AM Archives - Page 2 of 64 - Irish Pirate Radio Audio Archive

17th October 202513th October 2025

Border series: Test transmission by Radio Sligo

This is an unusual recording that underlines the volatile and sometimes dramatic nature of pirate radio in Irish during the 1980s. It is of a test transmission by Radio Sligo from February 1984, just 10 days after the station was wrecked by a disgruntled former DJ who would go on to be jailed for the incident. The Sligo Champion of 17^th February 1984 reported that the former DJ was charged with causing over £1,500 worth of damage to equipment and of stealing nearly £1,300 worth of property, including the FM transmitter. The damage and theft occurred after the intruder broke into the station on the night of 8^th and 9^th of February following a dispute over pay which had led him to leave Radio Sligo. The Sligo Champion reported on 23^rd November that the former DJ was sentenced to 6 months’ imprisonment for the incident.

This strange recording contains references to vandals and bandits, which no doubt refer to the attack just over a week before, and it seems that this is the first time that Radio Sligo returned to the air after losing its equipment and FM transmitter. The address of 4, Castle Street and a telephone number are given out and the unidentified presenters announce that the station will return the following day. There were a number of pirates called Radio Sligo in the 1970s and 1980s but this version began in 1981 and continued to be logged until September 1984, so it seems that the station returned to the airwaves for a number of months after the attack.

The tape was made from 1260 kHz, announcing 237 metres, on 18^th February 1984 and is courtesy of Ian Biggar.

13th October 202512th October 2025

Northeast series: Border Weekend Radio from Co. Louth

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Border Weekend Radio was a short-lived pirate broadcasting in January and February 1989 after the introduction of new legislation that was supposed to silence the unlicensed stations. Based in Carrickcarnon on the Louth/Armagh border, it was a reincarnation of Rainbow Radio that had broadcast from the same location since August 2^nd 1987 until 31^st December 1988. Border Weekend Radio was run by the same operators, Oliver McMahon (Big O) and Eugene Markey, both formerly of Boyneside Radio North.

The first log of Border Weekend Radio in the Anoraks UK Weekly Report was on 28^th January 1989. It was noted that a new local radio station with some well-known voices heard previously on Rainbow Radio was heard the previous weekend on 1152 kHz AM and 98.5 FM, the former frequencies of Rainbow Radio. According to Weekly Report, Border Weekend Radio began broadcasting on the afternoon of Friday 20^th January on AM only. FM followed on Saturday morning and programming continued until midnight on Sunday. There were no adverts but blocks of programming were sponsored by local businesses. The station was logged again on Saturday 4^th February on 1152 kHz, using a Newry telephone number. However, in Weekly Report of 18^th February 1989, it was noted that following the second raid on Radio Dublin on February 11^th, both Border Weekend Radio and another Louth pirate Zee 103 seemed to have left the air for good. Border Weekend Radio would in fact return briefly as Summertime Sounds later in 1989.

This recording was made from 98.5 FM on 22^nd January 1989 between 1030-1350, with the final section partially edited. First up is Jolly Ollie (Oliver McMahon) with country and Irish music, followed by Mr Wonderful with a more mixed bag. The sheer volume of requests and mentions of local businesses underline the ongoing demand for local radio that was unserved in the vacuum caused by the closure of the pirates. Thanks to Ian Biggar for the donation.

10th October 202530th September 2025

Radio Nova news as heard in Britain

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

This recording of Dublin pirate station Radio Nova was made in the winter of 1984, a day after a serious air accident involving a plane flying from Dublin to Paris. Eight passengers and the pilot were killed on 13^th November 1984 when the light aircraft in which they were travelling crashed near Eastbourne on the southeast coast of England.

The recording of the 1400 Nova news bulletin was made from 738 kHz AM on 14^th November, when the extent of the tragedy was apparent. The newsreader is Sybil Fennell and the tape was made in Kidderminster near Birmingham. It is from the Leon Tipler Collection, donated to us by Steve England.

30th September 202530th September 2025

Border series: Saturday afternoon on Radio Sligo

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Radio Sligo t-shirt featuring station logo (courtesy Ian Biggar)

The history of pirate radio in Sligo is complicated by the existence of different stations of the same name during various periods, with no clear link to each other. The first period dates began in 1979 with two pirates based in the town – the first station calling itself Radio Sligo on 1166 kHz and the other called Radio City on 1300 kHz, which renamed itself Community Radio Sligo by 1980. Neither station was mentioned in the August/September 1980 edition of Sounds Alternative, so there may have been no pirates operating in the town at that time.

The second period is from autumn 1981 when a new Radio Sligo was logged on 1260 kHz, announcing 237 metres. This station featured in pirate radio listings in the Sunday Journal from late 1981 into 1982. The Danish Shortwave Clubs International Irish radio reports gave an address of 4 Castle Street, Sligo for this station. It continued to be logged in various sources up to 1984.

The third period is from 1985 with the arrival of another station called Radio Northwest, which later renamed itself Radio Sligo. According to a list published by Anoraks Ireland on 7^th October 1985, this was also based at 4 Castle Street, so it may have been connected with the previous station of the same name, although probably not with the original Radio Sligo from 1979.

This short airchecked recording of Radio Sligo is from the second period and features an unidentified DJ and adverts for local businesses in Sligo. It was recorded from 1745-1805 on Saturday 29^th January 1983 from 1260 kHz. The tape is from the Leon Tipler Collection, donated to us by Steve England. Thanks to Ian Biggar for additional background information.

30th September 202530th September 2025

Early Cork series: More of the launch of Radio City

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

This recording features more of the launch broadcast of Cork pirate Radio City at the end of August 1980. Pete Andrews (O’Neill) is in the chair with music and a preview of the planned programmes with various DJs including Susan James, Seán Collins, Derry O’Callaghan, Dave Johnson, Steve Douglas, John Marner and Dave Powell. There’s a cryptic reference to DJs from rival station Capital Radio who are said to be outside but not invited to the launch. Full programming on Radio City began the following day.

This recording was made from 1512 kHz, announcing 199 metres between 1634-1711 on Sunday 31^st August 1980 and is courtesy of Ken Baird. Audio quality is fair with variable levels.