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Sunday evening on Dublin country music station Treble TR

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Sunday evening on Dublin country music station Treble TR
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.

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Sunday afternoon on Metro Radio

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Sunday afternoon on Metro Radio

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.

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Laid-back Sunday night on Radio Leinster

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Laid-back Sunday night on Radio Leinster
Radio Leinster sticker (Anoraks Ireland Collection).

Radio Leinster was a specialist and speech station broadcasting from Dublin between 1981 and 1983. This short airchecked recording features the end of a Sunday night love songs show presented by Lawrence John, who was involved in pirates in Dublin and elsewhere throughout the 1980s. Lawrence is followed by Dave Couling with his laid-back Midnight Magic show until 0200.

The tape was made from 93 FM from around 2200 on Sunday 12th December 1982 and is from the Anoraks Ireland Collection. Radio Leinster also broadcast on 738 kHz AM (406 metres).

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June bank holiday 1986 on Energy 103

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June bank holiday 1986 on Energy 103
Energy 103 studios at 144 Upper Leeson Street (courtesy Andy Carter).

By the summer of 1986, Energy 103 was established as one of the three big Dublin pirate stations, following the sudden closure of Radio Nova earlier that year. This recording was made on a sunny bank holiday Monday in Dublin and contains plenty of references to the fine weather and people listening to their radios in the garden. Up first is Richard Jackson until 1500 and he is followed by Dave Johnson (Andrew Hanlon) who is standing in for Tony McKenzie. There is no news due to the bank holiday but a promo urging young people to vote in the forthcoming divorce referendum airs every hour.

As was typical of Energy 103, the recording contains the usual mixture of chart hits, loads of requests (including one from Tipperary) and slick imaging although there are no adverts, possibly due to the bank holiday. A promo for the syndicated American Music Magazine show with Rick Dees is also heard. The tape is from the Anoraks Ireland Collection and was made from 103 FM from 1433-1521 and 1557-1645 on Monday 2nd June 1986.

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Sunday night show on Radio Nova

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Sunday night show on Radio Nova
Nova car sticker from the 819 AM period (courtesy Ian Biggar).

This short recording of the successful Dublin station Radio Nova is from the run-up to Christmas 1982. It features Dave Harvey with plenty of requests on a cold Sunday night and news with Siobhán Purcell. The usual high-level adverts for brands and larger businesses are heard, reflecting Nova’s commercial success particularly in the busy pre-Christmas period. There’s also an advert for the Nova Park nightclub featuring musical events and gigs with Nova DJs.

The airchecked recording is from the Anoraks Ireland Collection and was made from 88 FM on Sunday 12th December 1982. Radio Nova also broadcast on 819 kHz AM at this time.