A feature on the Sunshine Cake in the Sunshine Review of 1985 (courtesy of DX Archive).
The Sunshine Cake was a specialist programme broadcast by Sunshine Radio on Sunday mornings from 1985 on its FM frequency only, as an alternative to the station’s regular output on AM. It was a good example of the creativity of some of the pirates in using the existing technology to serve a broader audience, and also a reminder that niche programming was not only done by RTÉ.
In a feature in the Sunshine Review of 1985, presenter Justin McKenna wrote: ‘The idea for the Sunshine Cake was hatched when it became obvious that there was not one single programme on Irish radio which catered for the over 30 listener who enjoyed a wide range of music’. The Sunshine Cake included classical, jazz, blues and comedy slots and gained a regular audience around Dublin. In an interesting commentary on the continued dominance of AM radio in 1985, McCarthy wrote: ‘It’s been gratifying to note that a lot of the younger audience, who I would have expected to move down to the medium wave band, have stayed with FM and listened to the Cake’.
The White Sands Hotel today, known as the Sands Hotel in Sunshine’s time (photo by John Walsh).
This recording was made from 101 FM from 1025-1122 on Sunday 31st March 1985. It includes the comedy slot and a diverse musical mix, a cinema review with Paul Vincent and a voice competition.
This recording is from the Skywave Tapes Collection. Skywave Radio International broadcast a shortwave station in the 1980s from Baldoyle in northeast Dublin.
Robbie Dale as pictured in the Sunshine Review, 1985 (courtesy of DX Archive).
There was a complex relationship between the political class and pirate radio: on the one hand, politicians did not want to be seen to legitimise unlicensed stations but on the other, they needed local publicity at election time. Political instability during this period was a contributing factor to the free-for-all on the airwaves and two general elections were held in 1982, in February and November. Sunshine Radio went as far as to endorse Fianna Fáil, then in opposition, in the February election because of that party’s support for broadcasting legislation. However, Sunshine quickly found itself in hot water over interviews it broadcast with politicians before the November election.
A few weeks previously, in an attempt to weaken the influence of the pirates, RTÉ said it would ban politicians who were interviewed on unlicensed stations. On 22nd November, two days before the election, interviews with TDs Albert Reynolds of Fianna Fáil and Michael Keating of Fine Gael were aired by Sunshine, causing consternation in political circles and making the front pages of all the daily newspapers. Station boss Robbie Dale (Robinson) took to the air the following day to explain that the interviews had in fact been recored in February before the RTÉ ban came into effect, and apologised to the politicians involved.
In this recording, Robbie Dale explains the background to the case and criticises the media coverage of the story. He also takes several callers live on air, who give their views about the controversy. The recording was made from 100.5 FM from 1130-1200 on 23rd November 1982 and was donated by Shay Geoghegan.
The Irish language was marginal on most of Irish pirate radio, although there were notable exceptions such as Saor-Radio Chonamara (1970), which led to the establishment of RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta. The Irish language body Conradh na Gaeilge set up its own station Raidió an Phobail in Dublin in 1979, but it was short-lived and beset with technical problems. In the 1980s, Conradh na Gaeilge collaborated with community stations such as North Dublin Community Radio (NDCR), Bray Local Broadcasting (BLB) and Kilkenny Community Radio (KCR), which had Irish programmes. Belfast’s licensed Irish language community station, Raidió Fáilte, has its roots in a pirate dating back to the 1980s. Other niche stations featured some Irish, such as Radio na nGael in Swords in north Co. Dublin, and Irish was used occasionally on the irregular stations run by republican groups.
Bhí an Ghaeilge imeallach ar an raidió bradach den chuid is mó, cé go raibh eisceachtaí ann ar nós Saor-Radio Chonamara a spreag bunú RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta. In 1979, bhí stáisiún dá chuid féin ag Conradh na Gaeilge, Raidió an Phobail ach bhí fadhbanna teicniúla aige. Ina dhiaidh sin, thacaigh an Conradh le cláracha Gaeilge ar na stáisiúin bhradacha phobail ar fud na tíre. Ba mar stáisiún bradach a thosaigh Raidió Fáilte i mBéal Feirste. Bhíodh roinnt Gaeilge ar shainstáisiúin eile ar nós Radio na nGael agus stáisiúin ócáideacha á rith ag poblachtánaigh.
Irish was notably absent on commercial radio, although some stations offered discounts to advertisers using Irish. This is a rare recording of an Irish programme on none other than the Radio Nova offshoot, KISS FM. It was made from 1005-1112 on Sunday 3rd April 1983 and the presenter is Jim Cotter. Most notable is the use of Irish to present the chart hits, something that was unheard of in Irish radio at the time. Presenting contemporary pop music in Irish was very far-sighted of Chris Cary and was an approach that would be adopted by the licensed station Raidió na Life in Dublin from 1993. RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta banned songs with English lyrics until 2005, and even then only after 9pm. There has been an online Irish language chart music station, Raidió Rí-Rá, since 2008.
Bhí an Ghaeilge in easnamh ar fad, nach mór, ar an raidió tráchtála, cé gur thairg stáisiúin áirithe lascaine d’fhógraí Gaeilge. Seo taifeadadh neamhchoitianta de chlár Gaeilge ar KISS FM, fostáisiún de chuid Radio Nova. Údar suntais is ea an Ghaeilge a úsáid chun popcheol comhaimseartha a chur i láthair, rud nach ndéantaí ar an raidió in Éirinn ag an am. Ghlacfadh sé deich mbliana eile go dtí go ndéanfaí a leithéid go rialta nuair a bunaíodh Raidió na Life i mBaile Átha Cliath in 1993. Bhí cosc ar liricí Béarla ar RnaG go dtí 2005. Tá an stáisiún popcheoil Raidió Rí-Rá ag sruthú ar líne ó 2008.
This recording is courtesy of Ian Biggar and DX Archive.
Here’s more of David Dennehy on late-night Sunshine Radio on 11th September 1982. Made from 101 FM from 2246-2331, the recording features more of the Album Top 30. News at 11pm is presented by Cathy Cregan, one of Sunshine’s best-known newsreaders. She had worked previously in ARD and joined Sunshine in its early days. Cathy went on to work as a journalist in national independent station Century Radio (1989-1991) and can now be heard on RTÉ.
This recording is from the Leon Tipler Tapes Collection, donated to us by Steve England.
David Dennehy as featured in the Sunshine Review 1985 (courtesy of DX Archive).
David Dennehy was a popular presenter on Sunshine Radio in the 1980s. Here he is in relaxed mood on late-night Sunshine on 11th September 1982. After two years on air, Sunshine was well-established as one of the two big Dublin pirates at this time.
From 10pm David presents the Album Top 30. News on the hour is read by Cathy Cregan.
The recording runs from 2125-2216 and was recorded from 101 FM. It is from the Leon Tipler Tapes Collection, donated to us by Steve England.
