1987 Archives - Page 2 of 10 - Irish Pirate Radio Audio Archive

24th January 202421st January 2024

Border series: mid-morning on Donegal’s KTOK

KTOK was one of several stations broadcasting from Co. Donegal during the pirate era. It was established in Donegal Town in the summer of 1987 by Russ Padmore, who worked previously for North West Community Radio in Buncrana. KTOK broadcast on 1566 kHz AM and on 96, 98 and 103 MHz FM. As well as Donegal, it claimed to have listeners in Sligo and Leitrim as well as across the border in Derry, Fermanagh and Tyrone. The station closed down in line with new broadcasting legislation on New Year’s Eve 1988. Russ Padmore now works for the BBC.

This recording of KTOK was made on a Wednesday morning in the winter of 1987 and features Paul Cooke on air. There are plenty of adverts for businesses in Sligo and Donegal, many featuring the voice of Russ Padmore. Paul also presents a buy and sell section and local entertainment guide. News on the hour is read by John Breslin, with a half-hourly update by the DJ.

The tape was made from 96 FM from 1104-1247 on 4^th November 1987 and is from the Anoraks Ireland Collection, donated to us by Paul Davidson.

10th January 20246th January 2024

Northeast series: Friday night on Telstar Community Radio

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Telstar logo (courtesy Ian Biggar).

Telstar Community Radio broadcast from in and around the Dundalk area between 1980 and 1988. Despite stiff competition from bigger local stations Radio Carousel and Boyneside Radio, it built up and maintained its own audience. The station was first located in Dundalk, moving south to the village of Blackrock in 1982 before returning to Dundalk in 1986. The main frequencies used for most of its existence were 1197 kHz AM and 88.5 FM. Telstar closed down along with other pirates at midnight on New Year’s Eve 1988.

This recording is of part of Dave Ritchie’s Friday night show, including chart hits and some oldies, along with adverts for mostly Dundalk-based businesses. There are news headlines on the hour and some notices, including mention of a local gig by British pop star Howard Jones. The tape was recorded from 88.5 FM on 13^th March 1987 from 1830-2006. Another station is heard briefly at about the half-way point, possibly an earlier recording on the same cassette.

The tape was made originally by John Gartlan and is from the Anoraks Ireland Collection, donated to us by Paul Davidson.

31st December 20234th January 2024

Galway’s County Sound welcomes 1988

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County Sound broadcast to Galway from 17^th March 1987 until 31^st December 1988 and built up a loyal listenership during its time on air. Based originally in the town of Tuam, County Sound moved into Galway City in January 1988 and slogged it out with another pirate Coast 103 for local advertising revenue. Both stations were professional operations and dominated the Galway radio market at the end of the pirate era. This recording was made exactly a year before County Sound closed down and features regular overnight presenter Jon Richards bidding farewell to 1987 and welcoming 1988. He looks back at the pop music highlights of 1987, reviews the year’s films and previews cinematic releases for the new year. Jon Richards continues to broadcast on local station Galway Bay FM.

This recording was made from County Sound’s Tuam transmitter on 94.3 FM between 2345 and 0030 on 31^st December 1987 and 1^st January 1988. It is from the Anoraks Ireland Tapes Collection, donated to us by Paul Davidson.

29th November 202317th December 2023

Non-stop music on Viking 105 from Wicklow

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Viking 105 was the final name given to the pirate station that broadcast from Wicklow Town between mid-1982 and the end of 1988. The first station was called Wicklow Community Radio (WCR), that emerged from temporary community stations operating in the town. WCR was relaunched as WLCB (Wicklow Local Community Broadcasting) in the summer of 1985 and aimed a more commercial service at the entire county. WLCB was rebranded as Viking 105 in June 1987 and continued until the end of 1988.

In this recording made soon after the rebranding, the first hour consists of non-stop easy listening, ballads, country and folk music interspersed with adverts. The music changes to contemporary pop in the second hour but there is only one link by the DJ. The name Brendan Cullen is noted on the cassette label. Adverts and idents feature the voice of the legendary Tony Allan, who also did a stint presenting on Viking before moving to ERI in Cork.

The tape was recorded from 104.8 FM, announcing 105, from 1010-1146 on Saturday 8^th August 1987. Viking also broadcast on 1602 kHz AM and was based at the same address as previous versions of the station, 1 Wentworth Place in Wicklow Town. The recording is from the Anoraks Ireland Tapes Collection, donated to us by Paul Davidson.

20th June 202318th June 2023

Q102 outside broadcast from Dublin city centre

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Q102 logo from 1987 (Alan MacSimoin collection).

By summer 1987 after more than two years on air, Q102 was well established as one of the leading pirate radio stations in Dublin and Ireland. It and other super-pirates repeatedly pushed the boundaries in terms of content, standards and technology and this tape is a good example of the high levels of professionalism attained by the bigger stations towards the end of the 1980s pirate era.

Q102 outside broadcast from Dublin city centre — Original cassette label from Anoraks Ireland Collection.

The recording features an outside broadcast by Q102 from the Switzer’s department store during the Midsummer Madness party taking place there. There are vox pops with shoppers and kids on Grafton Street, some of whom have just finished school exams, £5 gift vouchers and ice creams are given away as prizes. The OB features various presenters including Mickey Joe, Scott Williams, Mike Hogan, Dave Kelly, Greg Gaughren, Martin Block and Anne Cassin. The usual agency ads are heard and there is a competition for tickets for the iconic U2 concert in Croke Park on June 28^th. News at 3 minutes to the hour is read by Maura O’Neill.

The tape was made from 102.1 FM on Saturday 20^th June 1987. Part 1 above runs from 1342-1430 and Part 2 below from 1430-1518.

Part 2 from 1430

At this time Q102 also broadcast on 819 kHz AM and 103.5 FM. The tape is from the Anoraks Ireland Tapes Collection, donated to us by Paul Davidson.