Anoraks Ireland Collection Archives - Irish Pirate Radio Audio Archive

2nd February 202631st January 2026

Final Bee Bop Gold of 1987

Bee Bop Gold was a hugely popular oldies show on Dublin pirate Sunshine 101 hosted by Nails Mahoney in the final part of the station’s 8-year period on air. This edition is the final such show of 1987 and features the customary mixture of oldies and short links. Sunshine was Dublin’s most popular pirate station by this time following a rebranding the previous year, but the new super-slick presentation style was formatted to within an inch of its life. This recording includes a promo for a £20,000 giveaway to a listener who could repeat the phrase ‘I listen to the red-hot sound of Sunshine 101’.

The tape is from the Anoraks Ireland Collection and was made from 100.5 FM between 0943-1029 on Sunday 27^th December 1987 from 0943-1029.

26th January 202618th January 2026

Another Radio West Anoraks’ Show as pirate closedowns approach

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This is another recording of one of the last episodes of the weekly Anoraks’ Show on midlands station Radio West in the final weeks of 1988. As usual station boss Shaun Coyne is at the helm, this week in the company of Kevin Palmer. The station, which was rebranded as West National Radio 3 in 1987, is winding down operations and has a few final public events planned. These include an outside broadcast from Tullamore, the last Country Jamboree from Galway and the Radio West ball. Shaun reports that pressure is coming on TDs about the impending closedown of the pirates, especially from promoters of Country and Western bands. The question of pirate relays of British television channels is also discussed.

The tape is from the Anoraks Ireland Collection and was made from Radio West’s Dublin relay on 97.3 FM from 1113-1129 on Sunday 4^th December 1988. The final Anoraks’ Show was aired on 18^th December and Radio West closed down for good on 30^th December 1988.

16th January 202618th January 2026

Radio West Anoraks’ Show as pirate closedowns approach

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The Anoraks Show every Sunday morning on Radio West was a must for radio fans in the final years of the heyday of the Irish pirates in the 1980s. This excerpt from one such show was recorded with little over a month left before the deadline of 31^st December 1988 for the pirates to close down in line with new broadcasting legislation.

Station boss Shaun Coyne is in studio with Willie Harte and discusses a campaign meeting in Dublin to save the pirates, supported by the Irish music industry. A number of schools in Co. Monaghan are said to have joined forces to oppose the closure of local station Big M and the influence of the pirates on the North is mentioned. There’s also a letter from Anoraks Ireland seeking assistance with recording the final 90 minutes of pirate stations on New Year’s Eve or sooner if necessary.

Since 1987, Radio West was known as West National Radio 3 and was claiming nationwide coverage. The recording is from the Anoraks Ireland Collection and was made on Sunday 27^th November 1988 from around 1115-1130 from the station’s Dublin relay on 97.3 FM. West National Radio 3 also broadcast on 702 kHz AM.

12th January 202611th January 2026

Early evening shows on Radio Leinster

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This recording of Dublin pirate Radio Leinster was made just over a fortnight before the station closed down suddenly in May 1983. On air is station manager Justin James on the Bumper to Bumper drivetime show with the usual easy-listening, MOR and folk music associated with the station. Justin also has a television preview, traffic reports, sports headlines and a what’s on guide, and news is read by Al Dunne. Adverts are heard for businesses in and around Dublin, including some for larger businesses and brands. Justin is followed by Anna Craig (Chisnall) with the Classical Spot, an example of some of the specialist shows on this innovative and pioneering station.

The tape is from the Anoraks Ireland Collection and was made from 93 FM on Monday 2^nd May 1983 between 1736-1908. Radio Leinster closed down on 19^th May 1983, following raids on the larger pirates Radio Nova and Sunshine Radio.

9th January 202612th January 2026

Saturday on KISS FM Weekend Radio

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KISS FM Weekend Radio was a short-lived weekend service of the Radio Nova offshoot KISS FM (1982-1984). This recording from late 1983 was made not long after the service was launched and there are a few technical glitches along the way. Liam Young is on air with music, competitions and a promise of local news. Listeners phone in from Dublin and the Isle of Man, reflecting the strong FM signal but ominously there are no adverts. The names of both David Malone and Shane Harrison are heard at the start of the news, which sounds like another glitch. KISS FM closed in January 1984 after a jamming campaign by RTÉ caused turmoil at Nova. Ian Biggar points out that the separate KISS service at the weekend is reminiscent of the Big D Weekend format in the late 1970s.

The recording is from the Anoraks Ireland Collection and was made from 1202-1311 on 20th November 1983 from 102.7 FM.