Posted on

Radio Tara picket reported by Boyneside Radio

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Radio Tara picket reported by Boyneside Radio
Boyneside car sticker (courtesy Andy Carter).

This recording is of the main 6.00 evening news from Drogheda-based Boyneside Radio on 30th August 1988 and includes an interview with a representative of local residents in Clonlyon in Co. Meath protesting against the erection of a high longwave mast for Radio Tara in nearby Clarkestown.

RTÉ’s proposed joint venture with Radio Luxembourg, Radio Tara went on the air as Atlantic 252 in September 1989. It was aimed at the large and lucrative British market at a time when the UK had no national commercial radio station. Atlantic 252 was very successful in the first half of the 1990s but closed in 2002.

The recording was made from 98 FM and is from the Pirate.ie collection.

Posted on

Final overnight of Centre Radio, 30th to 31st December 1988

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Final overnight of Centre Radio, 30th to 31st December 1988
Centre Radio flyer from 1987 (from Brian Greene).

This is an aircheck of the northeast Dublin station Centre Radio recorded from 2300 on 30th December 1988 to 0530 on 31st, the final day of broadcasting before the pirates were silenced. On air overnight is Bobby Gibbson (aka Brian Greene). Centre had just finished broadcasting a live variety concert from its studio location at the Mid-Sutton Community Centre. The decision was taken to broadcast through the night for the last time before the closedown at midnight on the 31st.

Final overnight of Centre Radio, 30th to 31st December 1988
Poster for Centre Radio disco, 1987 (from Brian Greene).
Posted on

Jingles: Radio Dublin

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Jingles: Radio Dublin
Radio Dublin badge (Alan MacSimoin Collection).

Radio Dublin was Ireland’s longest running pirate radio station. It broadcast from 1966 until 2002 and was at its peak in the early to mid 1980s on 253m/1188KHz and 6910 kHz shortwave. Here are a number of station idents and jingles from our collection, beginning above with two iconic 253 jingles from the late 1970s.

The clip below is a top-of-the-hour jingle from 1988. The FM transmitter had moved to 105 but Radio Dublin was still announcing 98.8.

Radio Dublin relayed other stations frequently during its long existence including World Music Radio. After midnight on 1st January 1989 when it defied the new law, it relied on WMR tapes for the first few days before resuming live programming. Here’s a WMR promo from 1987.