1985 Archives - Page 5 of 21 - Irish Pirate Radio Audio Archive

Border series: Erneside Community Radio heard in English midlands — Studio photo of Erneside from 1987, unidentified DJ (courtesy Andy Carter).

Erneside Community was one of several pirates broadcasting from Co. Cavan during the 1980s. It was a strong supporter of local country and western artists throughout its four years on air. Erneside began test transmissions in January 1985 and started full programming on 25^th February, broadcasting on 1251 kHz (announcing 240 metres). A detailed report by Seán Brady of Cavan Community Radio in the Anoraks UK Weekly Report of 31^st March 1985 described the ‘Cavan Radio Explosion’ and noted that Erneside broadcast from 8am to midnight, specialising mostly in Irish country and western music. Erneside also had an outside broadcast unit that had travelled to Counties Cavan, Leitrim and Fermanagh and carried community notices each day. The station later added FM and continued to broadcast until 30^th December 1988.

This tape was recorded in the English midlands and is of DX quality, with plenty of deep fading and interference. No times were noted on the cassette, but it was made during the afternoon of 13^th November 1985 as winter darkness fell. There are adverts from both sides of the border in the run-up to the busy Christmas period. The first DJ is Brian Gold and he is followed by Don Woods.

This recording is from the Leon Tipler Tapes Collection, donated to us by Steve England.

8th September 20239th September 2023

Community Radio Avalon from south Dublin

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Community Radio Avalon was another short-lived station broadcasting from the southside of Dublin in the mid-1980s. It is not listed in DX Archive logs from 1985 but is thought to have begun broadcasting from the Dún Laoghaire area late that year. The Anoraks UK Weekly Report of 8^th December 1985 reported that a Radio Avalon had been heard on 98.5 and announcing various AM frequencies before eventually appearing on 1116 kHz. Competition for AM space was fierce in the unregulated world of Dublin pirate radio and the Weekly Report of January 5^th 1986 reported that both KISS FM and Radio Avalon were on the same AM frequency at different times and sometimes at the same time! There are references to Radio Avalon on FM only in early 1986 but on 23^rd March, Weekly Report said it had closed down.

In this recording there is only one link from DJ Robbie Keane and otherwise it consists of continuous music with generic station idents. The tape was made from 98.3 FM, announced as 98.5, from 1432-1520 on 2^nd December 1985 and is from the Skywave Tapes Collection. Radio Skywave International was a 1980s shortwave station broadcasting from Baldoyle in northeast Dublin.

6th September 202312th August 2023

Radio Dublin broadcasts World Music Radio

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Radio Dublin regularly carried programming from the former Dutch pirate station World Music Radio (WMR). WMR broadcast without a licence from 1967 until 1973 when it was raided by the Dutch authorities. In the 1970s and 1980s, its programmes were carried by stations in Andorra, Italy, France and Radio Dublin in Ireland. WMR has been revived on a number of occasions over the past 25 years and has broadcast from Denmark on shortwave. It currently operates an AM licence in Copenhagen. Read more about the station history here.

This relay of WMR via Radio Dublin is from 1985 and features station pioneer Lee Alvin followed by Danish DJ Oscar Hansson with European hits in various languages. A mailing address in Amsterdam is given and there are adverts for the World Radio and Television Handbook. Radio Dublin is mentioned as one of the station’s partners. A break in audio about 25 minutes into the recording is possibly due to the change-over of a cassette.

The tape was made from 1200-1247 on 9^th June 1985 from 1188 kHz AM and is from the Skywave Tapes Collection. Radio Skywave International was a 1980s shortwave station broadcasting from Baldoyle in northeast Dublin.

25th August 202312th February 2024

Echo Community Radio from west Dublin

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Echo Community Radio was a shortlived station broadcasting from the west Dublin suburb of Blanchardstown in 1985. In July that year, DX Archive logged it on 1071 kHz AM, announcing 280 metres. On 12^th January 1986, Anoraks UK Weekly Report said it appeared that Echo Community Radio had closed down. The station was based in the Centrepoint Shopping Centre.

This daytime recording features an unidentified DJ playing a mixture of oldies, disco and more recent chart music. There are no adverts but a phone number is given out for requests. Audio quality is fair with the signal distored in places and electrical interference, reflecting the distance from the transmitter. There is some co-channel interference also, probably from Radio Carousel North in Dundalk.

The recording was made from 1071 kHz from 1140-1227 on 17th June 1985. It is from the Skywaves Tapes Collection. Radio Skywave International was a 1980s shortwave station broadcasting from Baldoyle in northeast Dublin.

2nd August 202330th July 2023

Pat Courtenay and Cathy Cregan on Sunshine 101

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Sunshine Radio, later Sunshine 101, broadcast from the Sands Hotel in Portmarnock in north Dublin between September 1980 and December 1988. By 1985, it was well established as one of the capital’s leading professional pirates, broadcasting chart music and specialist programming on high-powered AM and FM frequencies. This recording of the final half hour of Pat Courtenay’s breakfast show begins with 15 minutes of non-stop music, interspersed with station idents. Agency adverts reflect Sunshine’s commercial success but a local community event is also promoted, reflected the station’s roots on the northside of Dublin. News is ready by Cathy Cregan, who is followed by station founder and owner, Robbie Dale (Robinson).

Both Pat Courtenay and Cathy Cregan continue to broadcast on radio today. Listen here to our tribute to Robbie Robinson, who died in 2021. This recording was made from 100.5 FM on Tuesday 1^st October 1985 from 0921-1006. It is from the Anoraks Ireland Tapes Collection, donated to us by Paul Davidson.