AM Archives - Page 8 of 53 - Irish Pirate Radio Audio Archive

6th September 202312th August 2023

Radio Dublin broadcasts World Music Radio

Radio Dublin regularly carried programming from the former Dutch pirate station World Music Radio (WMR). WMR broadcast without a licence from 1967 until 1973 when it was raided by the Dutch authorities. In the 1970s and 1980s, its programmes were carried by stations in Andorra, Italy, France and Radio Dublin in Ireland. WMR has been revived on a number of occasions over the past 25 years and has broadcast from Denmark on shortwave. It currently operates an AM licence in Copenhagen. Read more about the station history here.

This relay of WMR via Radio Dublin is from 1985 and features station pioneer Lee Alvin followed by Danish DJ Oscar Hansson with European hits in various languages. A mailing address in Amsterdam is given and there are adverts for the World Radio and Television Handbook. Radio Dublin is mentioned as one of the station’s partners. A break in audio about 25 minutes into the recording is possibly due to the change-over of a cassette.

The tape was made from 1200-1247 on 9^th June 1985 from 1188 kHz AM and is from the Skywave Tapes Collection. Radio Skywave International was a 1980s shortwave station broadcasting from Baldoyle in northeast Dublin.

1st September 20231st September 2023

Midday Miscellany on Wonderland Radio

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Wonderland Radio was the community station for the large suburb of Tallaght in southwest Dublin, broadcasting from 1984 to the end of 1988. Its promotional material used the strapline ‘Tallaght Community Broadcasting’ and the station changed its name to Tallaght Community Radio in the summer of 1986. Wonderland/Tallaght Community Radio was a member of the National Association of Community Broadcasters that lobbied for the licensing of non-commercial radio stations throughout the decade. Many of those involved in the pirate station set up the licensed Tallaght FM (1999-2008).

This tape from 1984 features part of the Midday Miscellany programme. The unidentified presenter shares recipes, a community notebook and a segment on mental health. There are promos for a small adverts slot and the Tallaght People of the Year Awards. Audio quality is fair to poor in places with over-modulation of the signal and variable audio levels. Some splatter is heard also, presumably from the powerful Manx Radio signal on the the neighbouring 1368 kHz frequency, which would have been strong at the reception location.

The recording was made from 1359 kHz, announcing 220 metres, on 15^th August 1984 from 1215-1302. It is from the Skywaves Tapes Collection. Radio Skywave International was a 1980s shortwave station broadcasting from Baldoyle in northeast Dublin.

30th August 202312th August 2023

Saturday music and sports on NDCR

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North Dublin Community Radio (NDCR) was one of the leading community broadcasters in Dublin in the 1980s. Based in the northeastern suburb of Coolock, it was on the air from 1983 to 1988 and played a leading role in the National Association for Community Broadcasters that lobbied for the licensing of the non-commercial sector. Many of those involved in NDCR went on to establish NEAR FM, the current licensed community station for northeast Dublin.

This tape of NDCR from features part of a Saturday afternoon show with chart music, sports results and community notices. The DJ is unidentified. It was recorded from the slightly off-channel frequency of 890 kHz from 1625-1710 on 18^th February 1984. Splatter from the powerful BBC Radio Wales transmitter on 882 kHz can be heard during the broadcast. The recording is from the Skywaves Tapes Collection. Radio Skywave International was a 1980s shortwave station broadcasting from Baldoyle in northeast Dublin.

25th August 202312th February 2024

Echo Community Radio from west Dublin

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Echo Community Radio was a shortlived station broadcasting from the west Dublin suburb of Blanchardstown in 1985. In July that year, DX Archive logged it on 1071 kHz AM, announcing 280 metres. On 12^th January 1986, Anoraks UK Weekly Report said it appeared that Echo Community Radio had closed down. The station was based in the Centrepoint Shopping Centre.

This daytime recording features an unidentified DJ playing a mixture of oldies, disco and more recent chart music. There are no adverts but a phone number is given out for requests. Audio quality is fair with the signal distored in places and electrical interference, reflecting the distance from the transmitter. There is some co-channel interference also, probably from Radio Carousel North in Dundalk.

The recording was made from 1071 kHz from 1140-1227 on 17th June 1985. It is from the Skywaves Tapes Collection. Radio Skywave International was a 1980s shortwave station broadcasting from Baldoyle in northeast Dublin.

21st August 202312th August 2023

Test broadcast by Radio Caroline Dublin

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Radio Caroline Dublin was one of many Irish pirate stations using the name of the renowned offshore station. This recording is of a test transmission by a Radio Caroline Dublin from northwest Dublin in 1984. DJ Stuart announces that they are a new station on the band and will be going off air shortly to adjust their transmitter before returning later. Audio quality is poor and although this may relate to degradation of the cassette, it is likely that there were transnmission problems also. Music includes chart hits, oldies, ballads and easy listening and there are requests from listeners. The recording was made on 30^th July 1984 from 1458 kHz AM, announcing 206 metres, and 104 FM is promised for the future.

A Radio Caroline Dublin was logged by DX Archive in May 1984 on 259 metres or the off-channel 1127 kHz with an address in Dublin 9. A station of the same name was logged in July 1985 on 92.4 FM, in November 1986 on 98.5 FM and in July 1987 on 87.9 and 88.9 FM, accompanied by an address in Dublin 9/11. Given the location, these may be linked to the station featured in this recording.

The recording is from the Skywave Tapes Collection. Radio Skywave International was a 1980s shortwave station broadcasting from northeast Dublin.