Ian Dempsey in the ARD/Radio 257 studios at the Crofton (courtesy Noel Hiney)
This is a selection of adverts, promos and clips from popular Dublin station ARD in 1979, including part of the station’s final day before relaunching as Radio 257 at the beginning of 1980. Included is a promo for a phone-in show presented by Ronan Collins who went on to become a household name in RTÉ. Part of Ian Dempsey’s final show on ARD is heard on 31st December 1979. There are also clips of Sylvia on the final day and of Dave Cunningham on the new Radio 257.
This recording was made by Kieran Murray from both FM and AM and is from the Anoraks Ireland Tapes Collection, donated to us by Paul Davidson.
This is a recording of the founder of Big D, James Dillon, in the early days of the station in May 1978. The Big D song by fellow DJ John Paul is heard, as is the station’s former theme tune, Stayin’ Alive by the Bee Gees, James explaining that it was used on test transmissions. There are requests for listeners around the city, a live-read advert and a promo for a classical music show on Sunday morning.
We have no times for the recording but an edit is heard near the start. It was made from 1115 kHz (announcing 273 metres) by Alan Hilton, presumably in Co. Wicklow. Thanks to Ian Biggar for the donation.
A march on 27th May 1983 following the raids on pirate radio (courtesy Joe King).
Following the raids by the Department of Posts and Telegraphs on the large Dublin stations Radio Nova and Sunshine Radio, fear spread through the pirate radio world in Dublin and further afield. Many stations closed temporarily as a precaution and Radio Leinster left the airwaves for good. It was expected that the long-running Radio Dublin in Inchicore would be the next to be raided and the premises and equipment were secured as a precaution. During Thursday 19th May, the date of Radio Nova’s official closedown, Radio Dublin opened its phone lines and studios to listeners concerned that they were to lose their favourite pirate stations.
This recording of that afternoon captures both the growing sense of panic among the pirates and the deep loyalty of listeners to Radio Dublin. First up is DJ Damien McCloskey who chats to other DJs and listeners both in studio and by phone, all of whom express their anger at the Department of Posts and Telegraphs. A protest march to support local radio is announced for the following week and there are references to the demise of Radio Leinster and the forthcoming Nova closedown. There are plenty of technical glitches and the Department is accused of jamming the phone lines preventing listeners from getting through. At 4pm Seán Day (Murphy) takes over and continues in the same style.
Audio quality is fair with some cassette degradation and wobble. The recording was made on 19th May 1983 from 1188 kHz, announcing 253 metres, and there is ample use of the iconic Radio Dublin 253 jingle package and station theme ‘I Like It’ by the Da Band. Radio Dublin was not on FM that day, probably as a precaution against removal of transmission equipment. Part 1 of the recording above begins at 1510 and Part 2 below at 1608 but there are minor edits in both.
Part 2 from 1608 with Seán Day
The recording is from the Skywave Tapes Collection. Radio Skywave International was a 1980s shortwave station from Baldoyle in northeast Dublin.
Rear of Radio Dublin studios in Inchicore (courtesy DX Archive).
This is another Free Radio Campaign (FRC) programme presented by Gerard Roe on Radio Dublin Channel 2 in April 1983. The FRC includes a recording of the launch of Channel 2 two years previously in April 1981. Gerard plays a tape of the Community Broadcasting Cooperative (CBC) announcing a summer schedule of temporary stations for Sandymount, Ringsend, Mount Merrion, Wicklow, Ashbourne, Rathcairn, Glasnevin and Donnybrook. He informs listeners that a senior source in Radio Leinster has said the station will close in a few weeks due to financial difficulties – that would prove to be a prescient warning. There’s also part of a BBC history of pop radio including offshore stations and a report from UK radio magazine Airspec News on the Irish scene. A listener to the shortwave relay in Belfast writes in to say that the 1983 World Radio and TV Handbook includes the Irish pirates for the first time.
Once again there is bleedthrough from Radio Dublin Channel 1, meaning that audio quality is poor in places. This tape was made from 1152 kHz, announced at 269 metres, from 2000-2108 on 13th April 1983. It is from the Anoraks Ireland Tapes Collection, donated to us by Paul Davidson. Listen here to Pirate.ie Podcast #10 featuring our interview with Gerard Roe about his memories of pirate radio.
Radio Dublin Channel 2 studio (courtesy Gerard Roe).
This edition of Gerard Roe’s Free Radio Campaign (FRC) show on Radio Dublin Channel 2 from 1983 includes a recording of Olwen Dixon of Bray Local Broadcasting (BLB) outlining the philosophy of community radio, as heard on Concord Community Radio in north Dublin. Both stations were strongly associated with the growing community radio movement and would later lead the National Association of Community Broadcasters (NACB). The show also features a recording of new station Finglas Community Radio. Gerard notes that Channel 2 has been off FM for the previous two weeks due to poor weather conditions but reminds listeners that the FRC would be repeated on Westside Radio International on shortwave on Sunday morning.
The tape was made on 6th April 1983 from 2000-2108 from 1152 kHz, announced as 269 metres although that wavelength equates to 1116. Audio quality is poor in places due to bleedthrough from the main Radio Dublin channel. This recording is from the Anoraks Ireland Tapes Collection, donated to us by Paul Davidson.
Listen here to Pirate.ie Podcast #10 featuring our interview with Gerard Roe about his memories of pirate radio.
