1986 Archives - Irish Pirate Radio Audio Archive

30th September 202424th September 2024

Peter Madison plays oldies on LLCR

Peter Madison (RIP) was an English DJ who broadcast on many Irish pirate stations in the 1980s. In this recording from 1986, he is heard on Liberties Local Community Radio (LLCR), a newly-established station serving the Liberties area of Dublin’s southwest city centre. Using the name ‘Skip Cameron’, Peter presents the lunchtime golden oldies programme and regularly refers to the station as ‘Big L’. He then hands over to John Keogh for Afternoon Delight. No adverts are heard during the hour-long broadcast, a concern for a new station with bills to pay.

LLCR was set up on 4^th April 1986 from Weaver’s Square in Dublin 8. Focused initially on the local community, it was later re-named Liberty 104 and expanded its coverage, carving out a commercial niche in the Dublin radio market. Liberty 104 closed suddenly before Christmas 1988. This recording was made from 1035 kHz AM between 1303-1410 on Wednesday 23^rd April 1986 and is from the Anoraks Ireland Collection.

11th September 202422nd September 2024

Gerry Stevens on Energy 103 lunchtime

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Energy 103 was one of the most successful Dublin stations at the end of the pirate era, broadcasting from April 1986 until March 1988. This recording is of a familiar voice on Energy, Gerry Stevens (Lang) with a lunchtime show in the summer of 1986. There are the usual high-level adverts for larger businesses and brands and the slick Energy jingles. News is read by Dave Johnson (Andrew Hanlon) and George Long (Henry O’Donovan, RIP). The daily news quiz attracts many callers during lunch hour.

The recording is from the Anoraks Ireland Collection and was made from 103 FM on Wednesday 23^rd July 1986 from 1244-1420. Energy 103 also broadcast on 738 kHz AM.

6th September 202431st August 2024

Lunchtime on Liberties Local Community Radio

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Liberties Local Community Radio (LLCR) began broadcasting on 4^th April 1986 from the Liberties area of south-central Dublin. Initially community-focused, LLCR later became a popular commercial station that carved out a loyal listenership in the crowded Dublin radio market. Standards varied with some presenters very young and inexperienced but several big names passed through the doors also, including Tony Allen (RIP), Peter Madison (RIP), Kieran Murray and Teena Gates. LLCR went through a number of name changes including Liberties Radio, Liberty Radio and Liberty 104 during its nearly three years on air. Initially on 1035 kHz AM and 96.7 FM locally, the station later moved to 104.5 and 107 FM and extended its coverage across the city. It closed suddenly on December 20^th 1988, more than a week before the deadline imposed by the new broadcasting legislation.

This recording of LLCR was made on Wednesday 9^th July 1986 from 1143-1231 and 1258-1346. Tommy Matthews is the DJ until 1200 and he is followed by John Keogh with the lunchtime show (the label above is inaccurate). There is the usual mix of mostly chart music and chat interspersed by adverts for local businesses, mostly in the Liberties. The first part was recorded from 107.1 FM and the second from 104.5 FM and the tape is from the Anoraks Ireland Collection.

16th August 20246th August 2024

Music in the early hours on Energy 103

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Energy 103 was one of Dublin’s most popular radio stations in the 1980s. Emerging from the ashes of Radio Nova, it began broadcasting on 29^th April 1986 and quickly built a solid listenership and advertising base. The station closed suddenly on 11^th March 1988.

These days, live radio programming is rare in the evenings, let alone overnight but back in the pirate era, many stations broadcast live around the clock. Although automatic options were sometimes used, larger stations could afford to pay an overnight DJ and maintain a live connection with listeners in the early hours. This recording gives a flavour of such overnight programming on Energy 103 in the autumn of 1986.

First up is Mike Kingston’s show from 0131-0219 on Monday 15^th September. He is followed by Alan Burns from 0127-0215 on Tuesday 16^th September. Given the time of night, the musical mix is relaxed and talk is minimal. There are no adverts or news but a smattering of requests intersperses the records.

The recording is from the Anoraks Ireland Collection and was made from 103 FM. Energy 103 also broadcast on 738 kHz AM.

9th August 20242nd August 2024

Northeast series: Morning shows on Telstar Community Radio

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Telstar Community Radio (1980-1988) was a long-running pirate station based in and around Dundalk in Co. Louth. Despite stiff competition from Radio Carousel in the same town, Telstar built up and maintained its own listeners and advertisers throughout its time on air. This recording of Telstar was made in 1986, just after it had moved back into Dundalk from the village of Blackrock to the south, where it had spent the previous four years.

The recording begins with the breakfast show presented by Alex Evans, with news headlines on the half-hour and a mixture of chart, pop and easy-listening music. There are adverts for local businesses and branded station jingles. The second part of the tape begins with Alex handing over to Ray Stone for his mid-morning show until lunchtime. Ray promises an eclectic music mix including charts, ballads, céilí and rock and roll. He also shares community notices and trivia news items, apologising to listeners for the temporary absence of a phoneline following the move back into Dundalk.

The recording is from the Anoraks Ireland Collection and was made on Wednesday 30^th April 1986 between 0652-0740 and 0956-1044 from 88.5 FM. Audible levels are variable and there is some distortion in places, due either to an on-air issue at the time or the cassette itself. Telstar also broadcast on 1197 kHz, announcing 250 metres.