Anoraks Ireland Collection Archives - Page 12 of 44 - Irish Pirate Radio Audio Archive

5th April 20242nd April 2024

Afternoon on Centre Radio (Clonmel)

Centre Radio from Clonmel in Co. Tipperary was an offshoot of an existing local station, the Clonmel Broadcasting Corporation (CBC). Centre was set up in April 1986 as a more youth-oriented service than the existing CBC, which had been on air since 1981. In 1987, Centre was rebranded as Premier County Radio, which continued until the deadline for the pirates to close at midnight on New Year’s Eve 1988.

This recording features part of an afternoon show presented by an unidentified DJ. Eoin Ryan reads racing results and there is also a news bulletin at five minutes to the hour. Centre’s news service is promoted regularly and the station claims to have the most comprehensive output in the region. Adverts cover Clonmel and surrounding towns.

The tape is from the Anoraks Ireland Collection and was made from 88 FM between 1527-1612 on Thursday 5^th June 1986. Centre Radio also broadcast on 101 FM and on 1251 kHz AM (240 metres).

3rd April 202410th April 2024

Late-night Sunday on ABC Radio

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Waterford station ABC Radio broadcast from 3^rd March 1982 until 29^th December 1988 and became one of the country’s most popular and successful pirates. From humble origins in a caravan in the coastal resort of Tramore, it moved into Waterford City in 1985. ABC covered the southeast on 1026 kHz AM and a series of local FM transmitters. In this recording from 1986, Jimmy Ryan is on air with a relaxed late-night Sunday music show, featuring long sets with limited talk and no adverts. A station promo mentions towns in Tipperary and Wexford, emphasising ABC’s coverage beyond Co. Waterford.

The recording was made between 2201-2246 on 15^th June 1986 from 103.2 FM, a 2 kW transmitter from Tory Hill north of Waterford City that covered a large part of the southeast. The tape is from the Anoraks Ireland Collection, donated to us by Paul Davidson.

27th March 202418th March 2024

Afternoon Spin on Community Radio 257

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Community Radio 257 broadcast for about six months in 1983 from the north Dublin suburb of Clontarf. It was run by John Thewlis who had previously operated Echo Radio from the same location in 1982. Community Radio 257 emerged following the raids on the big pirates in May 1983 and later moved to Portmarnock in north Co. Dublin, before closing down that November. Community Radio 257 had big plans and many capable DJs were involved but recordings of the station reveal that advertising revenue was slow.

In this recording, Conor Cuddihy presents the Afternoon Spin programme, consisting of music and station promos, including one for the 257 Radiophonic Institute that promised to train presenters and producers. Jingles are both generic and recycled from the original Radio 257 in 1980. News is read by Fergal Conneely. The recording was made on Thursday 25^th August 1983 from 94 FM between 1304 and 1444. Community Radio 257 also broadcast on 1116 kHz AM. The tape is from the Anoraks Ireland Collection, donated to us by Paul Davidson.

25th March 202423rd September 2024

South Coast Countdown with Keith York

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South Coast Radio (1982-1984) was one of the successful Cork stations of the pirate era. Although it never achieved the longevity of the other Cork giant ERI, South Coast was a slick operation from its launch on March 3^rd 1982 and introduced professionalism not heard on the earlier wave of pirates in the city. This recording from the final year of South Coast was made on a sunny Saturday in the spring of 1984. On air is one of the high-profile DJs associated with the station, Keith York (RIP), presenting the weekly Top 50 countdown. A promo voiced by the legendary Tony Allan (RIP) informs listeners that the countdown is compiled from phone research, record sales and station airplay in Munster. In this recording, Keith is followed by George Long.

South Coast Radio closed down on 13^th July 1984. The tape was made from 102.15 FM, announcing 104, from 1440-1615 on 7^th April 1984. It is from the Anoraks Ireland Tapes Collection, donated to us by Paul Davidson.

11th March 202411th March 2024

Festival station Community Radio Dollymount

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Community Radio Dollymount was another name for Echo Radio that broadcast from the north Dublin suburb of Dollymount in 1982. Echo Radio was run by John Thewlis, who operated various pirates from the Clontarf/Dollymount area during the 1980s. According to Offshore Echoes from December 1982, Echo began testing in May that year on 186 metres (equivalent to 1611 kHz, although this would have been beyond the range of many receivers), beginning official broadcasts in June and later adding another transmitter on 97.3 FM. Community Radio Dollymount was a short-lived festival station and just a name change for Echo Radio. Ken Baird of DX Archive logged Echo Radio on 18^th July 1982 announcing a test for Community Radio Dollymount and further tests were heard the following day and again on 19^th August with presumably fully programmes.

A DX Archive listing from August that year includes Echo Radio on 1600 kHz (187 metres). Shortwave News from October 1982 refers to ‘R. Echo, alias Community R. Dollymount’ and reports that it was being relayed by shortwave station Westside Radio International on 6280 kHz. According to the same source, Echo/Community Radio Dollymount closed down in October 1982.

This recording of Community Radio Dollymount was made from 2019-2149 on Saturday 28^th August 1982 from 1600 kHz, announcing 188 metres. The DJs listed are Aidan Hughes and Donal Summerville and requests from listeners and adverts for local businesses are heard. Audio quality is fair to poor with variable levels and co-channel interference worsens as night falls. Cassette degradation is probably also a factor. The tape is from the Anoraks Ireland Collection, donated to us by Paul Davidson. Thanks to Ian Biggar and Ken Baird for further information.