Dublin Archives - Page 11 of 81 - Irish Pirate Radio Audio Archive

17th May 202417th May 2024

Tony Dixon with soul songs on Sunshine Radio

This recording of a Saturday night in 1985 on Sunday super-pirate Sunshine Radio gives a flavour of the variety in the station’s weekend schedule during this period. First up are soul and love songs with one of the station’s high-profile DJs, Tony Dixon (RIP). He is followed by Elliott John and Sunshine Street Beat. The usual high-level adverts for Dublin businesses and national brands are heard and there is a promo for a cash prize for listeners. Tony Dixon continued to broadcast on licensed radio until his untimely death in 2010.

Sands Hotel logo from the Sunshine time (courtesy Maria Ginty).

Sunshine Radio was based at the Sands Hotel in Portmarnock on the northside of Dublin during its eight-year existence. This tape was made from 101.5 FM from 2019-2104 on 12^th October 1985 and is from the Anoraks Ireland Collection.

13th May 202412th May 2024

Radio Nova on its final morning

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After dominating the Dublin market for 5 years, by early 1986 Radio Nova was in serious trouble. A bitter dispute with the National Union of Journalists had affected advertising revenue, shareholders were unhappy and the station had lost listeners at home due to the decision to chase a British audience. In March, Chris Cary announced that he would sell Nova by the end of the month, blaming the NUJ for his decision. In fact the end came sooner, on March 19^th, after two disgruntled shareholders successfully applied to the High Court for a receiver to be appointed to Nova Media Services. There was no indication on air that anything was awry until that afternoon. Radio Nova closed down just after 1800 but continuous music was broadcast on both AM and FM, with a new station, Zoom 103, announced a few hours later. Zoom lasted for less than a week but was replaced on 28^th April by Energy 103.

This tape from the Anoraks Ireland Collection features part of the Nightcap programme on Nova, recorded as the station entered its final day. The DJ is Richard Jackson and the recording was made from 0000-0045 on March 19^th 1986 from 103.1 FM.

11th May 202410th May 2024

Late night on Radio Leinster

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Radio Leinster was an easy-listening and talk-based station broadcasting to the Dublin area in the early 1980s. It launched on 29^th April 1981 and closed suddenly on 19^th May 1983 following the raids on the main Dublin stations Radio Nova and Sunshine Radio. This recording of Late Night Leinster was made about a week before the station left the airwaves and features the managing director Justin James presenting laid-back music. There are few adverts reflecting the time of night and Justin announces that Radio Leinster will close down for the night at 0200.

The recording is from the Anoraks Ireland collection and was made from 93 FM on Wednesday 11^th May 1983 from 0037 to 0146. Radio Leinster also broadcast on 738 kHz AM, announcing 406 metres medium wave. Its elevated site in Sandyford overlooking the city and professional transmitter gave it good coverage by day but the station suffered co-channel interference after dark.

6th May 20246th May 2024

Breakfast music and news on Q102

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By the summer of 1985, the new kid on the block, Q102, was well established as a serious player in the cut-throat Dublin radio market. Made after about six months on air, this recording underlines the station’s professionalism and high-quality sound with breakfast DJ, Scott Williams, presenting a mixture of music, news and information. There are promos for a listeners’ quiz sponsored by Irish music retailer Dolphin Discs and for cash giveaways on the streets of Dublin. Adverts for larger businesses and brands reflect Q102’s commercial success. News is read by Anne Cassin. Both presenters went on to careers in licensed radio or RTÉ.

The recording is from the Anoraks Ireland Collection and was made from 102 FM from 0727-0812 on 6^th August 1985.

1st May 202430th April 2024

Community station Radio Ringsend from 1986

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Radio Ringsend was an annual temporary station broadcasting during the Ringsend and District Festival in southeast Dublin during the 1980s. It was one of several pop-up stations under the umbrella of the Community Broadcasting Co-operative (CBC) set up during local community festivals in Dublin and surrounding counties. Radio Ringsend began broadcasting in 1982 and broadcast for the last time in the summer of 1988 before the legalisation of independent radio.

The CBC stations gave a fascinating insight into the popularity of hyper-local radio complete with small corner stores and competition results from the festival. In 1986, Radio Ringsend was based in a fruit and vegetable shop in Irishtown and this recording contains plenty of adverts for similar small businesses and copious amounts of requests and dedications. There is also a phone-in quiz, listeners’ competitions and karate results from the festival. The presenter is CBC founder Dave Reddy and voices on the adverts include David Baker and Bryan Lambert, familiar names on the CBC stations and indeed other 1980s pirates.

The recording is from the Anoraks Ireland Collection and was made from 98.4 FM from 1248-1425 on Saturday 26^th July 1986. Radio Ringsend also broadcast that year on 1530 kHz / 196 metres.