Dublin Archives - Irish Pirate Radio Audio Archive

12th October 202610th October 2026

Andy Rua on Sunshine Radio

Andy Ruane (Andy Rua, previously Paul Nicholas) worked on various Dublin pirates in the late 1970s and early 1980s before moving on to a career in RTÉ. Here he is in 1983 in the lunchtime slot on Portmarnock station Sunshine Radio. Cathy Cregan reads the main lunchtime news, which includes results from the abortion referendum of the previous day.

The recording was made from 101.5 FM between 1258 and 1343 on 8^th September 1983 and is courtesy of Shay Geoghegan.

7th October 20268th October 2026

Evening show with Jason Maine on Radio Nova

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Jason Maine was a popular DJ from the Dublin pirate scene in the late 1970s and 1980s, presenting on stations such as Big D, Radio 257, Sunshine Radio and Q102. Here he is with a laid-back evening show on Radio Nova from spring 1982.

The partially airchecked recording was made from 88 FM in mono between 2145-2300 on Good Friday 9^th April 1982 and is courtesy of Shay Geoghegan. Nova also broadcast on 846 kHz AM at this time.

23rd September 202620th September 2026

Eclectic musical style on Radio Caroline Dublin

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Radio Caroline Dublin broadcast to the capital between 1989 and 2000, making it one of the longest-running pirates of the post-1989 era. This recording was made towards the end of its run in 2000 and highlights the wide variety of music played and the freewheeling, non-commercial style. It begins with the last few minutes of duo Travis and Tony, who are followed by another double-act, Michelle and Rhonda.

The tape was made on Wednesday 17^th May 2000 from 102.5 FM between 1815-1915 and is courtesy of Ian Biggar.

21st September 202620th September 2026

St. Patrick’s Day on Nova offshoot KISS FM

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This recording of Radio Nova offshoot KISS FM was made on St. Patrick’s Day 1983. First up is the final part of the lunchtime show with Colm Hayes. He is joined in studio by Eurovision winner Johnny Logan, who is due to begin his nationwide tour in Nova Park that night. Colm is followed by John Clarke who continues the Irish musical theme, mixed with oldies. News on the hour is read by Bryan Dobson, who would go on to a long career in RTÉ. A promo for the ‘KISS FM £5,000 pay-off’ is also heard, one of the many extravagant giveaways by the Radio Nova network.

The recording was made from 102.7 FM on Thursday 17^th March 1983 between 1531-1705 and is from the Anoraks Ireland Collection.

17th September 202618th September 2026

Teena Gates on Liberty 104

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Liberties Local Community Radio (LLCR) began broadcasting in March 1986 from Weaver Square in Dublin 8. It was run by Sammy Prendergast who was well known for installing aerials for pirate stations. LLCR broadcast on 1035 kHz AM using the old Capitol Radio rig which had been on 1017 kHz until shortly before then. It was also heard on 104 FM at a later stage and was renamed Liberty 104.

In this short clip from the Pirate.ie collection recorded on 30^th August 1988, Teena Gates reads the news, when the station was known as Liberty 104. Teena can still be heard on radio in Dublin today and in 2026 was inducted into the IMRO Radio Hall of Fame for her contribution to the medium.