Anoraks Ireland Collection Archives - Irish Pirate Radio Audio Archive

21st July 202520th July 2025

Daphne Mitchell on Radio Leinster

Radio Leinster was a talk and specialist pirate station broadcasting to Dublin from 1981-1983. This recording from a snowy day in winter 1981 shows how, with a fraction of the resources, Radio Leinster mounted a credible challenge to RTÉ Radio 1 during its time on air. The recording begins with the final few minutes of a lunchtime show presented by show band and cabaret singer, Sonny Knowles (RIP). He is followed at 1500 by the much-loved Daphne Mitchell, whose afternoon programme is sponsored by Apollo 1 Discount Store in Dublin’s Moore Street. Daphne’s popular show includes a featured artist, country interlude, poet’s corner, single of the week, horoscopes, a song from the musical and a classical corner. There are references also to other specialist shows on Radio Leinster and a charitable appeal by the presenter of a religious programme, Fr Michael Culloty. News headlines at half past the hour are read by Gordon Sommerville and Daphne is followed at 1630 by Mick McKenzie.

The recording was made from 738 kHz AM, announcing 406 metres, between 1448-1651 on Tuesday 8^th December 1981, and is from the Anoraks Ireland Collection. There is increasing co-channel interference as night falls.

18th July 202513th July 2025

Sunday evening on Dublin country music station Treble TR

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Dublin’s country and Irish music station Treble TR broadcast from spring 1981 until the end of 1988, building up a loyal listenership during that time. This recording was made on a Sunday night in 1983 and features some of the variety of programmes on the station.

Shay Eustace is up first with the final part of his Irish traditional and folk music show. He is followed by John Deane with his mixture of country and ballads until midnight. There are some agency adverts and commercials for various Dublin businesses, including the Red Corner Shop, a regular advertiser on the pirates.

The airchecked recording is from the Anoraks Ireland Collection and was made from 99.5 FM between 2000-2230 on Sunday 9^th October 1983.

11th July 20253rd July 2025

Sunday afternoon on Metro Radio

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Metro Radio was a small short-lived AM pirate station broadcasting from Clontarf on the northside of Dublin in 1983. Anoraks UK first logged it on 1557 kHz on 31^st May but it does not appear consistently in listings and seems to have been an irregular or hobby rather than a full-time operator. The same frequency was also used by another irregular pirate, Diamond Radio, around this time and indeed Diamond reoccupied 1557 kHz in 1984 after the apparent demise of Metro Radio by the end of 1983.

This short airchecked recording is from the Anoraks Ireland Collection and was made from 1557 kHz, announcing 192 metres, between 1300-1500 on Sunday 16^th October 1983. The DJ is John Young and only one advert is heard during the broadcast.

4th July 202521st July 2025

Sunday afternoon on Wicklow Community Radio

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Wicklow Community Radio began as a temporary festival station in the summer of 1982, but due to its success soon became a full-time operation. In 1985, it changed its name to Wicklow Local Community Broadcasting (WLCB) and in 1987 it was relaunched as Viking 105, with a more commercial focus.

This recording begins with the Top 30 countdown and the number 1 record, presented by Gerry Lang. This is followed by Willie Naughton’s Sunday Special show featuring album tracks. Voices on adverts include those of Scott Williams and David Harvey, both of whom would become big names on 1980s pirate radio and who continue to work in the media industry to this day. An announcement of a festival in east Wicklow includes a reference to the popular Radio Nova disco roadshow! The station signs off for the night with a bilingual announcement at 1900.

This airchecked recording is from the Anoraks Ireland Collection and was made from 1512 kHz AM, announcing 198 metres, on Sunday 4^th September 1983 between 1700-1900.

27th June 202522nd June 2025

Laid-back Sunday night on Radio Leinster

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Radio Leinster was a specialist and speech station broadcasting from Dublin between 1981 and 1983. This short airchecked recording features the end of a Sunday night love songs show presented by Lawrence John, who was involved in pirates in Dublin and elsewhere throughout the 1980s. Lawrence is followed by Dave Couling with his laid-back Midnight Magic show until 0200.

The tape was made from 93 FM from around 2200 on Sunday 12^th December 1982 and is from the Anoraks Ireland Collection. Radio Leinster also broadcast on 738 kHz AM (406 metres).