AM Archives - Page 9 of 54 - Irish Pirate Radio Audio Archive

1st September 20231st September 2023

Midday Miscellany on Wonderland Radio

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

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

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

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

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

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

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.

18th August 202312th August 2023

Non-stop music on Carnival Radio

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Carnival Radio was a short-lived station broadcasting to Dublin in 1984. According to Offshore Echos no. 52 of May 1984, it began tests in late January that year on 1116 kHz and a 24-hour pop service was planned. It appeared to have links with the former Community Radio 257 which was raided the previous November. The phone number was used by 257 before its move to Portmarnock and several former 257 staff worked on it. An Anoraks UK report from 23^rd February 1984 suggested the same relationship. The strength of the signal in this recording suggests that the tranmission site was close to the receiver in northeast Dublin but we have been unable to unearth any more information about Carnival Radio. The recording is not of much assistance either as it contains no station idents and consists of continuous music only.

The wavelength of 257 metres is listed on the cassette, roughly equivalent to 1161 kHz although that would have clashed with several UK stations so 1116 kHz is more likely. The recording was made from 1535-1623 on 20^th February 1984 and is from the Skywave Tapes Collection. Radio Skywave International was a 1980s shortwave station broadcasting from Baldoyle in northeast Dublin. Thanks to Ian Biggar for further information.