Border Archives - Page 3 of 18 - Irish Pirate Radio Audio Archive

5th March 202520th February 2025

Border series: Radio North returns to the air in 1989

Radio North from Co. Donegal is one of Ireland’s longest-running pirate stations, operating under various guises more or less continuously from 1986 to the current day. It began broadcasting from Carndonagh on the Inishowen peninsula on 18^th November 1986 on 1386 kHz, later moving to 1404. By mid-1987, it had moved to the clearer channel of 846 kHz, which gave it better coverage over a wider area.

Radio North closed down along with the vast majority of the other pirate stations on 31^st December 1988 but its frequencies were not silent for long. The station was among a handful of pirates to defy the new broadcasting laws and continue broadcasting in 1989. Radio North returned on tape on 5^th January 1989 and resumed live programmes the following day on 97.9 FM and 846 kHz AM putting out its usually good signal into Britain, according to the Anoraks UK Weekly Report. Promos were aired to raise funds for the station’s court case against the 1988 legislation with £30,000 required, £10,000 of which would be provided by Radio North. Adverts from both sides of the border were plentiful but an address in Ballymoney in Co. Antrim was used for advertising in order to circumvent the provisions of the new laws banning advertising on pirate radio in the Republic.

This recording was made from 1005-1155 on Sunday 8^th January 1989, just three days after Radio North returned to the air. DJ James plays a mixture of country, oldies and pop and there are requests and adverts from both sides of the border along with an appeal for donations to help the station fight the new broadcasting legislation in the High Court. The recording was made in Scotland and reception is fair with some electrical interference as would be expected given the distance from the broadcast site. We thank Ian Biggar for the donation.

28th February 20251st March 2025

Border series: Short-lived pirate 106 FM from Donegal

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106 FM was a short-lived pirate station broadcasting to Derry from just across the border in Donegal in 2001. The station was run by Delbert Jackson, a former DJ from another Donegal-based pirate, Riverside 101. However, reflecting a stricter approach to the pirates at the time, 106 FM only managed to broadcast for a few months from April before leaving the airwaves for good.

In June, it was reported in an online radio forum that 106 FM was off the air following the theft of equipment, but planned to return shortly. In a letter to Ian Biggar on 15^th September 2001, Andy Craig (formerly of Riverside 101) mentioned that Department of Communications officials had visited Donegal in August to raid 106 FM and another pirate, Tyrone Community Radio (TCR), which despite the name broadcast from near Lifford in the Republic. It was believed that the raid occurred as a result of a complaint from a rival station.

Other Donegal pirates Drive 105, Radio North and WABC switched of their transmitters at the time as a precaution. The DJ on air at 106 FM at the time of the raid was reportedly arrested by Gardaí and Eddie Barr who was on air at WABC was told to keep the transmitter switched off (WABC was never to return). No other pirates were visited, and they had returned to the air by the time of the letter.

This recording of 106 FM is of a test transmission and was made on 18^th April 2001 between 1320-1450. It features continuous music with recorded links giving a Northern phone number and email address as well as professional station liners. The tape was made by Rodney Neill and is kindly donated by Ian Biggar, who also provided background information. Reception quality is good with some fading, as the recording was made in Portadown, some distance from the Derry/Donegal border.

19th February 202520th February 2025

Border series: Late-night music on FM 100

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FM 100 was one of many border pirates to ignore the new broadcasting legislation that came into effect in the Republic of Ireland at the start of 1989. It used the studios and transmitters of previous pirate KITS in Monaghan Town, that had closed at the end of 1988, and beamed its signal across Northern Ireland. FM 100 launched on 26^th July 1989, with the first live show presented by John Friday (Lawrence John), who also programmed the station. Complaining about the lack of an all-music station in the North, FM 100 launched the ‘Campaign for Music Radio in Ulster’ but despite claiming ‘province-wide’ coverage with the support of advertising campaigns and fund-raising events, the station fizzled out after a few months in late 1989.

This recording of FM 100 from autumn 1989 is of a late-night show featuring pop and chart music. Adverts are heard for businesses in Armagh and Down and an advertising promo gives a Craigavon contact number, reflecting new restrictions on pirates taking advertising in the Republic. The strapline ‘Province-wide: Ulster’s newest, Ulster’s best’ is used by DJ Noel McStay and there are professional jingles and liners. The recording is from the Anoraks Ireland Collection and was made from 100 FM on Tuesday 5^th September 1989 from 2200-2242. FM 100 also broadcast on 103.25 FM in Newry and South Down.

14th February 202520th February 2025

Border series: Radio North closes down at end of 1988,

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Along with the vast majority of the other pirates, the Donegal station Radio North closed down at the end of 1988 in compliance with new broadcasting legislation. This recording of the final hour of Radio North on New Year’s Eve is presented by Mickey Henry who shares many requests from loyal listeners on both sides of the border, including one who has recorded most of the shows for posterity. Other presenters join Mickey in studio and there is a supportive phone call from neighbouring pirate Donegal Community Radio (DCR).

The closedown speech just before midnight is read by station manager Francis Callaghan, who thanks everyone involved over the previous two years. Although the transmitter is about to be switched off, he hints that more is to come when he says that Radio North will be bigger and better than ever in 1989.

The recording was made by Rodney Neill from 98 FM between 2302-0000 on December 31^st 1988 and is courtesy of DX Archive. Within days, Radio North would return to the airwaves.

5th February 202520th February 2025

Border series: More early Radio North from Donegal

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This is another early recording of the long-running Donegal pirate Radio North shortly after its launch in the winter of 1986. On air is ex-Voice of Peace DJ Mark Warner with a morning musical mix of folk, oldies, country and some pop. The first adverts for local businesses are aired in the busy pre-Christmas period. An advertising promo for the station mentions businesses in Northern Ireland, where Radio North always had a following. News is read by former Radio Caroline DJ Ian Akers.

The recording was made on 9^th December 1986 from 98 FM between 0918-1020. Radio North also broadcast on 1404 kHz AM at this time, before moving to the clearer frequency of 846 kHz in 1987. Thanks to Ian Biggar for the donation.