Bryan Dobson Archives - Irish Pirate Radio Audio Archive

21st September 202620th September 2026

St. Patrick’s Day on Nova offshoot KISS FM

This recording of Radio Nova offshoot KISS FM was made on St. Patrick’s Day 1983. First up is the final part of the lunchtime show with Colm Hayes. He is joined in studio by Eurovision winner Johnny Logan, who is due to begin his nationwide tour in Nova Park that night. Colm is followed by John Clarke who continues the Irish musical theme, mixed with oldies. News on the hour is read by Bryan Dobson, who would go on to a long career in RTÉ. A promo for the ‘KISS FM £5,000 pay-off’ is also heard, one of the many extravagant giveaways by the Radio Nova network.

The recording was made from 102.7 FM on Thursday 17^th March 1983 between 1531-1705 and is from the Anoraks Ireland Collection.

11th May 20263rd May 2026

More Chris Cary on KISS FM

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This is another recording of Radio Nova founder and boss, Chris Cary, using the name Harry cary on the Nova offshoot station, KISS FM. Chris mentions the visit of a youth club to the studios of Nova and KISS FM that day and says that other such groups would be welcome at the weekends. There are high-level agency adverts and news is read by Bryan Dobson, who would go on to a career in RTÉ.

The recording was made between 1837-1911 from 102.7 FM on Sunday 17^th April 1983 and is from the Anoraks Ireland Collection.

30th January 202624th January 2026

Operation Novacare a few days before the Nova raid

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Operation Novacare was one of various charity events organised by large Dublin pirate Radio Nova over its five years on air. Novacare 1983 consisted of an on-air auction of items donated by sponsors in aid of disability organisation the Irish Rehabilitation Institute (now Rehab). The aim was to buy a new minibus for the Institute. This recording features several Nova DJs and presenters such as Tony Garreth (Gareth O’Callaghan), Tom Hardy (RIP), Scott Williams, Bob Gallico (RIP), Greg Gaughren, Declan Meehan, Sybil Fennell, Colm Hayes and station owner Chris Cary (RIP). News is read by Bryan Dobson, who went on to a long career as a journalist with RTÉ.

The recording was made from 88.2 FM between 1404-1537 on Saturday 14^th May 1983. Four days later, Nova was raided by Gardaí and officials from the Department of Posts and Telegraphs. The tape is from the Leon Tipler Collection, donated to us by Steve England.

22nd March 202418th January 2025

Overnight Nova as heard in Britain

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The boss of Dublin super-pirate Radio Nova, Chris Cary, made various attempts to reach the west coast of Britain through the use of high-powered AM transmitters. At various times in the station’s existence, weather reports referred to northwest England, southern Scotland and the Isle of Man and Nova opened an advertising office in Liverpool in 1984. Expansion plans were dealt a severe blow in May 1983 when the authorities raided Nova and when the station returned to full-time broadcasting a days weeks later, power was reduced significantly.

This recording was made from Nova’s AM frequency about a month before the raids and gives a flavour of how the station sounded in the English midlands outside the intended listening area on the west coast. It begins with Denis Murray finishing his Saturday night show and the extended midnight news read by Ken Hammond, who would go on to become an RTÉ journalist. The overnight DJ is the late Roland Burke. The recording continues with a Sunday morning show presented by Mike Moran and news read by Bryan Dobson, who also went on to a career with RTÉ News.

The night-time recording contains lots of fading consistent with AM propagation in the hours of darkness and the daytime section is typical of groundwave reception. Made from 819 kHz, it begins at 2350 on Saturday 9^th and continues from 0937 on Sunday 10^th April 1983. The recording is from the Leon Tipler Tapes Collection, donated to us by Steve England.

19th May 202223rd February 2026

Radio Nova official closedown, 19th May 1983

Our montage of the final minute of Nova with photos taken by Joe King.

This is iconic announcement of the official closedown of Radio Nova at 6pm on Thursday, 19^th May 1983, following the raid by the Department of Posts and Telegraphs on the station the previous morning. From the afternoon of the 19^th as news of the imminent closure spread, a large crowd assembled outside the studios at 19 Herbert Street, Dublin 2 and Nova’s many listeners near and far heard the electric farewell broadcast. Watch a video of the dramatic closedown announcement voiced by Tony Allan, with photographs of the final day courtesy of Joe King.

Listen below to the segment from 1617-1700, featuring Nova DJs and guests including Mike Moran, Jason Maine, Scott Williams, Paul Vincent, Andy Rua, Roland Burke, Linda Conway, David Harvey, Bryan Dobson, Chris Barry, Doctor Don, Frank Wynne, Tony Allan and Dennis Murray. This recording is from the Anoraks Ireland Collection.

Listen below to the final 40 minutes from 1720-1800. This is from the Skywave Tapes Collection. Radio Skywave International was a shortwave station based in Baldoyle in northeast Dublin in the 1980s.

Nova returned to the air on Sunday 22^nd May 1983.