Leon Tipler Collection Archives - Page 2 of 16 - Irish Pirate Radio Audio Archive

19th September 202514th September 2025

American Country Countdown on Radio Nova

The American Country Countdown was a syndicated country music show from the US presented by Bob Kingsley, aired by Dublin station Radio Nova in its early days. This recording from summer 1982 is of an early morning broadcast of the show, as heard on AM in Britain. It starts with night-time fading and some interference but the signal improves as dawn arrives. There are adverts for businesses around Dublin, including for brands, and mention of a Nova event at Maxine’s nightclub. The American Country Countdown is followed at 0600 by Colm Hayes with the first few minutes of his breakfast show.

The recording was made on Thursday 24^th June 1982 from 846 kHz AM from 0407-0610. There are no details on the label but as the tape is from the Leon Tipler Collection, we presume that it was recorded at Leon’s home in Kidderminster near Birmingham. Thanks to Steve England for donating the Tipler Collection to us.

12th September 20254th September 2025

Concord Community Radio explains aims of community broadcasting

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Concord Community Radio began broadcasting in March 1983 to the Artane district of the northside of Dublin, before changing its name to North Dublin Community Radio (NDCR) in 1984. It was one of a number of stations committed to developing licensed community broadcasting in Ireland and a leading member of the National Association of Community Broadcasters. Like the other pirates, NDCR closed at the end of 1988 but many of those involved went on to form NEAR FM, the licensed community station for northeast Dublin that launched in 1995.

This short recording of Concord Community Radio includes an unidentified DJ and a promo outlining the philosophy of community radio, reflecting the political debate about the licensing of local radio at that time. It was made from 891 kHz AM on Saturday 21^st May 1983, just days after the raids on the large commercial Dublin stations Radio Nova and Sunshine Radio. The tape is from the Leon Tipler Collection, donated to us by Steve England.

5th September 20254th September 2025

Sunday afternoon on Community Radio Youghal

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Community Radio Youghal (in its unlicensed form on air from 1979-1988) was one of several pirate stations espousing a community radio ethos. This short airchecked recording features programming from a Sunday afternoon in 1983 and gives a sense of some of the variety on the station. It begins with the end of the the CRY On Tour slot, an example of the station travelling around east Cork to make programmes. This is followed by Programme Signpost and community notices for east Cork and west Waterford. There are also sung jingles and a bilingual station ident, following by John Roche with the Good News Programme.

The recording was made from 1485 kHz, announcing 202 metres, from around 1300 on Sunday 20^th March 1983. It is from the Leon Tipler Collection, donated to us by Steve England. Community Radio Youghal returned as a licensed station in 1995 and continues to broadcast to east Cork on FM and online.

11th November 20249th November 2024

Interview with Aidan Cooney on Radio Dublin in 1979

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English radio anorak Leon Tipler (RIP) returned to Ireland in August 1979 to record more of the Irish pirates and interview some of those involved in the expanding scene. This original recording from his collection features a visit to Radio Dublin and an interview with Aidan Jay (Aidan Cooney) about how the station was faring, its coverage area and plans to go on FM in the coming weeks.

A shorter version of this interview was included in Tipler’s acclaimed documentary series The Irish Pirates. This recording was made on 30^th August 1979 and is donated to us by Steve England. Aidan Cooney continues to broadcast on radio to this day.

6th November 20243rd November 2024

More highlights of Dublin radio in 1979

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In this post, we bring you more highlights of Dublin radio in 1979 as recorded by English anorak Leon Tipler (RIP) during one of his regular visits to Ireland. This recording begins with Tony Allan (RIP) on his afternoon show on ARD, including news and requests. Later in the tape, Tony conducts an interview with the Friends of Medieval Dublin about the controversial development of the Wood Quay site in Dublin for new civic offices. Simon Young (RIP) is interviewed by another DJ on Big D, and talks about the various gigs that he did around town. There are also snippets of Radio Dublin and Capitol Radio. Parts of these recordings were used in Leon’s acclaimed documentary series The Irish Pirates.

The tape was made on 29^th August 1979 from various AM frequencies. We thank Steve England for his donation of the Leon Tipler Collection to Pirate.ie.