Country music Archives - Irish Pirate Radio Audio Archive

15th May 202413th May 2024

Border series: Sunday lunchtime on Radio Star Country

Radio Star Country is one of the longest running pirate stations in Ireland, broadcasting from 1988 to the present day. It was one of a handful of stations to defy the new broadcasting legislation that came into effect at the beginning of 1989 and was supposed to silence the pirates for good. Based in Co. Monaghan, Radio Star Country gained listeners and advertisers over a wide area on both sides of the border, and its diet of country music and sponsored religious programming proved highly popular.

Radio Star Country has always been predominantly an AM station, but this is a rare recording of it from FM, presumably a low-powered relay to link the studio with the main transmitter on 981 kHz. Presenter Gerry Callan has plenty of anouncements about community and social events ranging from a donkey derby to a gig by fellow DJ Patsy Jordan (RIP) and his band in Co. Cavan. There is a the usual large number of adverts, many of them voiced by station manager Gerry Byrne, featuring businesses in Counties Tyrone, Derry and Fermanagh. An advertising promo gives out an Armagh number while a Monaghan number is used for requests.

The tape is from the Anoraks Ireland Collection and was made from 105 FM between 1325-1410 on Sunday 21^st July 1991.

2nd October 202315th June 2024

Border series: Erneside Community Radio heard in English midlands

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Erneside Community was one of several pirates broadcasting from Co. Cavan during the 1980s. It was a strong supporter of local country and western artists throughout its four years on air. Erneside began test transmissions in January 1985 and started full programming on 25^th February, broadcasting on 1251 kHz (announcing 240 metres). A detailed report by Seán Brady of Cavan Community Radio in the Anoraks UK Weekly Report of 31^st March 1985 described the ‘Cavan Radio Explosion’ and noted that Erneside broadcast from 8am to midnight, specialising mostly in Irish country and western music. Erneside also had an outside broadcast unit that had travelled to Counties Cavan, Leitrim and Fermanagh and carried community notices each day. The station later added FM and continued to broadcast until 30^th December 1988.

This tape was recorded in the English midlands and is of DX quality, with plenty of deep fading and interference. No times were noted on the cassette, but it was made during the afternoon of 13^th November 1985 as winter darkness fell. There are adverts from both sides of the border in the run-up to the busy Christmas period. The first DJ is Brian Gold and he is followed by Don Woods.

This recording is from the Leon Tipler Tapes Collection, donated to us by Steve England.

7th August 202314th August 2023

Border series: linedancing on Radio Star Country

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This short recording of Monaghan station Radio Star Country from 1997 reflects the linedancing craze that was sweeping rural Ireland at the time, particularly among country music fans. Following the syndicated news from IRN in Britain, a promo airs for a linedancing competition sponsored by Radio Star Country in a pub in Armagh. The extract also includes adverts for local businesses and a station advertising promo. The presenter is Country Girl Claire, who continues to broadcast on Radio Star Country to this day.

The broadcast was recorded on the island of Sotra in western Norway and quality worses towards the end, reflecting the distance from the transmitter on the Irish border. The recording was made sometime in November 1997 between 0858-0910 from 981 kHz. It is kindly donated by Svenn Martinsen.

29th July 202314th August 2023

Border series: Radio Star Country during visit of President Clinton

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This recording of Radio Star Country was made in western Norway in November 1995 during the visit of US President Bill Clinton to Northern Ireland. It begins with continuous music before 0900 interspersed with long commercial breaks taking advantage of the busy run-up to Christmas. Adverts are heard for businesses in Armagh, Down, Tyrone, Derry and Antrim including the outskirts of Belfast, reflecting Radio Star Country’s large coverage area on AM. An unidentified DJ (likely Patsy Jordan) comes on air at 0900 and refers to the Clinton visit during copious requests from listeners. There is an advertisement for a Radio Star Country sales representative for the Lisburn area, with the tagline ‘one of Northern Ireland’s biggest radio stations’. A promo for the gospel programme New Life in Christ is also heard. The recording was made from 981 kHz on Thursday 30^th November 1995. Part 1 above begins at 0828 and Part 2 below at 0902.

Part 2 from 0902.

Audio is of fair quality given the distance with some deep fading but long sections that are quite listenable. Thanks to Svenn Martinsen for the donation.

13th July 202314th August 2023

Border series: breakfast on Radio Star Country as heard in Norway

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Today we feature another recording of Monaghan station Radio Star Country made on the western coast of Norway. It features continuous music at breakfast time, including a promo is heard for “your own 24-hour a day country music station from Monaghan to wherever you are” but with no commercial breaks. The fact that there was no live DJ in a peak listening slot underlines how Radio Star Country sometimes failed to provide a core schedule in the post-1989 period.

Audio quality is fair at the beginning but deep fading occurs after about 20 minutes. There is some wobble but it is not clear if this was on the station’s side or is due to the degradation of the tape over time. The receiver is retuned to an unidentified UK AM station at the very end. The recording was made in Solsvik, Norway from 981 kHz between 0755 and 0840 on 29^th October 1994. The receiver used was a Drake SPR-4 with a 200-metre antenna facing southwest. Thanks to Svenn Martinsen for the donation.