Louth Archives - Page 6 of 19 - Irish Pirate Radio Audio Archive

25th February 20222nd April 2024

Northeast series: Telstar Community Radio from 1986

This is a recording of Louth station Telstar Community Radio from 1986, featuring Ray Stone on air. Telstar broadcast from in and around Dundalk from 1980-1988 and built up its own listenership and advertising base, despite the stiff competition from big stations such as Radio Carousel in Dundalk and Boyneside Radio in Drogheda.

Ray Stone had originally been with Carousel but moved to Telstar and took on the manager role. He went on to local licensed station LMFM in 1989. In this recording from 88.5 FM on 30^th April 1986, he multitasks as DJ and newsreader and is heard on many of the adverts. News bulletins contain references to the Chernobyl nuclear disaster in Ukraine in the Soviet Union, which occurred a few days before. Part 1 above runs from 1046-1134 and part 2 below from 1134-1222.

Part 2 from 1134

This recording is from the Anoraks Ireland Tapes Collection, donated to us by Paul Davidson. More material from this collection can be heard on Radiowaves and the Irish Pirate Radio Archive.

23rd February 20222nd April 2024

Northeast series: Telstar Community Radio from 1984

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Telstar Community Radio logo from the early days (courtesy Ian Biggar)

Telstar Community Radio broadcast from Co. Louth between November 1980 and the end of 1988 from locations in and around Dundalk. Its AM frequency was 1197 kHz (announcing 250 metres) and it claimed coverage from Drogheda to Newry, which was boosted when the station acquired a commercial 1 kW unit. An FM transmitter on 88.5 FM was later added but at the end of 1981, Telstar was closed down for not having planning permission for its mast. It moved to a premises above a pub in the coastal village of Blackrock south of Dundalk. Read a longer station history here.

Northeast series: Telstar Community Radio from 1984 — The Brake Tavern in Blackrock where Telstar was based (photo by John Walsh)

This recording of Telstar was made from 88.5 FM in mono on Saturday 23^rd June 1984 and is an aircheck between 1424 and 1705. DJ Martin is up first with chart hits and is followed by Gerry Byrne with Saturday Old Gold. Adverts feature businesses from Dundalk, Newry and Navan, giving a sense of the station’s coverage at this time, and are voiced by station manager Ray Stone and another well-known local DJ Owen Larkin. Quality is excellent as the recording was made on Blackrock strand opposite where Telstar was based.

This recording was made originally by Kieran Murray and is from the Anoraks Ireland Tapes Collection, donated to us by Paul Davidson. More material from this collection can be heard on Radiowaves and the Irish Pirate Radio Archive.

21st February 202220th February 2022

Saturday on Boyneside Radio

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This is a sample of a Saturday on Boyneside from 1986, giving a sense of the variety of programming heard on the popular Co. Louth station. Made on 4^th October, part 1 above begins with Jim Agnew’s breakfast programme, followed by the Green Scene Irish music show presented by Eddie Caffrey. There are the usual cards and letters from all over the northeast and as far afield as Belfast and Liverpool, reflecting the wide coverage of Boyneside and the show’s popularity. Before signing off, Eddie announces that the Green Scene will be heard again on repeat from midnight. The recording also includes Saturday Old Gold with Dave C.

Part 2 below includes the Top 40 with Ian Scott, Radio Bingo with Dermot Finglas and the Angelus at 6pm. This is followed by Country Time with Seán Neilon and Night Time Music with Michael Gerrard. News is read by Gerry Malone and includes a full bulletin at 1pm.

Part 2 of the recording from 1700.

These recordings were made originally by Kieran Murray from Boyneside’s Dublin transmitter on 105.5 FM. They are from the Anoraks Ireland Tapes Collection, donated to us by Paul Davidson. More material from this collection can be heard on Radiowaves and the Irish Pirate Radio Archive.

18th February 202217th February 2022

More of Afternoon Delight on Boyneside Radio

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This is a continuation of a recording of an edition of Eddie Caffrey’s Afternoon Delight show on Boyneside Radio from Drogheda, Co. Louth in 1986. The recording was made from 99.1 FM in stereo on 28^th April from 1530-1705. There are requests from both sides of the border and ongoing violence in the North features in the news bulletins, read by Áine Ní Ghuidhir.

Part 1 of the recording above runs from 1530-1615 and part 2 below from 1620-1705 with the last news bulletin airchecked.

Part 2 of the recording

Both are from the Anoraks Ireland Tapes Collection, donated to us by Paul Davidson. Further material from this collection is available on Radiowaves and the Irish Pirate Radio Archive.

16th February 202217th February 2022

Afternoon Delight on Boyneside Radio

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Boyneside flyer (courtesy Ian Biggar).

This is a recording of daytime programming on Boyneside Radio from Drogheda in 1986. Made on Monday 28^th April from 99.1 FM, it begins with the end of Dave C’s lunchtime show, followed by Eddie Caffrey with Afternoon Delight from 2pm. Eddie’s show contains the Golden Hour, racing results, the Take 5 quiz and Boyneside’s birthday bubble. News at 3pm is read by Áine Ní Ghuidhir.

Afternoon Delight on Boyneside Radio — Cassette label from Anoraks Ireland Collection

The first part of the recording above runs from 1345-1341 and the second below from 1437-1523.

Part 2 of the recording

Both are from the Anoraks Ireland Tapes Collection, donated to us by Paul Davidson. Further material from this collection is available on Radiowaves and the Irish Pirate Radio Archive.