1988 closedowns Archives - Irish Pirate Radio Audio Archive

14th February 202520th February 2025

Border series: Radio North closes down at end of 1988,

Along with the vast majority of the other pirates, the Donegal station Radio North closed down at the end of 1988 in compliance with new broadcasting legislation. This recording of the final hour of Radio North on New Year’s Eve is presented by Mickey Henry who shares many requests from loyal listeners on both sides of the border, including one who has recorded most of the shows for posterity. Other presenters join Mickey in studio and there is a supportive phone call from neighbouring pirate Donegal Community Radio (DCR).

The closedown speech just before midnight is read by station manager Francis Callaghan, who thanks everyone involved over the previous two years. Although the transmitter is about to be switched off, he hints that more is to come when he says that Radio North will be bigger and better than ever in 1989.

The recording was made by Rodney Neill from 98 FM between 2302-0000 on December 31^st 1988 and is courtesy of DX Archive. Within days, Radio North would return to the airwaves.

31st December 202430th December 2024

Closedown of Capitol Radio/Nitesky 96

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Capitol Radio was Dublin’s alternative music station, broadcasting for five-and-a-half years from mid-1983 until the end of 1988. It began by playing album tracks but focused more on alternative/indie in its last two years on air, supporting the many new Irish bands on the growing Dublin music scene. In summer 1986, Capitol launched an evening service, Nitesky 96, which experimented with specialist shows and further promoted indie bands. It had a loyal following among listeners unserved by the ‘hot hits’ format that was popular among the pirate stations and ran a weekly ‘Alternative Night’ in the iconic McGonagle’s nightclub in South Anne Street, to where the station moved its premises in later years.

This recording is of the final half-hour of Capitol/Nitesky on New Year’s Eve 1988 as it prepared to close down for good. On air is station manager Conor Brooks with Tony Lewis and Killian Forde in studio. There is a link-up to a closedown event at Side’s nightclub in Dame Street, from where DJs John Kiely and Matt Dempsey give updates via a scratchy phone line. Conor thanks listeners, advertisers and presenters for their support, singling out McGonagle’s which was so important to Capitol/Nitesky in later years. He also underlines the relationship between the station and the emerging Irish indie scene, saying that one fed the other and distinguished Capitol/Nitesky from mainstream radio stations.

The recording is from the Anoraks Ireland Collection and was made from 95.8 FM on 31^st December 1988 from 2333-0002. It is followed by the sound of the FM transmitter being switched off. A longer airchecked version of the final two hours on air is available below and includes other DJs Tony Gahan and Neil Hayes as well as a visit from Bryan Lambert of Class Radio, which had closed down a few hours earlier.

Longer airchecked version of final 2 hours (Anoraks Ireland Collection).

15th November 20243rd December 2024

Border series: closedown of WABC in December 1988

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Donegal pirate WABC closed at 4pm on 30^th December 1988 despite announcing previously that it would carry on and for a time over that weekend it looked as if the station would make a speedy return. This recording is of the final 90 minutes of WABC from 1430 on that day. It begins with Barry Owler who shares good wishes to those involved from local advertisers and listeners. There is a promo about the pirate closedowns that day and reference to the new radio legislation, including WABC’s intention to apply for a licence at a later stage. Barry is followed by station operator Paul Bentley (Paul Barnett, RIP) from 1500 for the final hour.

Following closedown at 1600, a loop tape was broadcast on WABC’s frequencies later that evening claiming erroneously that Radio Dublin owner Eamonn Cooke had won his appeal against the new radio legislation, that it appeared that the new laws were on ice and that WABC may be able to return to the airwaves. The court had in fact dismissed Cooke’s attempt to gain an injunction preventing the new laws from coming into effect but had granted him leave to challenge the constitutionality of certain sections of the broadcasting acts. Although WABC did not return in the short term, it would not be too long until it was heard again on the airwaves in the northwest. The recording was made from 101.7 FM by Rodney Neill and is courtesy of DX Archive.

21st October 202410th December 2024

Death of veteran radio presenter Michael Reade

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The death was announced on 21^st October 2024 of Michael Reade, who presented a current affairs show on the independent radio station for Louth and Meath, LMFM, for the past 21 years. Michael announced in September 2024 that he had been diagnosed with a terminal illness and was very sick. Earlier that year, his long-running show on LMFM was awarded the IMRO radio award for best current affairs programme on local radio. We extend condolences to Michael’s family and friends. RIP.

Like so many other broadcasters of his era, Michael got his first experience in pirate radio as a teenager. He was just 15 when he first broadcast in 1981 and went on to present rock shows on Dublin stations Radio City, Radio Annabel and Capitol Radio. His daily programme on Capitol in 1988 was promoted as the country’s only rock breakfast show, reflecting that station’s alternative music style. He was also one of the presenters of Capitol’s final day of broadcasting on New Year’s Eve 1988, when the station closed in advance of new broadcasting legislation that was meant to silence the pirates. Capitol Radio broadcast from 1983-1988 and became the go-to place to fans of alternative, indie and rock music in Dublin. It relaunched as Capitol-Nitesky 96 in 1986.

This is an extract from Michael’s final show on that day, which features his favourite music and phone calls on a scratchy line from listeners sending New Year’s wishes to friends and to those involved in pirate radio. There are regular promos for the closing-down party later that night at Side’s nightclub in central Dublin. The tape is from the Anoraks Ireland Collection and was made between 1621-1707 on 31^st December 1988 from 95.8 FM.

28th December 202128th December 2021

Closedown of West National Radio 3

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This is the final programme on the Mullingar-based station West National Radio 3 on December 30^th 1988. Launched as Radio West in 1981, the station expanded its coverage beyond the midlands on AM and FM and could be heard from Dublin to Galway by 1987. The closing programme is the Country Jamboree, hosted by one of the big names of offshore and Irish pirate radio, the late Don Allen. Don is joined studio by a host of station staff, local business owners and country music artists.

Station owner Shaun Coyne thanks everyone involved and expresses optimism that Radio West will get a licence. He also comments on the costs involving in running the station, including the weekly £500 bill for the generator that kept the 10kW AM transmitter on air. Radio West was supposed to close at 9pm and as the show continues past the deadline, Don Allen jokes that the diesel powering the transmitter will run out!

There is also evidence of how pirate radio supported the Irish country music scene, with warm recognition from country music artists for Radio West’s support. This theme was repeated on many other rural pirate stations when closing down at the end of 1988. The recording above runs from 2032-2106 and the one below from 2106-2205. Both were made from 100.1 FM and are kindly donated by John Breslin.

Final hour of West National Radio 3.

For a comprehensive account of the 1988 closedowns, see the Radiowaves site.