Irish language show on KISS FM

Irish language show on KISS FM
KISS FM flyer (courtesy of Ian Biggar).

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.

More David Dennehy on Sunshine Radio

More David Dennehy on Sunshine Radio
Brian Greene’s own Sunshine Radio badge!

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 on Sunshine Radio

David Dennehy on Sunshine Radio
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.

Pirate Pioneers: late night Channel 70

Pirate Pioneers: late night Channel 70
Channel 70 QSL courtesy of Mike Barraclough.

Channel 70 was one of several Irish pirate pioneers in Dublin in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Although short-lived hobby stations with irregular hours and low power, they paved the way for the next generation of full-time pirates from the late 1970s.

Channel 70 was one such station, broadcasting regularly from Monkstown in Co. Dublin between 1970 and 1972. Operated by Jack O’Carroll, it broadcast on 1320 kHz (announcing 227 metres) using 100 watts into an inverted L. The station was heard over a wide area and was popular with DXers. It was usually on air around midnight on Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays.

This is an undated recording (probably from 1971) of Channel 70 featuring ‘Gary Logan’ (aka Jack O’Carroll) on his regular soul music programme, beginning at about 0015. There is also a reference to the British offshore pirate Radio 255, which was heard in Dublin. Many thanks to Bill Ebrill for the donation.

Tony and Declan King on Sunshine Radio

Tony and Declan King on Sunshine Radio
Tony King (Plunkett) and Declan King in the Sunshine Review from 1985 (courtesy DX Archive).

This is an excerpt from the Saturday afternoon sports programme on Sunshine Radio on 11th September 1982, as recorded by Leon Tipler on one of his regular visits to Dublin to document the Irish scene. It was made from 101 FM from 1550-1626 and features presenters Tony King (Plunkett) and Declan King. Tony had worked previously with other stations such as ARD. News is read by Cathy Cregan, another well-known voice of the time, and still a broadcaster today. The headlines include a story about Declan Flynn, the gay man who was murdered in Fairview Park two days previously. His death was a turning point in the campaign for LGBTQ+ rights in Ireland.

This recording is from the Leon Tipler Tapes Collection, donated to us by Steve England.