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Big L was a long-running station broadcasting from Limerick City from 1978-1985. It occupied various frequencies at the top end of the medium wave band and later expanded its range on FM. By 1984, the station was claiming coverage of most other counties in Munster as well as Limerick. Big L was run by English DJ Mike Richardson (pictured), who went on to set up Kerry pirates WRKY, Horizon Radio and Rocky 103 and was also involved in Galway station Twiggs FM.
This recording of Big L is from two days in November 1984, as the station approached its final Christmas. On air is Francis Jones with the lunchtime programme, using the strapline ‘Big L Radio Limerick – the stereo sound of Munster’. There is a quiz to win tickets for a local gig and plenty of requests and dedications, many from kids rushing back to school after their lunch break. A run-down of programmes later that day gives a sense of the diversity on Big L at the time. Adverts are heard for local businesses and some larger brands. Francis Jones continues to broadcast to this day on the licensed station Radio Kerry.
The first half of the recording was made from 98.3 FM between 1303-1348 on Wednesday 7th November 1984 and the second part is from the same time on the following day, Thursday 8th November. At this time, Big L also broadcast on 91.7 and 104.2 FM and 1560 kHz AM (off-channel), announcing 194 metres. The tape is from the Anoraks Ireland Collection.