The breakfast show on Boyneside Radio

The breakfast show on Boyneside Radio
Boyneside sticker (courtesy of DX Archive).

The history of Boyneside Radio has already been well-documented in our special Northeast Series and numerous full recordings, airchecks and jingles can be heard here. This newly-digitised recording is of the original tape of Boyneside made by British radio enthusiast Leon Tipler during a 1982 trip to Ireland and featured in his documentary ‘The Irish Pirates’.

The date is Monday 13th September and Mike Cluskey is on the breakfast programme, standing in for Daire Nelson. The recording begins at 0818 and includes news headlines and plenty of ads, including one for units to let at Donaghy’s Mill in Drogheda, where Boyneside was based. 225 metres medium wave and 98 and 99 FM are announced.

The breakfast show on Boyneside Radio
The Boyneside FM mast at Tullyesker near Drogheda (photo courtesy of Eddie Caffrey).

There is interference towards the end of the recording, which was made in Dublin. This was the beginning of a period of growth for Boyneside after the station was reunited with the breakaway Community Radio Drogheda in the summer of 1982.

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

Short-lived adult music station Capitol 98 FM

Short-lived adult music station Capitol 98 FM
Capitol Radio schedule from 1982 (courtesy of Ian Biggar).

Capitol Radio was a short-lived Dublin pirate specialising in adult contemporary music and was on air for a few months from mid-1982. Both experienced and up-and-coming broadcasters were involved in the station including Tony Allan, Peter Madison, Steve Marshall, Scott Williams, Paul Allen, Eddie West and Lawrence John. Capitol specialised in adult-oriented contemporary music and was aimed at listeners from 17 to 35 years. It also promised community programmes, advice slots and a local news service. The station was located in Robert Emmet House in Milltown in south Dublin. It closed in the autumn of 1982, probably due to increased competition in the Dublin radio market.

Short-lived adult music station Capitol 98 FM
Capitol advertising promo (courtesy of Ian Biggar).

Capitol’s promotional material referred to 999 kHz AM but it’s not clear if the station was ever on medium wave. The FM transmitter was 3 kW in power and 98.3 MHz was announced on air. This recording was made on 11th September 1982 and although it contains a station ID and ads, there’s no sign of a DJ so the station may have been nearing the end of its run. Audio quality is variable but it’s not clear if this is because the recording was made a distance from the transmitter or due to a technical issue. It seems that this Capitol was linked with another pirate of the same name that ran from 1983-1988 and eventually became an indie music station.

This recording is from the Leon Tipler Tapes Collection, donated to us by Steve England. Thanks to David Baker and Steve Marshall for background information.

Radio Nova from September 1982

Radio Nova from September 1982
Bryan Dobson’s Nova ID card – although they misspelled his name! Image courtesy of Bryan himself.

Continuing our focus on the tapes of British radio enthusiast Leon Tipler, this is a recording of Radio Nova that he made during a trip to Ireland in September 1982. The recording runs from 1728-1808 on Saturday 11th September and features DJ Hugh O’Brien followed by Bryan Dobson (now one of RTÉ’s leading journalists) and Michael O’Brien reading news. After the news is the US syndicated show The American Country Countdown with Bob Kingsley. Nova was announcing 846 kHz AM and 88 FM at the time.

Ads are heard for Hickson Holidays, the Sunday World newspaper, Tiger shoes and the newly-released film Bladerunner with Harrison Ford. This recording is from the Leon Tipler Tapes Collection, donated to us by Steve England.

Sunday afternoon on Radio Leinster

Sunday afternoon on Radio Leinster
Radio Leinster poster (courtesy of DX Archive).

The British radio enthusiast Leon Tipler visited Ireland regularly in the late 1970s and early 1980s to record the local pirate scene and interview those involved. Pirate.ie has received Tipler’s tapes collection courtesy of Steve England and is delighted to share these as they are digitised.

This is a recording of the easy listening station Radio Leinster on 93 FM from 1440-1607 on Sunday 12th August 1982 made by Tipler during one of his visits to Dublin. The station also broadcast on 406 metres (738 kHz) and could be heard over a wide area. On air is Mike Moran with an eclectic mix followed by Jean Howard with her choice of easy listening favourites. It was rare enough to hear women’s voices on the pirates but Radio Leinster was an exception and other female presenters included Daphne Mitchell, Anna Craig (aka Chisnell), Shauna Cusack and Anne Kent. Ads are heard for various businesses including the Elvery’s chain of sports shops, Maxime’s Night Club and Lamb Doyle’s restaurant in Sandyford right next door to the station.

Brendan O’Carroll (Uncle Bren) on ARD

Brendan O'Carroll (Uncle Bren) on ARD
Brendan O’Carroll aka Uncle Bren (photo courtesy of Dave Reddy).

ARD closed down on New Year’s Eve 1979 but returned a few hours later as Radio 257 on New Year’s from the Crofton Hotel near Dublin Airport. The station would revert to the ARD name by late 1980. Many household names of the future passed through the doors of ARD/257, one of whom was Brendan O’Carroll, now better known as Mrs Brown in the BBC and RTÉ comedy Mrs Brown’s Boys. Here he is as ‘Uncle Bren the kiddies’ friend’ presenting the breakfast show. The voices of the late Tony Allan and Dave C. are heard on ads.

Brendan O'Carroll (Uncle Bren) on ARD
A selection of the Leon Tipler Tapes in our archives.

This is an original recording made by British radio enthusiast Leon Tipler for his acclaimed documentary series ‘The Irish Pirates’. Part of the ARD recording is heard in the documentary here but the full original tape has not been published previously. Unfortunately the cassette isn’t dated but we estimate it to be from July 1981. The Leon Tipler Tapes Collection was donated to us by Steve England.