1988 Archives - Page 2 of 27 - Irish Pirate Radio Audio Archive

16th January 202618th January 2026

Radio West Anoraks’ Show as pirate closedowns approach

The Anoraks Show every Sunday morning on Radio West was a must for radio fans in the final years of the heyday of the Irish pirates in the 1980s. This excerpt from one such show was recorded with little over a month left before the deadline of 31^st December 1988 for the pirates to close down in line with new broadcasting legislation.

Station boss Shaun Coyne is in studio with Willie Harte and discusses a campaign meeting in Dublin to save the pirates, supported by the Irish music industry. A number of schools in Co. Monaghan are said to have joined forces to oppose the closure of local station Big M and the influence of the pirates on the North is mentioned. There’s also a letter from Anoraks Ireland seeking assistance with recording the final 90 minutes of pirate stations on New Year’s Eve or sooner if necessary.

Since 1987, Radio West was known as West National Radio 3 and was claiming nationwide coverage. The recording is from the Anoraks Ireland Collection and was made on Sunday 27^th November 1988 from around 1115-1130 from the station’s Dublin relay on 97.3 FM. West National Radio 3 also broadcast on 702 kHz AM.

7th January 20261st December 2025

Friday afternoon on Ballincollig Community Radio

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Ballincollig Community Radio broadcast to the Cork suburb of Ballincollig for the latter part of 1988 up to the deadline for the pirate stations to go off the air. The station operated on FM only and in this recording from November 1988, station manager Margaret Mahon presents ballads, country and showbands, along with a listeners’ quiz. There is a reference to Paul Davidson of Anoraks Ireland, who had just visited the station.

The recording is from the Anoraks Ireland Collection and was made from 103.6 FM, announcing 104, between 1542-1613 on Friday, 4^th November 1988.

17th December 202529th November 2025

Drivetime on Centre Radio from Cork

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Centre Radio was a Cork pirate broadcasting from late 1986 to the end of 1988. It was first located in Shandon Street in the city centre and then moved to Dublin Hill on the northside. An FM station only, it first broadcast on 101.5 and then 101, before moving to 95 MHz.

This recording from towards the end of its run features the end of the 95 FM Drive show with station boss Eric Young (aka Kevin Cussens), consisting mostly of chart music with short links. The tape is from the Anoraks Ireland Collection and was made from 95 FM between 1832-1903 on Thursday 3^rd November 1988.

12th December 202529th November 2025

Anoraks Show on Radio West from spring 1988

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The Anoraks’ Show on Radio West, later West National Radio 3, was a weekly review of the Irish pirate radio scene. It was presented by station boss Shaun Coyne and was renowned for being unpredictable and heavy on gossip and rumour. This edition of the Anoraks’ Show from spring 1988 includes news about the closure of Radio Carousel in Dundalk and Drogheda, the new KISS FM in Monaghan, Longford Community Radio, Breffni Radio and Northern Star. Shaun also recounts how West National Radio 3 was considering buying Hits 954 in Limerick, but that station was recently acquired by Coast 103 in Galway. There is also reference to revisions of the impending legislation to silence the pirates and introduce licensed local radio. Shaun is joined in studio by Willie Harte, who can barely get a word in!

The tape was made from 702 kHz AM between 1057-1131 on Sunday, 24^th April 1988 and is partially airchecked. It is from the Anoraks Ireland Collection.

24th October 202518th October 2025

Long Saturday Breakfast Show on South West Radio

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South West Radio broadcast from Killarney in Co. Kerry from 1986-1988. It was logged by Anoraks Ireland in November 1986 on 105 FM and listed by Anoraks UK as South West Community Radio in January 1987. By 1988, the station had added additional transmitters to boost coverage (97.1 FM for Killarney and Tralee and 103.3 for north Kerry). This recording is of a marathon breakfast show presented by John Howard (Niall Cassidy), who plays mostly country and Irish music. Adverts are heard for businesses in Kerry and north Cork, including one for the Radio Mallow music awards. There’s also a call from a listener who plays the tin whistle live on air and in keeping with some other rural stations, the Angelus bell is broadcast at midday. Niall Cassidy worked previously with Diamond Radio in Dublin (1984).

The recording was made from 97.1 FM between 0831-0902 and 1156-1227 on Saturday 5^th November 1988 and is from the Anoraks Ireland Collection.