Anoraks Ireland Collection Archives - Irish Pirate Radio Audio Archive

4th July 20252nd July 2025

Sunday afternoon on Wicklow Community Radio

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).

2nd June 202515th May 2025

June bank holiday 1986 on Energy 103

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By the summer of 1986, Energy 103 was established as one of the three big Dublin pirate stations, following the sudden closure of Radio Nova earlier that year. This recording was made on a sunny bank holiday Monday in Dublin and contains plenty of references to the fine weather and people listening to their radios in the garden. Up first is Richard Jackson until 1500 and he is followed by Dave Johnson (Andrew Hanlon) who is standing in for Tony McKenzie. There is no news due to the bank holiday but a promo urging young people to vote in the forthcoming divorce referendum airs every hour.

As was typical of Energy 103, the recording contains the usual mixture of chart hits, loads of requests (including one from Tipperary) and slick imaging although there are no adverts, possibly due to the bank holiday. A promo for the syndicated American Music Magazine show with Rick Dees is also heard. The tape is from the Anoraks Ireland Collection and was made from 103 FM from 1433-1521 and 1557-1645 on Monday 2^nd June 1986.

26th May 202523rd May 2025

Sunday night show on Radio Nova

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This short recording of the successful Dublin station Radio Nova is from the run-up to Christmas 1982. It features Dave Harvey with plenty of requests on a cold Sunday night and news with Siobhán Purcell. The usual high-level adverts for brands and larger businesses are heard, reflecting Nova’s commercial success particularly in the busy pre-Christmas period. There’s also an advert for the Nova Park nightclub featuring musical events and gigs with Nova DJs.

The airchecked recording is from the Anoraks Ireland Collection and was made from 88 FM on Sunday 12^th December 1982. Radio Nova also broadcast on 819 kHz AM at this time.

23rd May 202524th May 2025

Sunday shows on Clonmel Broadcasting Corporation (CBC)

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CBC (Clonmel Broadcasting Company) began broadcasting on 14^th November 1981 and was one of the leading pirates supporting the community radio ethos, continuing on air until the end of 1988. These snippets from Sunday afternoon shows giving a sense of the variety of material on the station and its importance to listeners in south Tipperary.

First up is a hospital requests show with Mary Burke featuring mostly country and Irish music and ballads. This is followed by the Sunday Postbag presented by Billy McLellan (RIP) with a phone-in quiz for listeners. There are also public information notices about candidates in the forthcoming general election, provided by CBC itself rather than the political parties. These are voiced by Gerry Gannon, who was the managing director of the station. Use of pirate radio by politicians was a contentious issue throughout the 1980s.

The airchecked recording from the Anoraks Ireland Collection was made from 828 kHz AM (362 metres) on Sunday 24^th October 1982 between 1455-1655. Thanks to Jimmy Williams and Jonathan Ryan for assistance.