1988 Archives - Page 12 of 24 - Irish Pirate Radio Audio Archive

22nd September 202115th June 2024

Border series: Westside Radio from Sligo

Westside Radio began broadcasting from Sligo on 97.5 MHz FM on 15^th November 1986, playing mostly country and western music. The Weekly Report of Anoraks UK on 7^th December reported that the audio was quite loud and sometimes distorted. An advert in Weekly Report in February 1987 (pictured) claimed that Westside was Sligo’s ‘first ever country music, folk and traditional and easy listening radio station’. Subsequent reports by Anoraks UK referred to plenty of requests and adverts, so the format appeared to be working locally. By April 1987, the station had changed its name to Westside Community Radio.

In February 1987, a West Coast Radio from Sligo was reported to be testing on 1143 kHz AM and 103.5 FM. This was a shortlived station but there must have been confusion between the similar names when both were on air.

This recording of Westside Radio was made from 97.6 FM from 2028-2202 (part 2 below) on 29^th August 1988 and features a chart music show with Des McAleer who adds ‘Power 97.5 FM’ to the station ID. Clearly Westside had moved beyond its original easy listening format by this late stage in its existence, at least in its evening shows. The station was listed in an Anoraks UK log on 5^th July 1988 and Power 97 is mentioned in a report from Sligo on 24^th September, suggesting that it may have changed its name by that time. We thank John Breslin for this donation.

Part 2 of the recording (2115-2202).

21st July 202114th July 2021

More shortwave DXing on Galway’s KFM

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This is another selection of undated excerpts from the DXers’ programme on Galway pirate KFM in the final months of 1988. Presenter Shane Keating chats to contributor John Breslin from north Co. Clare about shortwave DXing. John lists DX clubs and shortwave stations he has heard recently including Radio Budapest, Transworld Radio, Voice of Ethiopia and Radio Finland. Shane provides addresses of European stations so that listeners can request QSLs.

Shane Keating also presented a Saturday morning children’s programme on KFM and there are excerpts of this including phone calls from young listeners. The recording ends with Shane signing off for the last time on 31^st December 1988, the day that KFM closed and the Irish airwaves fell largely silent.

We thank John Breslin for his donation of this recording, which was made from 95.99 FM in north Clare. Reception is variable as it outside the core KFM coverage area.

19th July 202114th July 2021

DXers’ programme on Galway’s KFM

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KFM flyer (courtesy of Ian Biggar).

Programmes for radio anoraks or DXers were a feature of some Irish pirates during their 1980s heyday. One such station was KFM, which broadcast from 1986-1988 from a village near Galway before moving into the city itself. In the last few months of its existence from October to December 1988, KFM broadcast a weekly programme for DXers with a focus on the shortwave band.

This is a selection of airchecked undated excerpts from the DXers’ programme from that period, presented by Shane Keating. The programme is aimed at listeners new to the band and there are explanations of shortwave propagation, QSL cards and SINPO codes. A regular contributor to the programme was John Breslin, who is heard describing his experience of shortwave DXing during a phone-in to the show. There is also a recording supplied by John of Radio Berlin International from East Germany.

We thank John for donating this recording, which he made in north Co. Clare from 95.99 FM. Reception is fair because of the distance from the transmitter.

14th July 202115th July 2021

Independent Radio Mayo as heard in Scotland

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This is a recording of Independent Radio Mayo (IRM) as received in Scotland from 1525-1720 on Friday 25^th July 1988 on 738 kHz AM. IRM was in fact heard by accident when Dublin station Q102, broadcasting on the same frequency, went off the air for approximately two hours. The recording begins with adverts on Q102 and a relatively strong signal due to the geography, followed by the weaker signal of IRM when the Dublin station goes off. However IRM’s 1kW professional transmitter, used originally by Radio Leinster in Dublin, was very effective and as can be heard, the signal travelled well as far as Scotland.

There follows almost two hours of IRM, including the afternoon show of one of the founders Gerry Delaney with plenty of community announcements, requests, the Golden Hour and a sports round-up. Joe Finnegan takes over at 5pm with his teatime programme and news is read on the hour by Chris Clesham. Of note are the long ad breaks featuring businesses from across Mayo and occasionally Sligo. At the end Q102 returns to the frequency, blocking out IRM.

This recording was made by Ken Baird and we thank Ian Biggar for sharing it with us. Reception is fair to poor but perfectly listenable for DXers.

12th July 202111th July 2021

The Golden Hour on Independent Radio Mayo

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Independent Radio Mayo (IRM) from Castlebar began broadcasting in July 1987, in competition with the popular local station Midwest Radio in Ballyhaunis. An advert in the Anoraks UK Weekly Report (left) shows that IRM had three FM frequencies: 96 MHz to east and south Mayo, 100 MHz in Castlebar and 102 MHz covering Ballina in the north. Test transmissions on 1044 kHz AM were mentioned but the station later switched to 738 kHz, using the old Radio Leinster transmitter from Dublin.

This recording of IRM was made from 99 FM from 1630-1719 on Friday 4th November 1988. It features the last part of the Golden Hour with Andy Rogers (formerly of the BBC) and Peter James, who review the music of 1972. The 5 o’clock news is read by Chris Clesham and this is followed by Joe Finnegan. The ‘Independent’ part of the station name was often dropped by presenters who referred simply to ‘Radio Mayo’. Along with most other pirates, IRM closed down on New Year’s 1988 in line with new radio legislation.

Reception is fair as the recording was made in Co. Clare, well outside IRM’s core FM coverage. We thank John Breslin for the donation.