Border Archives - Irish Pirate Radio Audio Archive

2nd July 20252nd July 2025

Border series: plenty of requests and adverts on Radio North

By 1997, Radio North was still broadcasting from Inishowen in east Donegal, aiming its diet of country and Irish music at Northern listeners. This tape from summer that year begins with the final part of a show presented by Connie Cooper (RIP), followed by Big Bad Jon (Jon Knox) with more music despite problems with a temperamental CD player. There’s plenty of chat between Jon and another DJ in studio, ranging from hair dye to turkeys! Despite the passage of almost a decade since the new broadcasting legislation, there is no sign of a lack of advertising on Radio North. Copious adverts are heard, mostly from the North, as well as requests from both sides of the border.

The recording was made from 846 kHz AM on 18^th May 1997 from 1850-2020 and is courtesy of Ian Biggar.

25th June 202522nd June 2025

Border series: lunchtime on Radio North

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As was often the case in long-running pirate radio stations, Radio North has seen splits and offshoots in its almost 40 years on air. One such split led to rival station North Atlantic Radio, that went on air in November 1989 and continued for 2 years in direct competition with Radio North. It was not sustainable to keep two similar stations on air in the Inishowen peninsula and Radio North closed down sometime near the end of 1991, leaving North Atlantic unopposed. However, on 31^st January 1994, North Atlantic reverted to the original Radio North name and has continued without significant break to the current day.

The recording of a lunchtime show was made in August 1994 and features DJ Wes with requests from both sides of the border and long commercial breaks for businesses in Donegal, Derry and Antrim. The familiar musical diet consists of country and Irish and gospel songs, including one sung by Wes himself and the Radio North anthem with the singing farmer John Watt. The show also includes the Radio North community noticeboard.

The tape was made from 846 kHz on 17^th August 1994 between 1400 and 1500. Thanks to Ian Biggar for the donation.

30th May 202529th May 2025

Border series: Tom Hardy on KISS FM Monaghan

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Despite being on air for only 9 months in 1988, KISS FM from Monaghan Town was one of the more successful and ambitious stations during the peak period of pirate radio in Ireland in the 1980s. Tests began at the end of 1987 but the start date was delayed by technical problems in spring 1988 and full tests did not begin until the end of March with a full schedule commencing on 1^st April. High powered transmitters gave unparalleled coverage of Northern Ireland and FM reception was reliable even in parts of northern England and Scotland.

This recording of the early period of KISS FM features the experienced English DJ Tom Hardy (RIP), who had worked previously in offshore pirates and larger Dublin stations such as Sunshine Radio and Radio Nova. Adverts are heard for businesses in Armagh and Belfast but are not particularly plentiful, perhaps reflecting the fact that the station was little more than a month on air. There is the usual slick imaging with top-class jingles, idents and liners, news is read by Con McConville and Tom presents the regular Job Spot section. The KISS FM Ulster sailboard championships coming up that weekend in Antrim is an example of one of the many marketing events than the station excelled in during its short existence. The KISS FM closedown on 30^th December 1988, also presented by Tom Hardy, was emotional and dramatic and underlined the station’s popularity on both sides of the border.

The tape was made on 9^th May 1988 from 1008 kHz AM between 1000-1045 and 1138-1233. It was recorded in Ayrshire in western Scotland and is courtesy of Ian Biggar.

28th May 202528th May 2025

Border series: brief return of Radio North in 1992

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Radio North closed down towards the end of 1991 and its AM frequency on 846 kHz was taken over by North Atlantic Radio, a rival Donegal station that had itself broken away from Radio North in 1989. This was logged on 16^th February 1992 by DX Archive. Radio North made a short-lived return later that year, appearing on 1008 kHz after that frequency was vacated by another Donegal pirate Riverside 101. It appears that Radio North returned for one day only and this recording features station stalwart the inimitable Mickey Henry, who says that the station is in new ownership although the old jingles are still used.

This recording of the brief return was made in Scotland from 1008 kHz AM on 8^th September 1992 between 1803-1935 and was made by Ken Baird. Thanks to Ian Biggar for the donation. Audio quality is fair to poor and contains fading and co-channel interference as would be expected at nightfall and at a distance. There are also technical issues and variable audio levels and it seems that Radio North was not ready to return to the air on a full-time basis.

21st May 202522nd May 2025

Border series: afternoon shows on Radio North

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This recording of Donegal pirate Radio North was made on a winter’s afternoon in 1991, not long before the station left the airwaves for over two years. It begins with Eddie Barr who holds a phone-in competition, attracting callers mostly from the North. In another reflection of the station’s popularity across the border, all advertisements in this recording are from Co. Derry. There is also a horoscope spot and plenty of requests for the usual diet of country and Irish music. Eddie’s show is followed by the evening drivetime programme with John Wright. Radio North closed down near the end of 1991 when its AM frequency was taken over by rival station North Atlantic Radio. In early 1994, North Atlantic Radio reverted to the Radio North name.

The tape was made from 846 kHz AM on Tuesday 29^th October 1991 from 1504-1635 and is courtesy of Ian Biggar. It was recorded in Scotland and as would be expected for the time of year, there is increasing co-channel interference as darkness falls.