Studio shot of TTTR in October 1983 (courtesy DX Archive).
This recording of Dublin’s country and Irish music station Treble TR was made in autumn 1983, when the station was about 2 and a half years on air. On air is DJ Christine with a mixture of Irish and American country music, requests and dedications, information about gigs and a listeners’ chart countdown. There are plenty of adverts for businesses around Dublin, reflecting the station’s solid audience.
The airchecked recording was made from 99.5 FM on Saturday 16th October 1983 between 2000-2305 and is from the Anoraks Ireland Collection. Treble TR also broadcast on 945 kHz AM at this time.
Sunshine 101 sticker from the later period (Anoraks Ireland Collection).
Bee Bop Gold was a hugely popular oldies show on Dublin pirate Sunshine Radio in its last few years on air. Sponsored by video rental company Xtravision, it was presented by Nails Mahoney, who would go on to a successful media career in Ireland and abroad. Relaunched as ‘Sunshine Hot Hits 101’ at this time, the Portmarnock station was the radio leader in Dublin and market research showed that Bee Bop Gold was the capital’s most listened to programme on Sundays.
This recording of Bee Bop Gold highlights how tightly-formatted the programme was, with very short links and continuous oldies. There are the usual high-level agency adverts for larger businesses and brands, some voiced by Sunshine boss, Robbie Robinson (RIP). The tape was made on Sunday 16th August 1987 from 101.5 FM between 1317-1447 and is from the Anoraks Ireland Collection.
Daphne Mitchell on Radio Leinster in 1982 (courtesy David Baker).
Radio Leinster was a talk and specialist pirate station broadcasting to Dublin from 1981-1983. This recording from a snowy day in winter 1981 shows how, with a fraction of the resources, Radio Leinster mounted a credible challenge to RTÉ Radio 1 during its time on air. The recording begins with the final few minutes of a lunchtime show presented by show band and cabaret singer, Sonny Knowles (RIP). He is followed at 1500 by the much-loved Daphne Mitchell, whose afternoon programme is sponsored by Apollo 1 Discount Store in Dublin’s Moore Street. Daphne’s popular show includes a featured artist, country interlude, poet’s corner, single of the week, horoscopes, a song from the musical and a classical corner. There are references also to other specialist shows on Radio Leinster and a charitable appeal by the presenter of a religious programme, Fr Michael Culloty. News headlines at half past the hour are read by Gordon Sommerville and Daphne is followed at 1630 by Mick McKenzie.
The recording was made from 738 kHz AM, announcing 406 metres, between 1448-1651 on Tuesday 8th December 1981, and is from the Anoraks Ireland Collection. There is increasing co-channel interference as night falls.
Studio shot of Treble TR in 1983 with unidentified DJ (courtesy DX Archive).
Dublin’s country and Irish music station Treble TR broadcast from spring 1981 until the end of 1988, building up a loyal listenership during that time. This recording was made on a Sunday night in 1983 and features some of the variety of programmes on the station.
Shay Eustace is up first with the final part of his Irish traditional and folk music show. He is followed by John Deane with his mixture of country and ballads until midnight. There are some agency adverts and commercials for various Dublin businesses, including the Red Corner Shop, a regular advertiser on the pirates.
The airchecked recording is from the Anoraks Ireland Collection and was made from 99.5 FM between 2000-2230 on Sunday 9th October 1983.
Metro Radio was a small short-lived AM pirate station broadcasting from Clontarf on the northside of Dublin in 1983. Anoraks UK first logged it on 1557 kHz on 31st May but it does not appear consistently in listings and seems to have been an irregular or hobby rather than a full-time operator. The same frequency was also used by another irregular pirate, Diamond Radio, around this time and indeed Diamond reoccupied 1557 kHz in 1984 after the apparent demise of Metro Radio by the end of 1983.
This short airchecked recording is from the Anoraks Ireland Collection and was made from 1557 kHz, announcing 192 metres, between 1300-1500 on Sunday 16th October 1983. The DJ is John Young and only one advert is heard during the broadcast.
