1986 Archives - Page 6 of 20 - Irish Pirate Radio Audio Archive

2nd February 20242nd February 2024

Official opening of Liberties Local Community Radio

Liberties Local Community Radio (LLCR) was launched on 4^th April 1986 from Weaver’s Square in the heart of Dublin’s Liberties area. Initially focused on its immediate community, the station grew into a significant player in the Dublin radio market by the end of the pirate era in 1988 and attracted many big names in local broadcasting. This recording is of the official opening of LLCR when a concert was held in Weaver Square featuring musicians from the Liberties and further afield. There are interviews with performers and with high-profile priest Fr Michael Cleary who previously hosted his own show on Radio Dublin. DJs in the first half of the recording are Curt Jackson and Des Hogan and Pat Marron and Paul Gibney feature in the second half. There are some technical glitches and some of the DJs are clearly inexperienced.

The recording was made from 96.6 FM from 1305-1353 and from 1936-2024 on Saturday 10^th May 1986. LLCR also broadcast on 1035 kHz AM. Later rebranded as Liberties Radio, Liberty Radio and Liberty 104, the station closed down before Christmas 1988. The tape is from the Anoraks Ireland Tapes Collection, donated to us by Paul Davidson.

22nd January 202412th January 2024

Sunday morning on Waterford Local Radio

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By the mid-1980s, Waterford Local Radio (WLR) was well established as one of the most popular and successful local stations in Ireland. This recording gives a flavour of Sunday programming on the station from the summer of 1986. Of note is the large number of adverts, including one for Ryanair flights from Waterford Airport to London. The first part features the Sunday breakfast show with Paul Power between 0800-0848. He is followed by Tony Weldon from 1012-1100. Community notices are read by Tommy O’Keeffe.

The tape was made from 88.9 FM on 13^th July 1986 and is from the Anoraks Ireland Collection, donated to us by Paul Davidson. WLR also broadcast on 1197 kHz (252 metres) and stayed on air until the end of 1988.

8th January 20247th January 2024

Sunday sounds on Ranelagh Community Radio

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Ranelagh Community Radio (RCR) was a low-powered part-time station broadcasting to suburban areas in the Dublin 6 and 6W postal districts between 1986 and 1988. It was a successor to Charisma FM, which operated sporadically from locations including Ranelagh in 1985 and 1986. RCR replaced Charisma in the autumn of 1986 and was noted on 98 FM in an October log by Anoraks UK. It claimed to cover the suburbs of Ranelagh, Rathmines, Rathgar and Terenure and broadcasting hours were noted as 1900-0000. RCR continued to appear in logs up to the summer of 1988 but closed at some stage between then and the end of the year. Both Charisma and RCR carried syndicated American religious programming at times and probably relied on such material for income.

This recording of RCR was made from 98 FM on Sunday 12^th October 1986 between 1705-1835 and features mostly continuous music with short links and occasional jingles but no adverts. The DJ is Colin Russell but no phone number is announced for requests. The tape is from the Anoraks Ireland Collection, donated to us by Paul Davidson.

3rd December 202312th January 2024

Rick Whelan on Waterford Local Radio

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Waterford Local Radio (WLR) was one of the longest running pirate stations of its era, broadcasting from 23^rd June 1978 to 31^st December 1988. It was founded by Rick Whelan in his garage in Butlerstown west of Waterford City and was managed for 10 years by Rick’s brother Des until the pirate closedowns. The station was one of a handful pirates to be licensed and returned to the air as WLR FM on 8th September 1989. Des Whelan is still managing director and Rick continues to present on the station.

This recording features Rick Whelan on his morning show in the weeks before Christmas 1986. News on the half-hour is read by Denise Wall and there are also sports results and a community noticeboard. Adverts cover Counties Waterford, Wexford and Tipperary and the station tagline is WLR – South East Radio. The name of the company behind WLR was and continues to be the South East Broadcasting Company. This is separate from South East Radio, the licensed station for Wexford.

The tape was made on 3^rd December 1986 from 100 FM and runs from 0906-1042. It is from the Anoraks Ireland Tapes Collection, donated to us by Paul Davidson. WLR also broadcast on 88.8 FM and 1197 kHz (252 metres) medium wave.

13th November 202324th November 2023

Northeast series: Afternoon shows on Boyneside Radio

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By the mid-1980s Boyneside Radio was calling itself the ‘biggest regional radio station in Ireland’ and could be heard over a large area from Dublin to Belfast. From humble origins in Drogheda, Boyneside developed into a network of stations in Counties Meath and Louth, including a Northern service based in Carrickcarnon right on the border. This recording from 1986 features two well-known DJs presenting early afternoon shows. First up is Kieran Murray with the end of the People’s Choice requests programme. He is followed by one of the station’s founders Eddie Caffrey with Afternoon Delight and the Golden Hour. There are plenty of local adverts in the busy pre-Christmas period.

The recording was made between 1350 and 1438 on 25^th November 1986 from Boyneside’s Dublin FM relay transmitter on 105.5 FM. It is from the Anoraks Ireland Tapes Collection, donated to us by Paul Davidson.