1986 Archives - Page 8 of 20 - Irish Pirate Radio Audio Archive

8th March 202310th March 2023

Sunday on Radio Valleri International

Radio Valleri was a pioneering pirate station broadcasting from Dublin in the 1970s and 1980s. One of the early hobby operations in the city, it was set up in 1972 by Derek Jones and Mike Anderson and broadcast initially on medium wave from a garden shed in Drumcondra. In 1973, Radio Valleri switched to shortwave and was heard sporadically, often on Sunday mornings, on various frequencies in the 49-metre band over the following years. In the 1980s, the station became one of many to broadcast regularly on shortwave on Sunday mornings, by which time it had settled on 6400 kHz.

This tape is of one of Radio Valleri’s founders, Mike Anderson, with a Sunday show from 1200-1300 in April 1986 (the precise date is unknown). Mike announces broadcasting hours of 0900-1300 and gives a postal address in Baldoyle in northeast Dublin. That broadcast is to be followed by a QSO with another well-known Dublin shortwave pirate, Westside Radio, and Weekend Music Radio in Scotland.

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

20th January 202319th January 2023

Second night on Nova replacement Zoom 103

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Zoom 103 was a short-lived replacement for Dublin super-pirate Radio Nova after it went into receivership and closed on 19^th March 1986. Zoom began identifying itself shortly after 10pm that evening and the following day’s programming featured the normal Nova presenters but without an AM service. Nova founder Chris Cary denied any involvement in the new station and said he was leaving Ireland. Zoom 103 was based at 144 Upper Leeson Street in the city centre but lasted only until 24^th March, when the Nova receiver seized the transmitter. On 28^th March, a new station called Energy 103 began broadcasting from the same location, continuing until 11^th March 1988.

This recording of Zoom 103 features Richard Jackson with a late night show on the second day of the station. There are very few commercials and no jingles or idents, but listeners are reportedly hearing the station as far away as Belfast and Blackpool. Our tape was made on 20^th and 21^st March 1986 from 103.1 FM. Part 1 above is from 2246 and Part 2 below from 2359.

Part 2 from 2359.

The recording is from the Anoraks Ireland Collection, donated to us by Paul Davidson.

5th January 20235th January 2023

First birthday of Q102

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This recording of Dublin super-pirate Q102 was made on its first birthday, 23^rd January 1986, by which time it was established as one of Dublin’s big three pirate stations. The tape begins with one of the station’s most popular DJs, Jason Maine, who is followed by Gerry Stevens with the afternoon drive. In keeping with the Q102 format, talk is limited and links are short, with the focus firmly on the music. Adverts for local businesses and larger brands are aired.

Part 1 above runs from 1407-1455 and Part 2 below from 1502-1548.

Part 2 from 1502.

The recording was made from 103.5 FM and is from the Anoraks Ireland Collection, donated to us by Paul Davidson.

25th December 202214th November 2023

Christmas Night on Q102

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This recording of Dublin super-pirate Q102 is from Christmas Night 1986. It begins with Eamonn Kelly who is finishing up a marathon 6-hour shift. Talk is limited reflecting the station’s format and the day that’s in it, and there are just a few requests for listeners and a weather bulletin. An advert for the 1987 Q102 diary is heard and the top-of-the-hour promo is sponsored by Sony. Eamonn is followed at midnight by Ken Harley, who is facing into another 6-hour show.

Part 1 of the recording above runs from 2231-2319 and Part 2 below from 2349-0037.

Part 2 from 2349.

Eamonn was heard previously on Cork stations WBEN and ERI and KISS FM in Foley Street in Dublin. Ken also worked on Big D, ARD, Radio Leinster and Radio Nova, and had previously made adverts for Nova in Bay City Studios. Listen to an interview with him here.

The recording was made from 103.5 FM on December 25^th and 26^th 1986 and is from the Anoraks Ireland Tapes Collection, donated to us by Paul Davidson.

24th December 202214th November 2023

Centre Radio on Christmas Eve 1986

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Of the many pirates in the decade 1978-1988, Centre Radio was not well known beyond its immediate area in northeast Dublin but it is an important part of the history of Pirate.ie because both co-founders of this site were involved with it. Brian Greene, known as Bobby Gibbson on air, was one of those who started Centre Radio on 19^th December 1986 at the Baldoyle Youth Club in Dublin 13 and John Walsh was also involved. Reflecting the young age of the DJs, Centre Radio was only on air during school holidays in 1986 and 1987 but began daily broadcasting in spring 1988. It closed at midnight on New Year’s Eve that year.

Centre Radio broadcast on several frequencies on the FM band during its two years on air, beginning with 88 MHz during its first outing at the end of 1986. In this recording from Christmas Eve that year, Eric Delaney is on air and is followed by Brian Greene at 9pm. Adverts for local businesses are also heard. Another familiar name on radio in this part of Dublin, Derek Jones, is to take over from 11pm.

Our tape was recorded from 2020-2105 on December 24^th 1986 and is from the Leon Tipler Tapes Collection, donated to us by Steve England.