Anoraks Ireland Collection Archives - Page 3 of 34 - Irish Pirate Radio Audio Archive

8th March 20243rd March 2024

Anoraks Ireland featured on Radio Caroline Cork

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.

4th March 20243rd March 2024

Interview with pirate radio pioneer Tony Boylan

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Tony Boylan (RIP) was one of the pioneers of free radio in Ireland, operating one of the country’s first pirate stations in 1945. Set up in his bedroom in Rathmines in Dublin, the Killeen Home Service broadcast on Sunday mornings on 196 metres with a 4-mile radius. The weekly broadcasts continued until 1951 when the family moved to Ballymun, where the station was renamed as Radio 200. There was another move to Santry in 1955, where the station was renamed as Radio Galaxy and a stronger power output and better aerial gave coverage of most of the city. Radio Galaxy continued until 1965 but following pressure from the Department of Posts and Telegraphs, the station changed to Saturdays, moved frequency and was renamed Radio Laxey. Radio Galaxy resumed from the late 1960s until 1986, when Tony retired to the Isle of Man. A feature across Tony’s long broadcasting career was his love of 78s vinyl, making his programmes a unique offering in the pirate era. He died in 2010 in the Isle of Man.

This recording features an interview with Tony on Alternative Radio Dublin (ARD) in 1980, where he was presenting a 78s show at the time. The first part of the interview covers his early involvement in pirate radio up to Radio Galaxy and ARD. The second part deals with his extensive 78s collection – then about 6,500 vinyl records – and his love of the popular music of the first part of the 20^th Century. The interviewer is Eric Peters and the recording was made at the Crofton Hotel on 15^th March 1980. No times or frequency are given but it appears the tape was made from medium wave due to the heterodyne whistle. Audio quality is fair at best and there are a number of edits in the recording, which is from the Anoraks Ireland Collection.

1st March 202425th February 2024

Afternoon shows on Echo Community Radio

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Echo Community Radio was a shortlived pirate broadcasting from Blanchardstown in west Dublin in 1985. This recording from a Wednesday afternoon in August that year begins with a mix of chart music and olders tunes with Ben Thomas. There are adverts for local businesses, some voiced by DJ Lee, a well-known presenter who worked on several Dublin pirates. A series of British comedy inserts sounds out of place between the songs and isn’t helped by muffled sound. Next up is Eamonn Kelly, who worked previously and subsequently on larger and more professional stations in Cork and Dublin.

The tape was made from 1407-1452 and from 1517-1604 on Wednesday 7^th August 1985. Although recorded from 105.5 FM, audio quality is poor with some distortion. Echo Community Broadcasting was also heard on 1071 kHz AM, announcing 280 metres. The recording is from the Anoraks Ireland Tapes Collection.

28th February 202425th February 2024

Tony Dixon on early Sunshine Radio

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Tony Dixon (RIP) was one of the popular DJs on Sunshine Radio, a large and successful pirate that broke the mould in Irish local radio when it came on the air in September 1980. In this short recording from the station’s early days, he is heard on a Sunday night programme that includes the tagline ‘Dance Radio – Sunshine 539’, highlighting the station’s emphasis on that genre of music after its launch. There’s also mention of Tamango’s nightclub that advertised heavily on Sunshine and was based next door at the Sands Hotel in Portmarnock. The tape ends with the iconic Desiderata that closed down Sunshine every night, followed by the station’s theme song ‘You are my sunshine’. Tony Dixon went on to have a career on licensed radio but died prematurely in 2010.

The airchecked recording was made from between 2000 and 2100 on 12^th January 1981 from 531 kHz AM, announced as 539 metres, and is from the Anoraks Ireland Tapes Collection.