Border Archives - Irish Pirate Radio Audio Archive

1st December 202516th November 2025

Border series: Brief return of Breffni Radio in 1989

Breffni Community Radio, later Breffni Regional Radio, broadcast from Kilnaleck in Co. Cavan from the end of 1984 until the end of 1988, one of several successful border stations playing mostly country and Irish music. After applying unsuccessfully for a licence, Breffni returned to the airwaves for a few weeks in late 1989.

As reported in the newsletter Newsline Ireland produced by Rodney Neill, the station was first heard on Wednesday 8^th November on 100.0 FM, later moving to 98.9 MHz. The AM transmitter was brought back into service on Sunday 12^th November on the old frequency of 657 kHz. Breffni continued to broadcast 24 hours a day until Friday 24^th November, when officials from the Department of Communications were rumoured to be in the vicinity of the FM transmitter. This was switched off and Breffni continued on AM only. Newsline Ireland continued:

However, on Friday 1^st December, Breffni Radio were raided. Sean Brady was hosting his morning show, as he had since the station returned to the air. An engineer had travelled from Donegal to do some work on the AM transmitter as it had been quite distorted since it had been switched off the previous week as a precaution. The AM rig went silent at around 12.15pm to allow the work to be carried out and it was 15 minutes later when the officials arrived.

The Breffni staff present were cautioned and told that they were liable to proseuction under the new broadcasting legislation. The AM transmitter and studio equipment were confiscated and that was the end of Breffni Radio’s brief return in 1989.

This recording of Breffni Radio was made from 99 FM on Monday 20^th November 1989 from 1027-1201 and features Seán Brady with plenty of requests, a notice board and death notices, which would become a staple of licensed independent radio in Ireland. The recording was made by Rodney Neill. Thanks to Ian Biggar for the donation and background information.

17th October 202513th October 2025

Border series: Test transmission by Radio Sligo

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This is an unusual recording that underlines the volatile and sometimes dramatic nature of pirate radio in Irish during the 1980s. It is of a test transmission by Radio Sligo from February 1984, just 10 days after the station was wrecked by a disgruntled former DJ who would go on to be jailed for the incident. The Sligo Champion of 17^th February 1984 reported that the former DJ was charged with causing over £1,500 worth of damage to equipment and of stealing nearly £1,300 worth of property, including the FM transmitter. The damage and theft occurred after the intruder broke into the station on the night of 8^th and 9^th of February following a dispute over pay which had led him to leave Radio Sligo. The Sligo Champion reported on 23^rd November that the former DJ was sentenced to 6 months’ imprisonment for the incident.

This strange recording contains references to vandals and bandits, which no doubt refer to the attack just over a week before, and it seems that this is the first time that Radio Sligo returned to the air after losing its equipment and FM transmitter. The address of 4, Castle Street and a telephone number are given out and the unidentified presenters announce that the station will return the following day. There were a number of pirates called Radio Sligo in the 1970s and 1980s but this version began in 1981 and continued to be logged until September 1984, so it seems that the station returned to the airwaves for a number of months after the attack.

The tape was made from 1260 kHz, announcing 237 metres, on 18^th February 1984 and is courtesy of Ian Biggar.

30th September 202530th September 2025

Border series: Saturday afternoon on Radio Sligo

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Radio Sligo t-shirt featuring station logo (courtesy Ian Biggar)

The history of pirate radio in Sligo is complicated by the existence of different stations of the same name during various periods, with no clear link to each other. The first period dates began in 1979 with two pirates based in the town – the first station calling itself Radio Sligo on 1166 kHz and the other called Radio City on 1300 kHz, which renamed itself Community Radio Sligo by 1980. Neither station was mentioned in the August/September 1980 edition of Sounds Alternative, so there may have been no pirates operating in the town at that time.

The second period is from autumn 1981 when a new Radio Sligo was logged on 1260 kHz, announcing 237 metres. This station featured in pirate radio listings in the Sunday Journal from late 1981 into 1982. The Danish Shortwave Clubs International Irish radio reports gave an address of 4 Castle Street, Sligo for this station. It continued to be logged in various sources up to 1984.

The third period is from 1985 with the arrival of another station called Radio Northwest, which later renamed itself Radio Sligo. According to a list published by Anoraks Ireland on 7^th October 1985, this was also based at 4 Castle Street, so it may have been connected with the previous station of the same name, although probably not with the original Radio Sligo from 1979.

This short airchecked recording of Radio Sligo is from the second period and features an unidentified DJ and adverts for local businesses in Sligo. It was recorded from 1745-1805 on Saturday 29^th January 1983 from 1260 kHz. The tape is from the Leon Tipler Collection, donated to us by Steve England. Thanks to Ian Biggar for additional background information.

15th September 202514th September 2025

Border series: More oldies on Radio North

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This is another recording of former Radio North manager the late Paul Barnett’s popular morning oldies show on Donegal pirate Radio North. On a sunny autumnal morning, Paul has an electic mix of oldies from across the decades and a quiz with a cash prize up for grabs. Reflecting changing technology, listeners can phone in their answers or send a text. The first correct answer comes from Islay in Scotland, underlining the wide coverage area achieved by Radio North on AM. There are the usual adverts for small businesses in Counties Derry and Antrim, also voiced by Paul.

The recording was made in Scotland on 30^th October 2006 from 846 kHz AM between 0955-1040 and is courtesy of Ian Biggar.

8th September 20254th September 2025

Border series: Paul Barnett plays oldies on Radio North

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This recording of Donegal pirate Radio North features former station manager Paul Burbank (Paul Barnett, RIP) with an edition of his popular daily oldies show from 2005. Copious adverts for small businesses in Counties Antrim and Derry are voiced by Paul who also reads news at the top of the hour.

The tape was made from 1050-1135 on Tuesday 15^th February 2005 from 846 kHz AM and is donated by Ian Biggar.