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Friday afternoon on Ballincollig Community Radio

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Friday afternoon on Ballincollig Community Radio
Ballincollig main street in 1987 (courtesy Jim Coughlan/Facebook).

Ballincollig Community Radio broadcast to the Cork suburb of Ballincollig for the latter part of 1988 up to the deadline for the pirate stations to go off the air. The station operated on FM only and in this recording from November 1988, station manager Margaret Mahon presents ballads, country and showbands, along with a listeners’ quiz. There is a reference to Paul Davidson of Anoraks Ireland, who had just visited the station.

The recording is from the Anoraks Ireland Collection and was made from 103.6 FM, announcing 104, between 1542-1613 on Friday, 4th November 1988.

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Early Cork series: Holiday drivetime on Radio City

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Early Cork series: Holiday drivetime on Radio City
Mike Cagney at Radio City in 1980 (courtesy Lilian O’Donoghue).

This recording of Cork pirate Radio City features Mike Cagney presenting the drivetime show during the Christmas holidays 1980. The city is teeming with shoppers due to the New Year sales. Mike has a listeners’ competition, quiz of the week and a review of the news and best albums of the year.

The recording was made from 95.7 FM on 29th December 1980 between 1737-1908 and is partially airchecked. Thanks to Lilian O’Donoghue for the donation.

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Early Cork series: Christmas 1980 on Radio City

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Early Cork series: Christmas 1980 on Radio City
L-R: Eric Hansen (John Creedon) and Alan Reid (Henry Condon, RIP) at Radio City (courtesy Lilian O’Donoghue).

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.

Early Cork series: Christmas 1980 on Radio City
Susan James (O’Connor) at Radio City in 1980 (courtesy Lilian O’Donoghue).

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

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Early Cork series: More Christmas Day on Radio City

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Early Cork series: More Christmas Day on Radio City
Pat O’Rourke in festive mood at Christmas 1980 (courtesy Lilian O’Donoghue).

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 25th December 1980 and was recorded from 95.7 FM. Thanks to Lilian O’Donoghue for the donation.

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Drivetime on Centre Radio from Cork

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Drivetime on Centre Radio from Cork
Eric Young (Kevin Cussens) at Centre Radio in 1987 (Anoraks Ireland Collection).

Centre Radio was a Cork pirate broadcasting from late 1986 to the end of 1988. It was first located in Shandon Street in the city centre and then moved to Dublin Hill on the northside. An FM station only, it first broadcast on 101.5 and then 101, before moving to 95 MHz.  

This recording from towards the end of its run features the end of the 95 FM Drive show with station boss Eric Young (aka Kevin Cussens), consisting mostly of chart music with short links. The tape is from the Anoraks Ireland Collection and was made from 95 FM between 1832-1903 on Thursday 3rd November 1988.