Anoraks Ireland Collection Archives - Page 5 of 61 - Irish Pirate Radio Audio Archive

16th January 202618th January 2026

Radio West Anoraks’ Show as pirate closedowns approach

The Anoraks Show every Sunday morning on Radio West was a must for radio fans in the final years of the heyday of the Irish pirates in the 1980s. This excerpt from one such show was recorded with little over a month left before the deadline of 31^st December 1988 for the pirates to close down in line with new broadcasting legislation.

Station boss Shaun Coyne is in studio with Willie Harte and discusses a campaign meeting in Dublin to save the pirates, supported by the Irish music industry. A number of schools in Co. Monaghan are said to have joined forces to oppose the closure of local station Big M and the influence of the pirates on the North is mentioned. There’s also a letter from Anoraks Ireland seeking assistance with recording the final 90 minutes of pirate stations on New Year’s Eve or sooner if necessary.

Since 1987, Radio West was known as West National Radio 3 and was claiming nationwide coverage. The recording is from the Anoraks Ireland Collection and was made on Sunday 27^th November 1988 from around 1115-1130 from the station’s Dublin relay on 97.3 FM. West National Radio 3 also broadcast on 702 kHz AM.

12th January 202611th January 2026

Early evening shows on Radio Leinster

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This recording of Dublin pirate Radio Leinster was made just over a fortnight before the station closed down suddenly in May 1983. On air is station manager Justin James on the Bumper to Bumper drivetime show with the usual easy-listening, MOR and folk music associated with the station. Justin also has a television preview, traffic reports, sports headlines and a what’s on guide, and news is read by Al Dunne. Adverts are heard for businesses in and around Dublin, including some for larger businesses and brands. Justin is followed by Anna Craig (Chisnall) with the Classical Spot, an example of some of the specialist shows on this innovative and pioneering station.

The tape is from the Anoraks Ireland Collection and was made from 93 FM on Monday 2^nd May 1983 between 1736-1908. Radio Leinster closed down on 19^th May 1983, following raids on the larger pirates Radio Nova and Sunshine Radio.

9th January 202612th January 2026

Saturday on KISS FM Weekend Radio

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KISS FM Weekend Radio was a short-lived weekend service of the Radio Nova offshoot KISS FM (1982-1984). This recording from late 1983 was made not long after the service was launched and there are a few technical glitches along the way. Liam Young is on air with music, competitions and a promise of local news. Listeners phone in from Dublin and the Isle of Man, reflecting the strong FM signal but ominously there are no adverts. The names of both David Malone and Shane Harrison are heard at the start of the news, which sounds like another glitch. KISS FM closed in January 1984 after a jamming campaign by RTÉ caused turmoil at Nova. Ian Biggar points out that the separate KISS service at the weekend is reminiscent of the Big D Weekend format in the late 1970s.

The recording is from the Anoraks Ireland Collection and was made from 1202-1311 on 20th November 1983 from 102.7 FM.

7th January 20261st December 2025

Friday afternoon on Ballincollig Community Radio

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Ballincollig Community Radio broadcast to the Cork suburb of Ballincollig for the latter part of 1988 up to the deadline for the pirate stations to go off the air. The station operated on FM only and in this recording from November 1988, station manager Margaret Mahon presents ballads, country and showbands, along with a listeners’ quiz. There is a reference to Paul Davidson of Anoraks Ireland, who had just visited the station.

The recording is from the Anoraks Ireland Collection and was made from 103.6 FM, announcing 104, between 1542-1613 on Friday, 4^th November 1988.

28th December 202530th December 2025

Country station TTTR at Christmas 1981

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Treble TR (also written as TTTR) was a country and Irish station broadcasting from Dublin from spring 1981 until the end of 1988. TTTR began on 945 kHz AM, announcing 317 metres, adding FM from 1983. A second AM frequency on 891 kHz was added in 1987. TTTR carved out a specialist niche in the Dublin market and held its own until it closed at the end of 1988.

This recording of TTTR at Christmas 1981 features two unidentified DJs playing country tunes, interspersed with adverts for businesses in Dublin and surrounding areas. It was made by Kieran Murray from 945 kHz at around 1500 on 28^th December 1981 and is from the Anoraks Ireland Collection. The Sunday Journal radio listings from 1981 list Miss Elli and Grace Porter in these timeslots, so it is possible that they are the presenters in question. Audio quality is fair due to a combination of a weak AM signal, cassette degradation and co-channel interference on the frequency due to the time of year. Thanks to Ian Biggar for additional research.