Keith York Archives - Irish Pirate Radio Audio Archive

21st August 202421st August 2024

Island Radio following its launch in December 1981

Island Radio was a short-lived station broadcasting from the south Dublin suburb of Dalkey in late 1981 and early 1982. In an interview with Pirate.ie, one of the founders Michael McMahon said that Island Radio had a professional set-up and was the first pirate to launch as an FM-only station at a time when AM was dominant in Ireland. In fact, Radio Nova had started on FM only the previous June before adding AM in September, but the decision of Island Radio to concentrate on FM was novel at the time. The station’s music policy was album tracks only and DJs had to source quality music for their shows. Based in the Cliff Castle Hotel, Island Radio closed down after a few months due to an injunction supposedly taken out by local people opposed to the pirate in their midst.

This recording is from the run-up to Christmas 1981, just after Island Radio went on the air on December 12^th. First up is Tommy Greene (now with licensed Wicklow station East Coast FM) with a mixture of pop and oldies, including some Christmas tunes. He is followed by Keith York (RIP), a former offshore DJ who would later move to the successful Cork station South Coast Radio. Professional jingles are heard but virtually no adverts as the station had launched only the previous day.

Island Radio following its launch in December 1981 — Original cassette inlay from Anoraks Ireland Collection

The recording is from the Anoraks Ireland Collection and was made from 98.2 FM on Sunday 13^th December 1981 from 1530-1705. 229 metres (1314 kHz) is also referenced and was in fact the only frequency logged by DX Archive in its listing from that month. Despite our best efforts, audio quality is fair to poor due to cassette wobble, variable levels and some breaks in audio.

25th March 202423rd September 2024

South Coast Countdown with Keith York

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South Coast Radio (1982-1984) was one of the successful Cork stations of the pirate era. Although it never achieved the longevity of the other Cork giant ERI, South Coast was a slick operation from its launch on March 3^rd 1982 and introduced professionalism not heard on the earlier wave of pirates in the city. This recording from the final year of South Coast was made on a sunny Saturday in the spring of 1984. On air is one of the high-profile DJs associated with the station, Keith York (RIP), presenting the weekly Top 50 countdown. A promo voiced by the legendary Tony Allan (RIP) informs listeners that the countdown is compiled from phone research, record sales and station airplay in Munster. In this recording, Keith is followed by George Long.

South Coast Radio closed down on 13^th July 1984. The tape was made from 102.15 FM, announcing 104, from 1440-1615 on 7^th April 1984. It is from the Anoraks Ireland Tapes Collection, donated to us by Paul Davidson.

31st October 202230th October 2022

Top 100 love songs on South Coast Radio

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On the October bank holiday 1982, South Coast Radio broadcast the Top 100 love songs of all time for seven hours from 12 noon. Presented by Pete O’Neill and Keith York, the programme was produced by Hugh Browne. This recording is of the final hour of the show from 1800 on Monday 25^th October and includes the full countdown from 100 to 1, read by Hugh and Keith. There are some edits and although recorded from 104 FM, audio quality is only fair in places due to either issues with recording or cassette degradation.

Both Hugh and Keith went on to work in many other pirate and licensed stations. Keith died in 2010 and Hugh in 2013. Thanks for Lillian O’Donoghue for the recording and photo.

12th August 20222nd August 2022

Pamela Wilson and Keith York on WLS

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This recording of WLS Music Radio from Galway was made in the autumn of 1985 and features two of the station’s top presenters, Pamela Wilson and Keith York (RIP). It begins with a love songs spot on Pamela’s programme, which is packed with local adverts. There are also shout-outs to listeners in shops and businesses around town. News on the hour is read by Chris Ashford. Pamela is followed at midday by Keith York, who was one of the station’s founders. There’s an indirect reference to the Voice of Peace, the offshore station where Keith worked before coming to Ireland.

Made from 102.7 FM on 4^th October 1985, part 1 above runs from 1121-1207 and part 2 below from 1207-1253.

Part 2 from 1253.

The recording is from the Anoraks Ireland Collection, donated to us by Paul Davidson.

26th March 202227th March 2022

Keith York on South Coast Radio

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Originally from Yorkshire, the late Keith York (‘Yorkie’) worked with many Irish pirate stations on both the engineering and presentation side, including the first South Coast Radio in Cork. In this recording, he presents the drivetime show on South Coast from 5pm on Tuesday 13^th April 1982, a few weeks after the station’s launch. News on the hour is read by Mark Lawrence and a promo for the ‘jobline’ service is voiced by another late radio legend, Tony Allan. In the licensed era, Keith worked as chief engineer with Midlands 103 and was well known in the midlands. He died prematurely in 2010.

Part 1 of the recording above runs from 1659-1746 and part 2 below from 1746-1833.

Part 2 from 1746

Both were made from 104 FM in stereo and are from the Anoraks Ireland Tapes Collection, donated to us by Paul Davidson.