew Hanlon), who also reads ABC Network News, simulcast on Radio Nova. The music is a mixture of easy listening, oldies and country and listeners call in for chat and requests. There are regular references to an audition for new presenters for a kids’ programme called Magic Hullabaloo taking place at Magic headquarters at 144 Upper Leeson Street. Some of the hopefuls are invited into studio, including one who already hosts a show on Community Radio Fingal in north Dublin. The kids’ enthusiasm and knowledge about radio provides an interesting insight to the popularity of the medium among 1980s teenagers in Dublin.

The tape was recorded from 103.5 FM between 1203 and 1335 on Saturday 18^th May 1985 and is from the Anoraks Ireland Collection.

7th August 20246th August 2024

August bank holiday 70s special on Q102

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By the summer of 1985, new kid on the block Q102 was well established as a serious player in the Dublin radio market. The Irish-owned super-pirate had a crisp, professional sound and high broadcasting standards. Q102 had many experienced DJs but also launched other media careers and some of the same people continue to broadcast to this day.

Over the August bank holiday weekend of 1985, Q102 broadcast a day-long special of number ones of the 1970s between 1000-1900. The hits were interspersed with historical news and entertainment items as well as voxpops with the public. The 9-hour show was followed by an all-time listeners’ top 70 records from 1900-2000 based on a phone survey. Customary high-level agency adverts for brands and larger businesses are heard throughout the recording, along with the iconic early jingle package. The presenters are Martin Block and Derek Jones and news on the hour is read by Brian Carroll.

The tape is from the Anoraks Ireland Collection and was made from 102 FM between 1000 and 1132 on Monday 5^th August 1985.

29th July 202423rd July 2024

Early morning shows on Radio Nova

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1985 was the last full year of Radio Nova, the ambitious radio experiment created by Chris Cary in 1981 that dominated the Dublin radio market for several years. In September 1985, Cary closed the offshoot station Magic 103 and sold transmitters and equipment to rival station Q102. A bitter strike with the National Union of Journalists had resumed and was affecting advertising. Nova closed down in March 1986.

This recording from just before Nova’s final Christmas features the end of Richard Jackson’s overnight slot and the first half hour of the breakfast show with Colm Hayes, who is still heard on Irish radio today. Perhaps due to the early hour, no advertisements are aired and there is no news bulletin at 0600. The recording was made from 102.7 FM between 0544 and 0632 on Monday 16^th December 1985 and is from the Anoraks Ireland Collection.

26th July 202430th July 2024

Midnight megamix from Tamango’s on Sunshine Radio

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Sunshine Radio (1980-1988) was located behind the Sands Hotel in Portmarnock on the north Dublin coast. The hotel itself and the adjoining Tamango’s nightclub were regular advertisers on Sunshine, and the station frequently broadcast live club nights from Tamango’s at the weekend.

This recording from just before Christmas 1985 features part of the Midnight Megamix with Jim Kenny (RIP), broadcast live from Tamango’s. News is read by Joyce Jackson, who would go to to work in RTÉ in the 1990s. The recording was made from 101.5 FM from 0049-1037 on Sunday 15^th December 1985 and is from the Anoraks Ireland Collection.