1985 Archives - Page 3 of 20 - Irish Pirate Radio Audio Archive

17th May 202417th May 2024

Tony Dixon with soul songs on Sunshine Radio

This recording of a Saturday night in 1985 on Sunday super-pirate Sunshine Radio gives a flavour of the variety in the station’s weekend schedule during this period. First up are soul and love songs with one of the station’s high-profile DJs, Tony Dixon (RIP). He is followed by Elliott John and Sunshine Street Beat. The usual high-level adverts for Dublin businesses and national brands are heard and there is a promo for a cash prize for listeners. Tony Dixon continued to broadcast on licensed radio until his untimely death in 2010.

Sands Hotel logo from the Sunshine time (courtesy Maria Ginty).

Sunshine Radio was based at the Sands Hotel in Portmarnock on the northside of Dublin during its eight-year existence. This tape was made from 101.5 FM from 2019-2104 on 12^th October 1985 and is from the Anoraks Ireland Collection.

6th May 20246th May 2024

Breakfast music and news on Q102

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By the summer of 1985, the new kid on the block, Q102, was well established as a serious player in the cut-throat Dublin radio market. Made after about six months on air, this recording underlines the station’s professionalism and high-quality sound with breakfast DJ, Scott Williams, presenting a mixture of music, news and information. There are promos for a listeners’ quiz sponsored by Irish music retailer Dolphin Discs and for cash giveaways on the streets of Dublin. Adverts for larger businesses and brands reflect Q102’s commercial success. News is read by Anne Cassin. Both presenters went on to careers in licensed radio or RTÉ.

The recording is from the Anoraks Ireland Collection and was made from 102 FM from 0727-0812 on 6^th August 1985.

29th April 202428th April 2024

August bank holiday 1985 on Radio Nova

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This recording of pirate giant Radio Nova was made on the August bank holiday weekend 1985 and features two well-known voices on the station, DJ Colm Hayes and newsreader Bob Gallico (RIP). There is a listeners’ competition, celebrity birthday spot, sports news and mixture of chart music and oldies for the day that’s in it. The usual high-level agency adverts are heard, including ones for big brands Lucozade and Coca-Cola, reflecting Nova’s dominance in the radio market.

An interesting aspect of this recording is information about technical aspects of Nova’s broadcasts. A promo mentions the high-quality FM signal and powerful 50 kW AM transmitter, which is said to cover hundreds of square miles of coverage in Ireland, England and Wales. There is also mention of Nova’s offshoot station Magic 103 broadcasting on 1521 kHz AM, a frequency not normally announced.

The tape was made from 102.7 FM on Monday 5^th August 1985 from 0700-0745 and is from the Anoraks Ireland Collection.

1st March 202425th February 2024

Afternoon shows on Echo Community Radio

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Echo Community Radio was a shortlived pirate broadcasting from Blanchardstown in west Dublin in 1985. This recording from a Wednesday afternoon in August that year begins with a mix of chart music and olders tunes with Ben Thomas. There are adverts for local businesses, some voiced by DJ Lee, a well-known presenter who worked on several Dublin pirates. A series of British comedy inserts sounds out of place between the songs and isn’t helped by muffled sound. Next up is Eamonn Kelly, who worked previously and subsequently on larger and more professional stations in Cork and Dublin.

The tape was made from 1407-1452 and from 1517-1604 on Wednesday 7^th August 1985. Although recorded from 105.5 FM, audio quality is poor with some distortion. Echo Community Broadcasting was also heard on 1071 kHz AM, announcing 280 metres. The recording is from the Anoraks Ireland Tapes Collection.

21st February 202426th February 2024

Morning shows on Echo Community Radio

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Echo Community Radio was a shortlived station broadcasting from west Dublin in the second half of 1985. First up in this recording is Dave Canning with the final part of his breakfast programme. He is followed by Workers’ Playtime presented by Gerry Marsden, a familiar name on 1980s pirates including Radio Dublin, which he went on to manage. Adverts are heard for local businesses, many in the Centrepoint Shopping Centre in Blanchardstown where Echo was located. There’s also a promo seeking DJs, newsreaders and sales representatives for the station.

Both 280 metres (1071 kHz) and 105.5 FM are announced by the DJs. The recording was made from 1071 kHz from 0918-1049 on Wednesday 7^th August 1985 and is from the Anoraks Ireland Collection. Audio quality is fair, with some distortion.