By November 1983, Community Radio 257 was based in Portmarnock in north County Dublin. This recording from that period begins with the final few minutes of a show presented by Gary Hamill (Seán McCarthy) who has a competition for listeners to win £5 in cash. News at the top of the hour is followed by Conor Cuddihy’s drivetime programme. Apart from a promo for community events and the ’257 Communications Institute’ offering radio courses, there are no actual commercials. An original Radio 257 (ARD) ident voiced by Tony Allen is aired but there was no direct connection with the earlier station. Gary Hamill went on to larger commercial pirate stations such as Q102 and Energy 103.
The tape was made from 103 FM on Saturday 12th November 1983 between 1450 and 1535. Community Radio 257 also broadcast on 1116 kHz AM. The recording is from the Skywaves Tapes Collection. Radio Skywave International was a 1980s shortwave station broadcasting from northeast Dublin.
Community Radio 257 rate card (courtesy Ian Biggar).
Community Radio 257 was a short-lived station broadcasting to the northside of Dublin in 1983. One of many stations in the area associated with John Thewlis, it began around the time of the raids on the bigger pirates in May 1983. By July, Anoraks UK reported that it was based in the northern suburb of Clontarf. According to an article by Tony Donlon in the World DX Club magazine in July 1983, Community Radio 257 used a 250-watt rig previously owned by Wicklow Community Radio, which had been closed down by the Council for infringing the planning act. The address given was 77 Dollymount Avenue, Dublin 3.
According to Offshore Echos no. 49 of October 1983, Community Radio 257 broadcast first on 1134 kHz but moved to 1116 kHz in July to avoid interfering with Radio Dublin Channel 2. In an illustration of the cut-throat world of Dublin pirate radio at the time, the Captain’s News reported that for the first two days it was jammed by Capitol Radio’s transmitter as they had planned to use that frequency. Community Radio 257 also announced 94 FM, broadcast 24 hours a day and carried news on the half hour. The grandly titled ‘Community Radio 257 Radiophonic Institute’ offered a course for potential producers and presenters for the proposed new commercial stations. The most promising students were to be be offered jobs on the station. In October, Anoraks UK reported that Community Radio 257 was on and off air and later moved to the Country Club in Portmarnock. It was raided after allegedly causing interference at Dublin Airport and closed down on 25th November.
This recording of the station was made on Friday 26th August 1983 from 1045-1130. The cassette label notes 94 FM but the poor audio quality suggests AM instead. Tony Meyler is on air with a competition for listeners to win cinema tickets. Promos are heard for the 257 Radiophonic Institute and the 257 roadshow disco for party hire. The recording is from the Skywaves Tapes Collection. Radio Skywave International was a 1980s shortwave station broadcasting from northeast Dublin. Thanks for Ian Biggar for further background information.
Car sticker for the popular traffic report Eye in the Sky on Q102 (Anoraks Ireland Collection).
This recording of popular Dublin station Q102 was made in the summer of 1985 and features part of the evening drivetime show presented by John Kenny. Chart music alternates with classic tunes and there are plenty of adverts ranging from larger companies and brands to restaurants and clothing shops around Dublin. A promo airs for a 1970s special over the August bank holiday weekend, there’s a competition for tickets to the Horse Show and gigs by Stockton’s Wing and Blue in Heaven are mentioned. News with Gary Hamill (Seán McCarthy) includes reference to the moving statues phenomenon that rocked Ireland that summer. John Kenny is still heard on sports and music shows on RTÉ.
Original tape label from Anoraks Ireland Collection.
The tape was recorded from 102 FM on Wednesday 31st July 1985. Part 1 above runs from 1827 and Part 2 below from 1913.
Part 2 from 1913.
At this time Q102 also broadcast on 828 kHz AM. The recording is from the Anoraks Ireland Tapes Collection, donated to us by Paul Davidson.
Ballymun Community Radio was an FM-only pirate broadcasting to the north Dublin suburb of Ballymun in 1983. The station was noted on 104 FM in a DX Archive log from July that year, but did not appear in earlier or later logs. In the July 1983 column by Tony Donlon in Contact magazine of the World DX Club, the station was listed on the same frequency and the address of 39, Balbutcher Lane, Ballymun given. According to the same report, Ballymun Community Radio went on air on 2nd June and broadcast from a ground floor flat with a long wire antenna hanging from a top floor window.
This recording was made on 26th August 1983 from 104 FM between 1135 and 1220 and features Derek Bates playing pop and chart music. There is one commercial break featuring local shops. Sound levels are variable and audio quality is fair with a hiss due to cassette degradation over time.
A station called Ballymun Community Broadcasting set up by Joe Doyle (later of Radio Dublin) was listed by Anoraks Ireland and in the Anoraks UK Weekly Report between July 1987 and July 1988 with an address at 382 Balcurris Road, Dublin 9. Frequencies logged at various times were 89.5 and 104.7 FM. It is not clear whether or not this was linked to the earlier Ballymun station.
This recording is from the Skywave Tapes Collection. Radio Skywave International was a 1980s shortwave station operating from Baldoyle in northeast Dublin. Thanks to Ian Biggar for assistance with background information.
Q102 poster from 1985 including Ringo Starr special (courtesy DX Archive).
The Irish-owned Dublin station Q102 was quick to make an impact on the capital’s competitive radio market after its launch in January 1985. As well as a core offering of chart music, the station also had a credible news service, did outside broadcasts and occasionally ran feature programmes. This recording is of one such programme, Ringo’s Yellow Submarine, a US syndicated show presented by Ringo Starr of the Beatles.
Original cassette label from Anoraks Ireland collection.
Plenty of agency adverts are heard, reflecting Q102’s commercial success, as well as the iconic early jingle package. The recording was made from 102 FM between 1405-1451 on Sunday 14th July 1985. It is from the Anoraks Ireland Collection, donated by Paul Davidson.
