Dublin Archives - Page 24 of 85 - Irish Pirate Radio Audio Archive

18th August 202312th August 2023

Non-stop music on Carnival Radio

Carnival Radio was a short-lived station broadcasting to Dublin in 1984. According to Offshore Echos no. 52 of May 1984, it began tests in late January that year on 1116 kHz and a 24-hour pop service was planned. It appeared to have links with the former Community Radio 257 which was raided the previous November. The phone number was used by 257 before its move to Portmarnock and several former 257 staff worked on it. An Anoraks UK report from 23^rd February 1984 suggested the same relationship. The strength of the signal in this recording suggests that the tranmission site was close to the receiver in northeast Dublin but we have been unable to unearth any more information about Carnival Radio. The recording is not of much assistance either as it contains no station idents and consists of continuous music only.

The wavelength of 257 metres is listed on the cassette, roughly equivalent to 1161 kHz although that would have clashed with several UK stations so 1116 kHz is more likely. The recording was made from 1535-1623 on 20^th February 1984 and is from the Skywave Tapes Collection. Radio Skywave International was a 1980s shortwave station broadcasting from Baldoyle in northeast Dublin. Thanks to Ian Biggar for further information.

16th August 202312th August 2023

Afternoon shows on Community Radio 257

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

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 12^th 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.

14th August 202311th March 2024

Community Radio 257 from north Dublin

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

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 25^th November.

This recording of the station was made on Friday 26^th 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.

31st July 202330th July 2023

John Kenny on Dublin’s Q102

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

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.

The tape was recorded from 102 FM on Wednesday 31^st 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.

27th July 202314th July 2023

Ballymun Community Radio from 1983

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

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 2^nd June and broadcast from a ground floor flat with a long wire antenna hanging from a top floor window.

This recording was made on 26^th 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.