Irish Pirate Radio Audio Archive
Open Free Radio Archive
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
On New Year’s Day 1988, Dublin super-pirate Sunshine 101 broadcast the ‘101 Hottest Hits of 1987’ presented by Nails Mahoney. The show was sponsored by the Evening Press newspaper and sounds like it was pre-recorded as there are no time-checks.
The recording is from the Anoraks Ireland Collection and was made from 101.5 FM between 1317-1403 on 1st January 1988.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
This is another recording of Radio Nova founder and boss, Chris Cary, using the name Harry cary on the Nova offshoot station, KISS FM. Chris mentions the visit of a youth club to the studios of Nova and KISS FM that day and says that other such groups would be welcome at the weekends. There are high-level agency adverts and news is read by Bryan Dobson, who would go on to a career in RTÉ.
The recording was made between 1837-1911 from 102.7 FM on Sunday 17th April 1983 and is from the Anoraks Ireland Collection.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
KISS FM (1982-1984) was one of several offshoots of the large Dublin pirate radio Nova. In this recording, Nova founder and boss Chris Cary is on air using the name Harry Cary. He is followed by Chris Barry with a late-night programme. The final part of the recording switches from KISS FM to Nova itself for a few minutes. ‘Independent Radio News from Ireland’ on both services is read by Ken Hammond, who would go on to have a career in RTÉ.
The recording was made from from 102.7 FM and then 88.2 FM on Sunday 10th April 1983 between 2040-2114. It is from the Anoraks Ireland Collection.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Radio Dublin Channel 2 was the first such offshoot service by an Irish pirate station, operating initially at weekends and then on a more full-time basis in parallel with the main station. Offering specialist output such as a rock show, country show and student programme, it was an alternative to the chart music focus of the original Channel 1, which continued to broadcast on 1188 kHz (253 metres). Channel 2 was initially on FM only but in recognition of the limited reach of that band at the time, soon added its own AM channel. One of the highlights of the Channel 2 service was the weekly FRC show presented by Gerard Roe, which updated anoraks about the pirate radio scene at home and abroad.
This recording begins with the first test broadcast of Radio Dublin Channel 2 on Saturday 26th April 1980, with John Everest on 90.2 MHz FM, while Kevin Barrett continues on medium wave. The airchecked recording switches back and forth between AM and FM in the course of the evening, and John Everest announces that the official launch will take place the following weekend. Kevin Barrett says Radio Dublin is making history in local radio in Ireland, being the only station with two separate channels. However there are plenty of teething problems during the Channel 2 test, and a link-up between the two channels is barely audible.
The test transmission is followed by the launch of Channel 2 a week later which begins with a few words from station owner Eamonn Cooke, followed by Martin Cullinane, who would later use the name Bob Conway on RTÉ 2FM. Teething problems continue with variable audio and bleed-through from Channel 1, which was a perennial problem on the parallel services. The airchecked recording begins shortly after 1600 and continues until the inaugural broadcast finishes at 1800. There is some uncertainty over the date of the launch due to confusing information on the cassette label, but it appears to have been on Saturday 3rd May 1980. The recording ends with the familiar Radio Dublin signature tune and jingles. Thanks to Ian Biggar for the donation.
Radio Dublin closed down permanently in 2002 following Eamonn Cooke’s conviction for sexually abusing children. He was jailed in 2003 and again in 2007 and died in 2016 while on temporary release. If you require support with this issue, you can contact the organisation One in Four.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
This recording of popular DJ Declan Meehan on Sunshine Radio was made in summer 1982, as the north Dublin station approached its second birthday. Along with the usual mixture of contemporary hits and oldies, there’s mention of the ongoing World Cup tournament and the Sunshine Radio rock concert in Malahide Castle that evening. Commercial breaks include an advert for Tamango’s nightclub in the Sands Hotel in Portmarnock where Sunshine was based. There’s also a cash prize giveaway based on a car registration number. News is read by Siobhán Walls, who had previously worked in pirate radio in Cork. Declan Meehan would move to Sunshine’s great rival Radio Nova the following month.
The recording was made from 531 kHz between 1642-1727 on Friday 18th June 1982. After a wobbly start, audio quality is good. Thanks to Ian Biggar for the donation.