Early Cork Series Archives - Irish Pirate Radio Audio Archive

14th April 202614th April 2026

Early Cork series: summer Saturday on Radio City

This recording of Cork pirate Radio City features Pat O’Rourke (Smurf) on a Saturday morning in summer 1981, followed by the start of Paul Cassidy’s show. The recording begins around 1020 but is partially airchecked. Paul announces 189 metres (1584 kHz) but this is likely to be a mistake as there is no log of Radio City on that frequency although by July 1981 it had moved to 1243 kHz, announcing 240 metres. The second half features Jamie Roberts with his Midnight Serenade show.

The tape was made from 88.4 FM on 13^th June 1981 and is courtesy of Lilian O’Donoghue.

8th April 202627th March 2026

Early Cork series: phone-in requests on Radio City

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This is another recording of the Saturday evening show with Alan Edwards on early Cork pirate Radio City. This edition features listeners phoning in requests live on air and is followed by Rock City Review with Luke Ward. At the very end are a few undated airchecks from programmes presented by Noel Evans (Noel Welch) and Paul Cassidy.

The main recording of Alan Edwards was made from 95.5 FM between 1823-1900 sometime in May 1981, possibly Saturday 23^rd. Radio City was also using 88.4 MHz around this time, sometimes for separate programming. Thanks for Lilian O’Donoghue for the donation.

1st April 202627th March 2026

Early Cork series: another test by Radio City 2

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Radio City 2 appears to have been a short-lived experiment broadcasting in 1981 on a different FM frequency to the main Radio City, one of the early pirates in Cork City. This short recording is of Pete Andrew (O’Neill) around 1400 on a Sunday afternoon, testing on 88.8 FM. The main service continues on 95.5 and 199 metres medium wave and Pete invites listeners who want to hear the Top 50 to switch over to Radio City 1. Reception is poor and there is some background interference.

No date is given but we estimate this recording to be from late May 1981. Thanks to Lilian O’Donoghue for the donation.

18th March 202614th March 2026

Early Cork series: Radio City Top 30 with Noel Evans

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This is recording of the weekly Top 30 show on early Cork pirate Radio City. The DJ is Noel Evans (Welch) and the programme was recorded from a new FM frequency of 88.4 MHz. It is partially airchecked and was made from between 1755-1900 on Wednesday 20^th May 1981. Thanks to Lilian O’Donoghue for the donation.

11th March 202610th March 2026

Early Cork series: Radio City welcomes summer 1981

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This recording contains excerpts of shows by various DJs on Cork pirate Radio City in early summer 1981. First up is Carl Johnson (Dan Noonan), who hands over to Alan Edwards on his weekly Saturday evening slot. We hear most of Alan’s show, which includes a letter from Radio City super-fan Lilian McCarthy (O’Donoghue). This is followed by more clips of Carl Johnson and Noel Evans (Welch), including one from the day of the general election, 11^th May 1981.

The bulk of the recording was made from 95.5 FM from around 1700 on Saturday 2^nd May 1981 but contains a number of edits. Radio City also broadcast on 1512 kHz, announcing 199 metres, but its AM channel was off air at the time. Audio quality is fair with some cassette wobble and distortion. Thanks to Lilian O’Donoghue for the donation.