Dublin Archives - Page 23 of 82 - Irish Pirate Radio Audio Archive

9th June 20237th June 2023

’88 News’ on Radio Nova in 1981

This snippet of Radio Nova from 1981 gives a sense of the super-pirate after its first few months on air. Beginning testing on FM only at the start of June that year, Nova shook up the Dublin market due to its distinctive sound, professional standards and most importantly the significant investment of station founder and owner Chris Cary. The tape includes station idents and jingles, an advert for upmarket newspaper The Sunday Tribune and the ’88 News’ presented by Sybil Fennell. The news branding reflected Nova’s prioritisation of high quality stereo FM at a time when RTÉ’s use of the superior quality band was limited. In fact, the station did not begin broadcasting on AM until just a few days before this tape was made, adding a 10 kW transmitter on 846 kHz.

This airchecked recording was made from 88.5 FM on 13^th September 1981 by British radio enthusiast Leon Tipler during one of his many visits to Dublin in the early part of that decade. It is kindly donated by Steve England.

5th June 202327th May 2023

June bank holiday Monday 1985 on Q102

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Dublin’s new ‘super-pirate’ Q102 held an on-air charity auction on the June bank holiday 1985 in aid of the Burton Hall mental health charity. First up in this recording are Martin Block and Jason Maine taking bids from listeners and offers of prizes for auction from businesses around the city. Later Scott Williams and Anne Cassin announce the big auction prize of a 20 inch colour television. Adverts are aired for large businesses such as Nissan Windsor Motors, Brennan’s bread, the Evening Herald newspaper and USIT Holidays. News on the hour is read by Anne Cassin and Gary Hamill (aka Seán McCarthy), with sports headlines from John Kenny.

The recording was made from 102 FM on Monday 3^rd June 1985. Part 1 above runs from 1351 and Part 2 below from 1449.

Part 2 from 1449.

There is some wobble in the audio due to degredation of the cassette. The recording is from the Anoraks Ireland Tapes Collection, donated to us by Paul Davidson.

3rd June 20236th June 2023

Religious programme on Radio Leinster

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Radio Leinster was a specialist Dublin station with an easy listening and talk format in contrast with the diet of pop preferred by most pirates. It broadcast from 29^th April 1981 until 19^th May 1983, closing down suddenly as panic spread following the raids on super-pirates Radio Nova and Sunshine Radio. Radio Leinster was situated on an elevated site in Sandyford with an excellent view of the city from its studios. The professionally-made 1 kW transmitter on 738 kHz (406 metres) gave good coverage by day but suffered co-channel interference after dark.

This short recording from Sunday 13^th September 1981 features part of a religious programme presented by Fr. Michael Conaghty, who reads headlines from the Catholic Universe. Some of Radio Leinster’s distinctive interval signals are also heard. The clip was recorded in Malahide, north Co. Dublin and is from the Leon Tipler Tapes Collection, donated to us by Steve England.

29th May 202327th May 2023

Dublin stations ARD and Big D in 1978

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In 1978, the Dublin pirate radio scene took off in earnest as what were previously sporadic or part-time stations moved to full schedules and developed a more professional sound. This recording features Alternative Radio Dublin (ARD) and the Big D, two stations that emerged from splits from the original Radio Dublin. First up is Big D founder James Dillon with plenty of requests of the ‘madly in love’ variety, live-read adverts and a promo for the Big D roadshow. Fellow DJ John Paul’s sung jingles and the voice of Denis Murray are also heard. 11 Chapel Lane is the postal address and the wavelength announced is 273 metres.

The dial is then changed to 257 metres and to the end of Greg Gaughren’s show on ARD. Greg is standing in for Ronan Collins in the afternoon slot. News at the top of the hour is read by Dave C. (RIP) and sponsored by the Sunday World newspaper. This is followed by Jason Maine with Tuesday’s Maineline Music Programme. The ARD segment in particular is noteworthy for its professionalism, a reminder that some pirates were providing a high-quality service long before the arrival of the likes of Radio Nova and Sunshine Radio into the Irish market.

The recording was made from 1530-1630 sometime in October 1978. It is kindly donated by Ian Biggar.

19th May 20232nd May 2024

Sunshine Radio is raided

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Gardaí and officials from the Department of Posts and Telegraphs raided Sunshine Radio on the morning of 19^th May 1983. This a recording of the final minutes of Sunshine from 0924 before the closedown at 0938. There are adverts right up to the end, including a promo for a Sunshine Radio car sun visor, although Sunshine boss Robbie Robinson comments that ‘this may be your last chance’. News headlines at 0930 with Cathy Cregan make no reference to the situation but shortly afterwards Robbie Robinson announces that the station is being raided and invites listeners to come down to the Sands Hotel and ring their TDs to protest. Sunshine’s theme song ‘You are my Sunshine’ is played and then goes off the air. The station returned on June 12^th.

The recording was made from 100.58 FM stereo, announcing 101. It is from the Anoraks Ireland Tapes Collection, donated to us by Paul Davidson.