Cork Archives - Irish Pirate Radio Audio Archive

Early Cork series: More of the lunchtime show on Radio City — Pete O’Neill at Radio City in 1980 (courtesy Lilian O’Donoghue).

This is another recording of the lunchtime show on Cork pirate Radio City, presented by one of the station founders, Pete Andrews (O’Neill). There are plenty of community notices in this edition, as well as requests and dedications and the usual Golden Year feature. Following Pete, fellow Radio City founder Carl Johnson (Dan Noonan) is heard with the beginning of his Afternoon Delight show.

The partially airchecked recording was made from 95.5 FM between 1202-1403 on Wednesday 8^th April 1981 and is courtesy of Lilian O’Donoghue. Radio City also broadcast on 1512 kHz AM, announcing 199 metres.

19th January 202617th January 2026

Early Cork series: Various Saturday shows on Radio City

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

This recording of Cork pirate Radio City was made on a Saturday evening in spring 1981. Up first is the final part of Dave Johnson’s sports results programme. He is followed by Alan Edwards with his popular early evening show, complete with plenty of requests, a notice about a lost dog, adverts and mashed-up station idents. Among the hits played is Ireland’s entry to the 1981 Eurovision Song Contest, which is to be held that evening in Dublin. After Alan we hear the first few minutes of Luke Ward’s Rock City Interviews show.

Audio quality is poor in the first half, possibly because the receiver was slightly off channel, but it improves in the final hour. The recording was made on 4^th April 1981 from 1654-1906 from 95.5 FM. Radio City also broadcast on 199 metres medium wave (1512 kHz). Thanks to Lilian O’Donoghue for the donation.

14th January 202612th January 2026

Early Cork series: Lunchtime shows on Radio City

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

This recording of Cork pirate Radio City was made in spring 1981, about seven months after the station went on the air. Up first is the end of Mark Lawrence’s mid-morning programme. He is followed by one of the station founders, Pete Andrews (O’Neill), with his Lunchtime Special show. Radio City super-fan Lilian McCarthy (O’Donoghue) has brought presents to the station for Pete’s birthday and there is the usual Golden Year feature and ‘for sale’ slot.

The tape was made from 95.5 FM between 1156-1244 on 25^th March 1981 and is courtesy of Lilian O’Donoghue. Audio quality is fair with distortion in places, probably due to an issue with transmission, and some wobble on the cassette after the decades.

7th January 20261st December 2025

Friday afternoon on Ballincollig Community Radio

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

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, 4^th November 1988.

29th December 202529th December 2025

Early Cork series: Holiday drivetime on Radio City

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

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 29^th December 1980 between 1737-1908 and is partially airchecked. Thanks to Lilian O’Donoghue for the donation.