Belfast Archives - Irish Pirate Radio Audio Archive

Death of Raidió Fáilte co-founder Gearóid Ó Cairealláin — Gearóid Ó Cairealláin in the 1980s (photo Kevin Cooper/Gearóid’s Facebook page)

The co-founder of Belfast’s Irish language radio station Raidió Fáilte, Gearóid Ó Cairealláin, has died after a short illness. Raidió Fáilte was founded as a pirate station in west Belfast in 1985 and was part of a local media infrastructure that included an Irish language newspaper Lá. It broadcast sporadically without a licence for the best part of twenty years, aimed at the west of the city where most Irish speakers are located. Licensed by OFCOM in 2006, Raidió Fáilte now broadcasts on a community licence over a ten-mile radius of the centre and west of the city. From humble origins on the Falls Road, its impressive studios are now located close to the city centre and are arguably the best community radio facility in all of Ireland.

Tá Gearóid Ó Cairealláin, duine de bhunaitheoirí stáisiún raidió Gaeilge Bhéal Feirste, Raidió Fáilte, tar éis bháis. Bunaíodh Raidió Fáilte mar staisiún bradach in iarthar Bhéal Feirste in 1985 chomh maith leis an nuachtán Lá agus tionscadail Ghaeilge eile. Chraol sé ag amannta éagsúla ar feadh fiche bliain, dírithe ar iarthar na cathrach áit a bhfuil an chuid is mó de phobal na Gaeilge lonnaithe. Tar éis dó ceadúnas a fháil ó OFCOM in 2006, tá Raidió Fáilte ag craoladh go dleathach anois thar raon deich míle i lár agus in iarthar na cathrach. Tá dul chun cinn éachtach déanta aige ó bunaíodh é i lóistín sealadach ar Bhóthar na bhFál agus d’fhéadfaí a rá go bhfuil an stiúideó ina bhfuil sé suite anois ar an gceann is fearr dá bhfuil ag aon stáisiún raidió pobail in Éirinn.

The station emerged from language activism in the nationalist west of the city in the 1980s. A group of people led by Gearóid Ó Cairealláin wanted to develop Irish language cultural activities and media based on a community development ethos. Ó Cairealláin had been influenced by earlier Irish language initiatives and he and other activists saw the establishment of local media as essential to the revival of Irish. They were aware of previous local pirates, particularly Radio Free Belfast that was set up by Republicans at the start of the Troubles, and Galway pirate Saor-Raidió Chonamara from 1970. Raidió Fáilte began broadcasting in spring 1985 on a trial basis but it and other related projects were set back by a fire in the premises. The group moved into the Conway Mill building on the Falls Road in 1986 and began rebuilding the radio and other initiatives, cycling around Ireland to raise funds. They acquired a new AM transmitter from one of the many pirate stations in Dublin and began broadcasting on a regular basis. Raidió Fáilte moved into the new Irish language cultural centre, the Cultúrlann, on the Falls Road in 1991. The broadcasts were sporadic at this stage but Raidió Fáilte returned on a more regular basis in the mid-1990s and benefited from a larger group of volunteers and a new FM transmitter.

This recording of Raidió Fáilte during its pirate days features Malachy Duffin with a musical mix ranging from traditional to classics. It was recorded in Belfast from 107 FM on 1^st April 2005 between 1836-1914. Thanks to Ian Biggar for the donation. We extend our sympathy to the family and friends of Gearóid Ó Cairealláin and pay tribute to his enormous contribution to Irish language media in Belfast. We also thank Eoghan Ó Néill for sharing the history of Raidió Fáilte with John Walsh in previous interviews.

Déanaimid comhbhrón ó chroí le muintir agus le cairde Ghearóid Uí Chairealláin agus aithnímid an obair éachtach a rinne sé ar son na Gaeilge agus na meán i mBéal Feirste. Gabhaimid buíochas chomh maith le hEoghan Ó Néill as stair Raidió Fáilte a roinnt linn.

7th May 202210th May 2022

Test broadcast of Radio Free Ulster

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Radio Free Ulster was a paramilitary pirate station operated during the Loyalist general strike called for Monday March 3^rd 1986. The strike was in opposition to the signing of the Anglo-Irish Agreement. The station carried out test transmissions from above an illegal drinking den between Woodvale and the Shankill Road in West Belfast on Sunday March 2^nd on 101 MHz FM. Radio Free Ulster broadcast throughout Monday and Tuesday afternoon before the transmitter was turned off.

The Irish government was aware of the broadcasts, which occurred at a time of high tension in Northern Ireland. The broadcasts attracted national and international attention and a chilling photo of Radio Free Ulster was featured on the front page of The Irish Press and in The Schenectady Gazette, a newspaper in upstate New York. The station was also covered in The Belfast Telegraph.

This recording is of a test broadcast and is presumably from Sunday March 2^nd. Audio quality is terrible with a faint voice breaking through the crackle and hum and eventually announcing Radio Free Ulster. Loyalist marching band music is heard in the background. Thanks to Paul Buckle for the recording and to Eddie Bohan for background information and the image. For more information about stations run by paramilitary groups during the early days of the Troubles, listen here to a podcast featuring Eddie Bohan.

16th July 20216th August 2021

The Pirate.ie Podcast #7

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In episode #7 of the Pirate.ie podcast, we look at aspects of the history of pirate radio in Northern Ireland. Brian Greene and John Walsh talk to broadcast historian Eddie Bohan about his research into the pirates of Derry and Belfast during the period 1969-1975. At that time, pirate radio was a tool of both nationalist/republican and unionist/loyalist communities during the turbulent early years of the Troubles.

The podcast covers stations such as Radio Free Derry, Radio Free Belfast, Radio Shankill and Radio Orange and describes how they fanned the flames of violence and sectarianism. Pirates on both sides were popular in their communities but were a headache for the British authorities and no-one was ever prosecuted for involvement in them.

We thank Eddie Bohan for sharing his fascinating research with us which will be presented in a book in the near future. See his blog for further updates about his work.