Christmas Day Archives - Irish Pirate Radio Audio Archive

25th December 202511th December 2025

Early Cork series: Christmas 1980 on Radio City

The Cork pirate Radio City celebrated its first Christmas on air in 1980, 4 months after going on the air. This recording from that day features a lively show with Carl Johnson (Dan Noonan) who is joined in studio by John Mariner and Eric Hansen (John Creedon, now of RTÉ). There are plenty of Christmas greetings from listeners, including live callers, some of whom are related to the DJs. Karl and the others are followed by Hospital Radio Special with Pete Andrews (O’Neill) and Susan James (O’Neill), who are joined later by Mike Cagney. The programme includes Christmas music, more requests and pre-recorded interviews.

The airchecked recording was made from 95.7 FM between approximately 1200-1500 on 25^th December 1980. Radio City also broadcast on 1512 kHz AM, announcing 199 metres. Thanks to Lilian O’Donoghue for the donation.

25th December 202519th February 2025

Sunshine Radio on Christmas Day 1981

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This recording features snippets from Christmas Day 1981 on Dublin pirate Sunshine Radio, by then one of the city’s two leading stations alongside Radio Nova. The station was still on 91.6 FM at that stage, as well as its AM frequency on 531 kHz. DJs in this airchecked recording from throughout the day are Declan Meehan, Stevie Dunne, David Lyons and John Lewis. News on the hour is read by a hungry Siobhán Walls, who is dreaming of her Christmas dinner.

The recording was made by Kieran Murray from 91.6 FM on December 25^th 1981 and is from the Anoraks Ireland Collection. Audio quality is fair with some cassette wobble due to the passing of time.

25th December 20252nd December 2025

Early Cork series: More Christmas Day on Radio City

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This additional recording from Christmas Day 1980 on Cork pirate Radio City features popular DJ Pat ‘the Smurf’ O’Rourke, complete with canned Smurf laughter. Pat shares requests from listeners and reads out a letter from number one fan Lilian McCarthy (O’Donoghue). He is followed by Steve Douglas and Luke Ward, who promise an interview with Bono of U2. Audio quality is fair with some variation in levels and there are issues with the microphone at times.

The partially airchecked recording runs from around 1600-1825 on 25^th December 1980 and was recorded from 95.7 FM. Thanks to Lilian O’Donoghue for the donation.

25th December 202330th December 2023

Christmas Day on Dublin Community Radio

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Dublin Community Radio (DCR) was an FM-only station set up in 1984. It was based in North Frederick Street in the city centre before moving to Foley Street. It later became KISS FM (1985-1986), which was located at the same address. This recording was made on Christmas Day 1984 and features Paul Martin followed by Fintan O’Hare. Interestingly, there are no Christmas tunes and the music consists mostly of oldies. Only a few adverts are heard but there is heavy promotion of an entertainment company specialising in DJs, discos and dancers.

The recording was made from 104.35 FM, announced as 105 between 1913-2053 on 25th December 1984. It is from the Anoraks Ireland Collection, donated to us by Paul Davidson.

25th December 202214th November 2023

Christmas Night on Q102

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This recording of Dublin super-pirate Q102 is from Christmas Night 1986. It begins with Eamonn Kelly who is finishing up a marathon 6-hour shift. Talk is limited reflecting the station’s format and the day that’s in it, and there are just a few requests for listeners and a weather bulletin. An advert for the 1987 Q102 diary is heard and the top-of-the-hour promo is sponsored by Sony. Eamonn is followed at midnight by Ken Harley, who is facing into another 6-hour show.

Part 1 of the recording above runs from 2231-2319 and Part 2 below from 2349-0037.

Part 2 from 2349.

Eamonn was heard previously on Cork stations WBEN and ERI and KISS FM in Foley Street in Dublin. Ken also worked on Big D, ARD, Radio Leinster and Radio Nova, and had previously made adverts for Nova in Bay City Studios. Listen to an interview with him here.

The recording was made from 103.5 FM on December 25^th and 26^th 1986 and is from the Anoraks Ireland Tapes Collection, donated to us by Paul Davidson.