Capitol Radio 226 Archives - Irish Pirate Radio Audio Archive

6th November 20243rd November 2024

More highlights of Dublin radio in 1979

In this post, we bring you more highlights of Dublin radio in 1979 as recorded by English anorak Leon Tipler (RIP) during one of his regular visits to Ireland. This recording begins with Tony Allan (RIP) on his afternoon show on ARD, including news and requests. Later in the tape, Tony conducts an interview with the Friends of Medieval Dublin about the controversial development of the Wood Quay site in Dublin for new civic offices. Simon Young (RIP) is interviewed by another DJ on Big D, and talks about the various gigs that he did around town. There are also snippets of Radio Dublin and Capitol Radio. Parts of these recordings were used in Leon’s acclaimed documentary series The Irish Pirates.

The tape was made on 29^th August 1979 from various AM frequencies. We thank Steve England for his donation of the Leon Tipler Collection to Pirate.ie.

25th October 202421st October 2024

More of Dublin’s Capitol Radio in summer 1979

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Capitol Radio compliments slip (courtesy lan Russell)

Today’s recording is a short excerpt of one of the Dublin pirate stations of the late 1970s, Capitol Radio, as recorded by English radio anorak Leon Tipler during a visit to Ireland in July 1979. Station co-founder Alan Russell reminds listeners of a chance to win a bottle of wine and gives a postal address on the South Circular Road, or people can drop into the studios on Bachelors Walk. Coming up after Alan is another co-founder of the station, Chris Barry. At the very end is a quick tune around AM, giving a taste of the amount of broadcasters on the band at the time.

The recording is undated but is likely from 19^th or 20^th July 1979 and begins shortly before 1000. It was recorded from 1332 kHz, announcing 226 metres. Capitol Radio broadcast initially on a part-time basis for a few months in 1975 but returned as full-time operation in 1978, offering a mixture of music, talk and specialist programmes. Thanks to Steve England for sharing Leon Tipler’s recordings with us.

11th October 20246th October 2024

Breakfast show on Capitol Radio in 1979

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Capitol Radio was an innovative station broadcasting to Dublin in the 1970s and 1980s. Like other pirates of the era, it began as a part-time operation in August 1975, taking to the airwaves on Friday evenings and Sunday afternoons. After a raid in December, the station closed down for more than two years. Capitol returned on a full-time basis in February 1978 and offered an eclectic mix of music and talk until 1981.

This recording from summer 1979 features one of Capitol’s founders, Alan Russell, presenting the breakfast show. The musical mix is laid-back and includes oldies. Adverts for local businesses are aired and there is also a sales promo offering both radio adverts and graphic design for businesses wishing to advertise in local press. Alan is to hand over at 1100 to Chris Barry, another co-founder of Capitol.

The recording was made from 1332 kHz, announcing 226 metres, from 0907-0950 on 19^th July 1979. It is from the Leon Tipler Collection, donated to us by Steve England. Audio quality is variable due to cassette degradation over time.

8th June 20228th June 2022

Capitol Radio featured on the BBC

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This is a recording of a BBC report on Irish pirate radio, featuring the specialist station Capitol Radio in Dublin (1975 and 1978-1981). It was broadcast on the BBC Radio 1 Newsbeat programme on 26^th November 1981 and on BBC World Service on shortwave around the world. One of Capitol’s founders Alan Russell is interviewed and speculates about the establishment of legalised commercial radio in Ireland. The report also includes a clip from Capitol DJ Chris Barry.

The interview was conducted in Dublin in February 1981 but not broadcast until November. Capitol had in fact closed the previous March and Alan speculates that the delay in airing the interview could have been because the BBC did not want to unduly antagonise RTÉ by featuring a pirate currently on air. Similarly, they may not have wanted to publicise Robbie Robinson of Sunshine Radio or Chris Cary of Radio Nova, both of whom had a history in UK offshore pirate radio. Capitol Radio had been known to the UK radio industry as a specialist station following a 1980 article in a British trade magazine Radio Month (see below). Alan believes that Capitol was one of the few Irish pirates, if not the only one, to get worldwide airtime on the BBC.

Thanks to Alan Russell for the donation of this recording and images.

30th May 202229th May 2022

News bulletin on Capitol Radio

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Capitol Radio (220 and later 226 metres) was a mixed-format station broadcasting from Dublin in 1975 and then from 1978-1981. The station had many specialist music programmes as well as news and current affairs and provided evidence, from the beginning of the pirate era, that not all stations played chart hits only.

This news bulletin from 9^th March 1979 is read by one of Capitol’s founders, Alan Russell. Stories include a Supreme Court judgement in favour of former Garda Commissioner Ned Garvey who was dismissed by the government in 1978.

It also includes a defence by RTÉ presenter Bunny Carr of the television quiz show Quicksilver, then under fire from critics.

Alan Russell went on to set up stations in Galway in the 1980s. We thank him for donating this recording and the photo.