Anoraks Ireland Collection Archives - Page 2 of 66 - Irish Pirate Radio Audio Archive

11th September 202627th August 2026

Early Cork series: Top 40 countdown on Radio City

This short recording of Cork pirate Radio City was made in spring 1982, the station’s last year in operation. The Top 40 countdown is presented by Derry O’Callaghan in an afternoon slot. There are references to other DJs finishing up and changes happening in the station. The Cork radio scene was shook up around this time by the launch of a new professional pirate, South Coast Radio that would continue in its initial guise until 1984. Radio City left the air in autumn 1982.

The recording is from the Anoraks Ireland Collection and was made on 2^nd March 1982 from 95.7 FM. The DJ also announces 199 metres (1512 kHz) but logs suggest that Radio City had moved to 240 metres (1242 kHz) by this time.

9th September 202627th August 2026

Northeast series: Highlights of a day on Radio Carousel Navan

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Radio Carousel Navan (1982-1988) was one of several stations in the Carousel network run by Hugh Hardy from Omeath in Co. Louth. The Navan station occupied a high-profile position in a glass kiosk in the Meath town’s new shopping centre and listeners would often drop in requests in person.

This airchecked recording of Carousel was made not long after its launch and begins around 1345 with the end of Al O’Rourke’s lunchtime show, followed by station manager Kieran Murray. Kieran’s voice is also heard on adverts for local businesses. News at 1800 is read by Mike Ahern (Richard McCullen), who would go on to work in Boyneside Radio in Drogheda. The final section is of the Nightlight show with Nick Butler, which includes some surreal requests from local kids. The station closes down at 2300 with the Radio Carousel anthem Don’t Stop the Carousel.

The recording was made on 30^th March 1982 from 1386 kHz (210 metres) and is from the Anoraks Ireland Collection.

4th September 202627th August 2026

Early Cork series: Leeside Community Radio from 1982

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Leeside Community Radio was a short-lived Cork station that broke away from another pirate, Capital Radio in 1982. Pat Anderson (Pat Galvin), formerly of Capital, was the driving force behind the new station and took many of the ex-Capital DJs with him. Unusually for the time, Leeside broadcast on FM only. It appears in a DX Archive log from August 1982 but not after that so must have fizzled out that autumn.

This short airchecked recording features the end of a news bulletin and part of an afternoon show presented by Mark Wilson. It was made from 102 FM on 2^nd March 1982 and is from the Anoraks Ireland Collection.

2nd September 202623rd August 2026

Saturday Soul on Sunshine Radio from 1985

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The late Tony Dixon’s 3-hour Saturday Soul slot on Dublin pirate Sunshine Radio gained a big following in the 1980s. Here he is from 1985 with the usual laid-back mix and requests and dedications. News is read by Kate McLean and a commercial break contains a promo for the Sunshine girls who are giving away £25 cash prizes in public places.

The tape is from the Anoraks Ireland Collection and was made on Saturday 2^nd November 1985 from 101.5 FM between 1803-1935.

28th August 202625th August 2026

Radio Dublin farewell broadcast following 1977 raid

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This recording is of what was billed as the final broadcast by Radio Dublin following a raid in February 1977 that led to most of the station’s equipment being confiscated. In a publicity stunt that would be repeated by future pirate stations, Radio Dublin returned to the air with a fanfare in order to sign off for the last time. Paul Downey is at the helm and says that they are using borrowed equipment to bid farewell to listeners because ‘the powers that be’ want them silenced. He also urges people to write to the Department of Posts and Telegraphs to demand that Radio Dublin be licensed.

February 1977 was by no means the end of Radio Dublin, which had its equipment returned in June 1977 after a court case found a flaw in the 1926 act. The station in fact extended its hours over the summer and in September held a marathon 36-hour broadcast that broke the mould for pirate radio in Dublin, leading to a shift from hobby operators to full-time broadcasters. Dr Don would leave Radio Dublin in June 1977 to set up his own station ARD.

This recording was made by Kieran Murray from 1187 kHz AM, announcing 253 metres, on 27^th February 1977 and is from the Anoraks Ireland Collection. Audio quality is mixed given the rudimentary technical set-up and passage of time since the cassette was recorded.