Dublin Archives - Page 2 of 87 - Irish Pirate Radio Audio Archive

19th September 202514th September 2025

American Country Countdown on Radio Nova

The American Country Countdown was a syndicated country music show from the US presented by Bob Kingsley, aired by Dublin station Radio Nova in its early days. This recording from summer 1982 is of an early morning broadcast of the show, as heard on AM in Britain. It starts with night-time fading and some interference but the signal improves as dawn arrives. There are adverts for businesses around Dublin, including for brands, and mention of a Nova event at Maxine’s nightclub. The American Country Countdown is followed at 0600 by Colm Hayes with the first few minutes of his breakfast show.

The recording was made on Thursday 24^th June 1982 from 846 kHz AM from 0407-0610. There are no details on the label but as the tape is from the Leon Tipler Collection, we presume that it was recorded at Leon’s home in Kidderminster near Birmingham. Thanks to Steve England for donating the Tipler Collection to us.

12th September 20254th September 2025

Concord Community Radio explains aims of community broadcasting

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Concord Community Radio began broadcasting in March 1983 to the Artane district of the northside of Dublin, before changing its name to North Dublin Community Radio (NDCR) in 1984. It was one of a number of stations committed to developing licensed community broadcasting in Ireland and a leading member of the National Association of Community Broadcasters. Like the other pirates, NDCR closed at the end of 1988 but many of those involved went on to form NEAR FM, the licensed community station for northeast Dublin that launched in 1995.

This short recording of Concord Community Radio includes an unidentified DJ and a promo outlining the philosophy of community radio, reflecting the political debate about the licensing of local radio at that time. It was made from 891 kHz AM on Saturday 21^st May 1983, just days after the raids on the large commercial Dublin stations Radio Nova and Sunshine Radio. The tape is from the Leon Tipler Collection, donated to us by Steve England.

29th August 202519th August 2025

Ever-popular Soul Special on Sunshine Radio

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Tony Dixon (RIP) presented the long-running Soul Special show on Saturday evenings on Dublin pirate Sunshine Radio in the 1980s, gaining a loyal following around the city and further afield. This short recording of the popular show is undated but we estimate it to be from October 1982. There are no adverts but some of the iconic Sunshine jingles are heard. The transmitter seems to go off the air at the end although it is possible that the dial of the receiver was adjusted suddenly. After a successful career in radio, Tony died prematurely in 2010.

The tape was recorded from 100.5 FM between 2003-2027 and was kindly donated by Shay Geoghegan.

22nd August 202522nd August 2025

Saturday night on country station Treble TR

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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 16^th October 1983 between 2000-2305 and is from the Anoraks Ireland Collection. Treble TR also broadcast on 945 kHz AM at this time.

15th August 202512th August 2025

Bee Bop Gold oldies show on Sunshine 101

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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 16^th August 1987 from 101.5 FM between 1317-1447 and is from the Anoraks Ireland Collection.