KIKX 102 was the new name for the short-lived Monaghan pirate FM 100, that broadcast for a few months from 26th July 1989. Using the former studios and transmitter of previous pirate KITS in Monaghan Town, FM 100 had big plans to secure a music radio licence for Northern Ireland following the closure of the pirates south of the border at the end of 1988. After moving to 102 FM in November 1989, FM 100 relaunched as KIKX 102 but only lasted for another few weeks before closing down. This was an unstable period for the pirates due to the introduction of draconian new broadcasting laws in the Republic.
Our recording features an evening show with mostly chart music and adverts for businesses in Antrim (including Belfast), Armagh and Monaghan. The tape is from the Anoraks Ireland Collection and was made from 102 FM sometime in November 1989 between 2134-2219. The DJ calls himself ‘the Gooseman’.
Misty Mountain Radio broadcast from the Cavan border region in the 2000s, specialising in show bands and country and Irish music. In this recording, DJ Mark Gregory has a CD to giveaway and there are requests from listeners around the county. The recording was made between from 106.2 FM between 2056-2200 on 15th January 2007.
Thanks to Ian Biggar for donating the tape, which was recorded originally by Brian Johnson. There is no known link between this station and the shortwave pirate Misty Mountain Radio that broadcast from the border region in the 1980s.
Owen Larkin at the KISS studios in 1988 (courtesy Ian Biggar).
KISS FM from Monaghan Town was a short-lived but highly successful and professional pirate station that broadcast for only 9 months in 1988. Although many border pirates relied on Northern listeners and advertisers, few were professional or powerful enough to make inroads into Belfast. Work began in 1987 on establishing a professional commercial station whose signal would be viable to capture the Belfast market. Test transmissions began at the end of that year and after technical problems, KISS FM eventually launched officially on 27th March 1988 and began broadcasting full-time a few days later. Powerful signals on AM and FM reached to Belfast and beyond, making KISS FM a serious player in the Northern radio market during its short time on air.
This recording is of various evening shows from a Wednesday not long after KISS FM went on the air. First up is the end of the long afternoon shift with Owen Barry (Larkin), who is followed by John Friday (Lawrence John). Formatting is slick, with minimal talk, music sweeps and station jingles and liners. There’s also a promo for the US syndicated radio show, Gary Owens Music Weekend, and a small number of adverts for larger businesses and brands.
The recording was made from 103.7 between 1840-1928 on 6th April 1988 and is from the Anoraks Ireland Collection. KISS FM also broadcast on 1008 kHz AM at this time.
The Boyneside Radio North transmitter right on the border (courtesy Eddie Caffrey).
Boyneside Radio North was one of several satellite services of the main Drogheda station, aimed at listeners north of the border as far as Belfast. This was the most successful of the offshoot stations, broadcasting continuously from late summer 1982 to 31st December 1988. The studios of Boyneside Radio North were located at Killeen, just south of the border, and AM and FM transmitters were situated on the border itself. There were local programmes from Killeen for long parts of the day, with the remainder of material relayed from Drogheda.
This recording of Boyneside Radio North was made on Easter Sunday 1988 and features an unidentified DJ with a mixture of pop and oldies. Requests are mostly from the Northern counties of Down and Armagh. Adverts feature businesses around the Newry area and an advertising promo contains Northern phone numbers. News at 1500 is read by Gerry Malone from Drogheda.
The tape is from the Anoraks Ireland Collection and was made from 1419-1508 on 3rd April 1988 from the 106.1 FM transmitter located at Edentubber, just on the border. Boyneside Radio North also broadcast on 1233 kHz (244 metres) to Newry.
Breffni Radio caravan from 1987 (courtesy DX Archive).
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 8th November on 100.0 FM, later moving to 98.9 MHz. The AM transmitter was brought back into service on Sunday 12th November on the old frequency of 657 kHz. Breffni continued to broadcast 24 hours a day until Friday 24th 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 1st 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 20th 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.
