AM Archives - Page 35 of 64 - Irish Pirate Radio Audio Archive

12th November 202110th November 2021

Dr. Don hosts a phone-in on ARD

ARD (Alternative Radio Dublin) first broadcast on July 31^st 1976 on 217 metres. It was set up by Declan Meehan, Mark Story and Davitt Kelly (RIP). Following a split at Radio Dublin, the late Don Moore (Dr. Don) joined ARD and it moved to 1161 kHz (announcing 257 metres), next to its rival on 253 metres. The competition between Radio Dublin and ARD forced up standards as both stations experimented with extending broadcast hours and more professional programming. Don Moore developed ARD into a credible station in its own right and planned to seek a licence.

In this recording from 1978, Dr. Don is heard hosting a lively phone-in on a Sunday afternoon. Listeners sing their favourite songs on air and appreciate Don’s zany style, corny jokes and canned laughter. We get a real sense of a rapport with listeners and this recording reminds us that Don was a gifted and natural broadcaster. The voices of the late Tony Allen and Dave C are heard on ads and promos.

This recording was made from 1161 kHz (announcing 257 metres) from 1620-1700 on 4^th June 1978. Thanks to Ian Biggar for the donation.

10th November 20219th November 2021

Dr. Don closes Radio Dublin in 1976

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Under the direction of the late Don Moore, Radio Dublin began night-time broadcasting in 1976, expanding the station’s presence on air beyond the usual Sunday afternoon slot. However, the extended hours drew the attention of the authorities and Radio Dublin was raided on Wednesday 15^th September 1976.

This recording was made from 227 metres medium wave on Friday 17^th September and was the station’s final night-time broadcast for the foreseeable future. A subdued Dr. Don opens the half-hour broadcast, which contains plenty of pirate-themed music. There are also recordings of other DJs such as Dave C., Paul Downey and John Walsh (nothing to the John Walsh of this site!).

Listeners are urged to join the Radio Dublin club to support the station. It would be another year before Radio Dublin began periods of full-time broadcasting in September 1977, prompting the transition from the pirates as hobbyists to more serious stations. This recording was made originally by Kieran Murray and was kindly shared by Ian Biggar.

8th November 20217th November 2021

Dr. Don and Prince Terry on Radio Dublin

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This recording features two of the early pioneers of Radio Dublin, Dr Don (Don Moore, RIP) and Prince Terry (Roger Lloyd). It was made from 253 metres on Sunday 22^nd February 1976 from about 2pm and is airchecked. Don is his usual flamboyant self and the canned laughter and Tarzan sound effects only add to the atmosphere of anarchy. Other DJs who get a mention are ‘Cool Enough Seamus’ and ‘Jiving Joey’ and we hear a few links from Seamus whose real name is the less exotic Des Byrne. He is followed by Roger Lloyd who is very happy to have received 10 letters during the week. The postal address given is 90 Ranelagh, Dublin 6.

Thanks to Ian Biggar for sharing this recording, which was made originally by Kieran Murray.

30th October 202115th December 2024

Don Moore (RIP) on Radio Dublin

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One of the early pioneers of pirate radio in Dublin and Ireland, Don Moore (Dr Don), died in 2021. Here is an early recording of Don on Radio Dublin on Sunday 28^th December 1975 from 1400-1630. Don bemoans the fate of another Dublin pirate, Capitol Radio, which had been raided on 21^st December and returned to the air on the 28^th for a farewell broadcast. Clips from Capitol’s final broadcast are heard, featuring Alan Russell and Ed McDowell, and Don advises listeners to write to the newspapers and the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs to complain. He also refers to Radio Mi Amigo on 252 metres, and says that Radio Dublin is blocking reception of their signal locally. Later in the recording, Prince Terry (Roger Lloyd) reads out some letters from listeners including one in Irish which is translated by Dr Don. Skywave interference from Mi Amigo is heard towards the end of the broadcast.

We thank Ian Biggar for donating this recording, which was made originally by Kieran Murray.

29th October 202123rd October 2021

Irish Christian Broadcasting Service

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Masthead of an ICBS flyer from c. 1986 (courtesy Ian Biggar).

Christian and Catholic pirate stations were among the niche unlicensed broadcasters of the 1980s. The longest running station was the Irish Christian Broadcasting Service which went on air in 1981 and continued until midnight on 30^th December 1988. In the early days, it broadcast from a convent in Finglas in northwest Dublin and later moved to Chapelizod and then Ballsbridge. The station was listed on 1071 kHz in logs spanning 1981 to 1985, when it moved to 891 kHz and then to 981 kHz, where it remained until the end of 1988. An Evening Herald report from 5^th May 1983 said that ICBS was test broadcasting for a few hours each evening on 1404 kHz.

The same article reported that ICBS intended to apply for a licence and a spokesman Jim Sherlock was quoted as saying that they did not wish to defy the authorities. He claimed that the Catholic Church was interested in ICBS and that the minister with responsibility for broadcasting, Ted Nealon was ‘sympathetic’ with their case. It was reported that ICBS did not carry advertisements and was financed by voluntary contributions. The schedule consisted of 70 percent religious and other music and 30 percent religious interviews and news.

This recording was made from 1071 kHz on 5^th April 1982 and consists of biblical extracts read by a woman with an American accent, interspersed with religious music. It may have been a tape sent to ICBS by a US religious group. Recordings of this type were occasionally used as income streams by Irish pirates, both religious and non-religious. Thanks to Shay Geoghegan for the donation.