1988 Archives - Page 2 of 24 - Irish Pirate Radio Audio Archive

12th January 202518th January 2025

Denis Murray on Liberty 104

By 1988, Liberty 104 had attracted some high-profile Dublin broadcasters to its studios in the heart of the Liberties district and the station was gaining listeners. One experienced DJ who had previously been heard on Radio Nova and its offshoot KISS FM was Denis Murray, who in this recording presents a drivetime show. Music is a mixture of chart hits and classics and there is a listener competition based on identifying three songs. A promo for factory requests underlines how stations like Liberty 104 catered for this cohort of the population. Confusingly, Denis refers to 103 FM on a few occasions despite the 104 branding, although there was a lot of variation in the station name during its almost 3 years on air. News at the top of the hour is read by Michael Mahon, formerly of Energy 103.

The recording above was made from 1548-1721 on Monday 4^th April 1988 and is from the Anoraks Ireland Collection, donated to us by Paul Davidson. The final section below runs from 1723-1809.

Final section from 1723-1809

Audio quality is good to fair with some hiss. It was recorded from 103.5 FM. Liberty 104 also broadcast on 103.9 FM as well as 1035 kHz AM at this time.

10th January 20258th January 2025

Non-stop music on Radio West

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Radio West broadcast from 1982 to 1988 and grew from a local station serving the midlands to a regional station with national aspirations. It re-launched as ‘West National Radio 3’ in 1987 and claimed coverage of 22 counties but in fact the signal was poor or non-existant in many parts of country away from the main transmission site near Mullingar.

This recording was made on a Friday night a fortnight before Radio West closed down at the end of 1988. It consists of continuous music interspersed with station idents and jingles. There are occasional interruptions suggesting that this may be a pre-recorded tape, although it would be surprising that a live DJ would not be on air at that time of the day. Of particular interest is the opening song, ‘Leave the stations on the airwaves’ by Chuck, June and the Gamblers which complained about the impending closedown of the pirates.

The tape is from the Anoraks Ireland Collection and was made from Radio West’s Dublin relay on 97.3 FM between 2010-2056 on Friday 16^th December 1988. The station also broadcast on 702 kHz AM and various low-power FM relays. The final show was hosted by country music veteran DJ Don Allen (RIP) on 30^th December 1988.

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.

8th November 20243rd December 2024

Border series: Donegal pirate WABC in 1988

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Continuing our series on Donegal pirate WABC, today’s recording is from 1988, the last year of the station’s first period on air before new broadcasting legislation was introduced. On 10^th January 1988, WABC was heard on a new frequency of 101.7 FM. The move was due to interference at 107 and the fact that not everyone wanted to tune so high up on the FM dial. Also in January 1988, power on 1242 kHz was noted at about 150w and the studios were said to be in a mobile home about 5 miles from Inishowen Head. The target areas were Derry City, Coleraine and Limavaddy.

On 27^th March, Weekly Report noted WABC on 6300 kHz shortwave as well as medium wave and FM. It added: ‘The station seems bright and lively and must be gaining listeners amongst the younger end in Coleraine and surrounds. Some adverts are noted, and plenty of “Laser-type” jingles’. Around this time, the Sunday World newspaper carried a feature about the station and its first road show which was a success. On 10^th April 1988, the FM transmitter of WABC on 101.7 was reported to have an output of 900w. The main FM was to be moved from the existing site at the studio at about 230 feet above sea level to a new site about 600 feet above sea level so the new signal would cover a much greater area. Reference was made to a recent setback when a number of items were stolen from the station, including a transmitter. On 24^th April, no doubt in response to the new transmitter site, Anoraks UK reported a ‘super signal’ for WABC on FM in Blackpool. On 12^th June, it noted that WABC had moved from Garvagh to Greencastle where their new studios were located. It also reported a new FM transmitter for Derry City on 100.8 and Moville and the Donegal coast on 99.8. Both MW and SW were off air at the time due to a lack of valves.

Our recording was made on a drizzly summer morning and features the end of the Breakfast Club with Paul Bentley (Paul Barnett, RIP), followed by Krissi. There are plenty of tagliners and station idents and adverts for businesses in Co. Antrim. The tape was made on 7^th July 1988 from 101.7 FM between 1019-1105 and is kindly donated by Ian Biggar.