Anoraks Ireland Collection Archives - Page 2 of 33 - Irish Pirate Radio Audio Archive

27th March 202418th March 2024

Afternoon Spin on Community Radio 257

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 202424th March 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.

8th March 20243rd March 2024

Anoraks Ireland featured on Radio Caroline Cork

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Many of our recordings are from the Anoraks Ireland Tapes Collection, donated to us by Paul Davidson (Tony Donlon, RIP). Tony travelled Ireland throughout the 1980s visiting pirate stations big and small, making recordings and taking photographs. In this recording, he is interviewed on Radio Caroline Cork during a visit just before Christmas 1984.

In the interview, Tony tells station boss Dave Hammond that the aim of Anoraks Ireland is to promote free and independent radio in Ireland. He opposes plans to allow RTÉ control local radio and speculates that if passed, the radio bill will establish just two stations in Dublin and one each in the other cities including Cork. The proposed broadcasting legislation of the time ultimately failed due to ideological differences between the coalition partners and it was not until 1988 that laws were adopted to licence independent radio.

This recording was made from around 1245 on Thursday 13^th December 1984 and is from the Anoraks Ireland Collection. No frequency is given.

6th March 20243rd March 2024

78s Show on Community Radio Galaxy

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Radio Galaxy was one of the pioneering Irish pirates, broadcasting from as early as 1955 and operating regularly on Sundays from 1969. It was operated by Tony Boylan (RIP) who first experimented with pirate radio in 1945 and operated stations over the years from different parts of Dublin. Tony’s love of 78s made him unique in the pirate radio world and his programmes, co-presented on occasion with his wife Fran, gained loyal listeners across the decades. In 1986, he retired and moved with Fran to the Isle of Man, having sold his extensive 78s collection.

This recording was made just a fortnight before Radio Galaxy closed down for good. It begins with continuous music followed by the weekly 78s Show. There are several requests from listeners around Dublin and from as far afield as Lancashire. Tony announces that he is moving to the Isle of Man shortly and says he hopes to get a slot on Manx Radio, noting the absence of pirate radio in the island. The tape was made from 1512 kHz AM (196 metres) from 1138-1223 and 1230-1315 on Sunday 7^th September 1986. It is from the Anoraks Ireland Tapes Collection.

Radio Galaxy’s final broadcast was on 21^st September 1986. Tony died in the Isle of Man in 2010.