Alan Edwards Archives - Irish Pirate Radio Audio Archive

11th March 202610th March 2026

Early Cork series: Radio City welcomes summer 1981

This recording contains excerpts of shows by various DJs on Cork pirate Radio City in early summer 1981. First up is Carl Johnson (Dan Noonan), who hands over to Alan Edwards on his weekly Saturday evening slot. We hear most of Alan’s show, which includes a letter from Radio City super-fan Lilian McCarthy (O’Donoghue). This is followed by more clips of Carl Johnson and Noel Evans (Welch), including one from the day of the general election, 11^th May 1981.

The bulk of the recording was made from 95.5 FM from around 1700 on Saturday 2^nd May 1981 but contains a number of edits. Radio City also broadcast on 1512 kHz, announcing 199 metres, but its AM channel was off air at the time. Audio quality is fair with some cassette wobble and distortion. Thanks to Lilian O’Donoghue for the donation.

20th February 202615th February 2026

Early Cork series: Alan Edwards and Luke Ward on Radio City

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

This is another recording of Alan Edwards on his regular Saturday early evening slot on Radio City from 1981. There are the usual requests and a mixture of contemporary hits and oldies. Plenty of adverts are heard, and news headlines are read by Alan himself. He is followed at 1900 by Luke Ward with the weekly Rock City Interviews show.

The partially airchecked recording was made between 1700-1900 on 25^th April 1981 from 95.5 FM. Radio City also broadcast on 1512 kHz AM, announcing 199 metres. Thanks to Lilian O’Donoghue for the donation.

4th February 202631st January 2026

Early Cork series: Saturday evening on Radio City

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

This is another edition of the Saturday early evening show on Cork pirate Radio City in spring 1981. On air is Alan Edwards with a mixture of contemporary hits and oldies. Alan shares requests and an announcement from a listener who wants to sell a flight from Cork to London, a sign of the times when air travel was less restricted than now. There are more adverts than in other recordings from around this time, one of which is voiced by Eric Hansen (the well-known RTÉ presenter John Creedon).

The tape was made from 95.5 FM from 1700-1900 on Saturday 11^th April 1981 and is courtesy of Lilian O’Donoghue.

19th January 202617th January 2026

Early Cork series: Various Saturday shows on Radio City

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

This recording of Cork pirate Radio City was made on a Saturday evening in spring 1981. Up first is the final part of Dave Johnson’s sports results programme. He is followed by Alan Edwards with his popular early evening show, complete with plenty of requests, a notice about a lost dog, adverts and mashed-up station idents. Among the hits played is Ireland’s entry to the 1981 Eurovision Song Contest, which is to be held that evening in Dublin. After Alan we hear the first few minutes of Luke Ward’s Rock City Interviews show.

Audio quality is poor in the first half, possibly because the receiver was slightly off channel, but it improves in the final hour. The recording was made on 4^th April 1981 from 1654-1906 from 95.5 FM. Radio City also broadcast on 199 metres medium wave (1512 kHz). Thanks to Lilian O’Donoghue for the donation.

5th December 202529th November 2025

Early Cork series: More Saturday evening shows on Radio City

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

This is another example of Saturday evening shows on Cork pirate Radio City from spring 1981. First up is the final part of Alan Edwards’ programme with a mixture of chart music and classics. He is followed by Luke Ward with his Rock City Interviews show. There are also adverts for local businesses and station jingles. Audio quality is generally good, but there is some wobble towards the end due to cassette degradation.

The recording was made from 95.5 FM between 1808-1905 on 21^st March 1981 and is courtesy of Lilian O’Donoghue. At this time Radio City also broadcast on 1512 kHz, announcing 199 metres. Thanks to Lilian O’Donoghue for the donation.