Anoraks Ireland Collection Archives - Page 53 of 55 - Irish Pirate Radio Audio Archive

23rd February 20222nd April 2024

Northeast series: Telstar Community Radio from 1984

Telstar Community Radio logo from the early days (courtesy Ian Biggar)

Telstar Community Radio broadcast from Co. Louth between November 1980 and the end of 1988 from locations in and around Dundalk. Its AM frequency was 1197 kHz (announcing 250 metres) and it claimed coverage from Drogheda to Newry, which was boosted when the station acquired a commercial 1 kW unit. An FM transmitter on 88.5 FM was later added but at the end of 1981, Telstar was closed down for not having planning permission for its mast. It moved to a premises above a pub in the coastal village of Blackrock south of Dundalk. Read a longer station history here.

Northeast series: Telstar Community Radio from 1984 — The Brake Tavern in Blackrock where Telstar was based (photo by John Walsh)

This recording of Telstar was made from 88.5 FM in mono on Saturday 23^rd June 1984 and is an aircheck between 1424 and 1705. DJ Martin is up first with chart hits and is followed by Gerry Byrne with Saturday Old Gold. Adverts feature businesses from Dundalk, Newry and Navan, giving a sense of the station’s coverage at this time, and are voiced by station manager Ray Stone and another well-known local DJ Owen Larkin. Quality is excellent as the recording was made on Blackrock strand opposite where Telstar was based.

This recording was made originally by Kieran Murray and is from the Anoraks Ireland Tapes Collection, donated to us by Paul Davidson. More material from this collection can be heard on Radiowaves and the Irish Pirate Radio Archive.

19th February 202217th February 2022

More Boyneside Radio from Kells, Co. Meath

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These recordings of Boyneside Radio are of its service from Kells, Co. Meath in 1986. The one above begins at 0900 on 20^th May with the breakfast show presented by Mike Ahern (Richard McCullen), relayed from the main service in Drogheda. Following the 1100 news, the Kells opt-out service takes over with station manager Kieran Murray’s mid-morning show. Local adverts from Meath are heard along with household tips and a housewives’ quiz. Made from 98.1 FM, audio quality is fair with some hiss.

Audio quality is much better on the second recording below, which was made the following day, 21^st May 1986, from the same transmitter. It begins at 1235, also features Kieran Murray and is also airchecked. Among the features are racing tips, ‘Tradio adverts’ and the new UK Top 40. At 1315 Kieran switches over to Drogheda for the main lunchtime news with Mike Ahern and Áine Ní Ghuidhir.

Recording of 21st May 1986

Both recordings were made by Kieran originally and are from the Anoraks Ireland Tapes Collection, donated to us by Paul Davidson. Further material from this collection is available on Radiowaves and the Irish Pirate Radio Archive.

18th February 202217th February 2022

More of Afternoon Delight on Boyneside Radio

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This is a continuation of a recording of an edition of Eddie Caffrey’s Afternoon Delight show on Boyneside Radio from Drogheda, Co. Louth in 1986. The recording was made from 99.1 FM in stereo on 28^th April from 1530-1705. There are requests from both sides of the border and ongoing violence in the North features in the news bulletins, read by Áine Ní Ghuidhir.

Part 1 of the recording above runs from 1530-1615 and part 2 below from 1620-1705 with the last news bulletin airchecked.

Part 2 of the recording

Both are from the Anoraks Ireland Tapes Collection, donated to us by Paul Davidson. Further material from this collection is available on Radiowaves and the Irish Pirate Radio Archive.

16th February 202217th February 2022

Afternoon Delight on Boyneside Radio

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Boyneside flyer (courtesy Ian Biggar).

This is a recording of daytime programming on Boyneside Radio from Drogheda in 1986. Made on Monday 28^th April from 99.1 FM, it begins with the end of Dave C’s lunchtime show, followed by Eddie Caffrey with Afternoon Delight from 2pm. Eddie’s show contains the Golden Hour, racing results, the Take 5 quiz and Boyneside’s birthday bubble. News at 3pm is read by Áine Ní Ghuidhir.

Afternoon Delight on Boyneside Radio — Cassette label from Anoraks Ireland Collection

The first part of the recording above runs from 1345-1341 and the second below from 1437-1523.

Part 2 of the recording

Both are from the Anoraks Ireland Tapes Collection, donated to us by Paul Davidson. Further material from this collection is available on Radiowaves and the Irish Pirate Radio Archive.

14th February 202214th February 2022

Boyneside Radio from Kells, Co. Meath

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In its ten years on air, Boyneside Radio expanded from a local station for Drogheda in Co. Louth to a large regional service that could be heard across the northeast of Ireland. It also had various relay transmitters and opt-out services focusing on local audiences. One such service was based in the town of Kells, covering Co. Meath and south Co. Cavan.

Today we bring you two recordings of Boyneside Radio Kells from early 1986. The first one above is an airchecked version of Tony Johnson’s show made from about 1340 on Sunday 12^th January. There are promos for the new service, which is aimed at Meath and south Cavan, and plenty of local advertisements. Monaghan’s Sport Centre, Kells is given as an address and there is also a local phone number. The second recording below is also airchecked and begins just before 1700 on Monday 13^th January. It features Eddie Caffrey signing off on his Afternoon Delight show from Drogheda, followed by news with Áine Ní Ghuidhir and a local programme from Kells with Ian Scott. Both were recorded from 100.3 FM in mono. Boyneside Radio Kells also broadcast on 1323 kHz AM.

Aircheck from just before 1700.

These recordings were made by Kieran Murray, who managed the Boyneside Kells service. They are part of the Anoraks Ireland Tapes Collection, donated to us by Paul Davidson. Listen to Kieran’s memories of moving to Boyneside in this interview. Further material from the Anoraks Ireland collection is available on Radiowaves and the Irish Pirate Radio Archive.