1986 Archives - Page 6 of 21 - Irish Pirate Radio Audio Archive

5th April 20242nd April 2024

Afternoon on Centre Radio (Clonmel)

Centre Radio from Clonmel in Co. Tipperary was an offshoot of an existing local station, the Clonmel Broadcasting Corporation (CBC). Centre was set up in April 1986 as a more youth-oriented service than the existing CBC, which had been on air since 1981. In 1987, Centre was rebranded as Premier County Radio, which continued until the deadline for the pirates to close at midnight on New Year’s Eve 1988.

This recording features part of an afternoon show presented by an unidentified DJ. Eoin Ryan reads racing results and there is also a news bulletin at five minutes to the hour. Centre’s news service is promoted regularly and the station claims to have the most comprehensive output in the region. Adverts cover Clonmel and surrounding towns.

The tape is from the Anoraks Ireland Collection and was made from 88 FM between 1527-1612 on Thursday 5^th June 1986. Centre Radio also broadcast on 101 FM and on 1251 kHz AM (240 metres).

3rd April 202410th April 2024

Late-night Sunday on ABC Radio

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Waterford station ABC Radio broadcast from 3^rd March 1982 until 29^th December 1988 and became one of the country’s most popular and successful pirates. From humble origins in a caravan in the coastal resort of Tramore, it moved into Waterford City in 1985. ABC covered the southeast on 1026 kHz AM and a series of local FM transmitters. In this recording from 1986, Jimmy Ryan is on air with a relaxed late-night Sunday music show, featuring long sets with limited talk and no adverts. A station promo mentions towns in Tipperary and Wexford, emphasising ABC’s coverage beyond Co. Waterford.

The recording was made between 2201-2246 on 15^th June 1986 from 103.2 FM, a 2 kW transmitter from Tory Hill north of Waterford City that covered a large part of the southeast. The tape is from the Anoraks Ireland Collection, donated to us by Paul Davidson.

6th March 20243rd March 2024

78s Show on Community Radio Galaxy

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Radio Galaxy was one of the pioneering Irish pirates, broadcasting from as early as 1955 and operating regularly on Sundays from 1969. It was operated by Tony Boylan (RIP) who first experimented with pirate radio in 1945 and operated stations over the years from different parts of Dublin. Tony’s love of 78s made him unique in the pirate radio world and his programmes, co-presented on occasion with his wife Fran, gained loyal listeners across the decades. In 1986, he retired and moved with Fran to the Isle of Man, having sold his extensive 78s collection.

This recording was made just a fortnight before Radio Galaxy closed down for good. It begins with continuous music followed by the weekly 78s Show. There are several requests from listeners around Dublin and from as far afield as Lancashire. Tony announces that he is moving to the Isle of Man shortly and says he hopes to get a slot on Manx Radio, noting the absence of pirate radio in the island. The tape was made from 1512 kHz AM (196 metres) from 1138-1223 and 1230-1315 on Sunday 7^th September 1986. It is from the Anoraks Ireland Tapes Collection.

Radio Galaxy’s final broadcast was on 21^st September 1986. Tony died in the Isle of Man in 2010.

2nd February 20242nd February 2024

Official opening of Liberties Local Community Radio

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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.