Monaghan Archives - Irish Pirate Radio Audio Archive

15th May 202413th May 2024

Border series: Sunday lunchtime on Radio Star Country

Radio Star Country is one of the longest running pirate stations in Ireland, broadcasting from 1988 to the present day. It was one of a handful of stations to defy the new broadcasting legislation that came into effect at the beginning of 1989 and was supposed to silence the pirates for good. Based in Co. Monaghan, Radio Star Country gained listeners and advertisers over a wide area on both sides of the border, and its diet of country music and sponsored religious programming proved highly popular.

Radio Star Country has always been predominantly an AM station, but this is a rare recording of it from FM, presumably a low-powered relay to link the studio with the main transmitter on 981 kHz. Presenter Gerry Callan has plenty of anouncements about community and social events ranging from a donkey derby to a gig by fellow DJ Patsy Jordan (RIP) and his band in Co. Cavan. There is a the usual large number of adverts, many of them voiced by station manager Gerry Byrne, featuring businesses in Counties Tyrone, Derry and Fermanagh. An advertising promo gives out an Armagh number while a Monaghan number is used for requests.

The tape is from the Anoraks Ireland Collection and was made from 105 FM between 1325-1410 on Sunday 21^st July 1991.

18th December 202317th December 2023

Hits and requests on KITS from Monaghan

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KITS car sticker (Anoraks Ireland Collection).

Monaghan has long been an important county for pirate radio, with various stations over the years taking advantage of proximity to the Northern market. One late arrival to the 1980s pirate scene was Hot Hits KITS from Monaghan Town, which began test tranmissions at the end of 1987. The Anoraks UK Weekly Report of 20^th December noted non-stop music and idents on 100.9 FM and the following edition reported that live transmissions began during Christmas week. Professional PAMS jingles were to be produced and the station was described as one of Monaghan’s two ‘border blasters’ along with KISS FM which was conducting tests at that time.

Hits and requests on KITS from Monaghan — Original cassette label from Anoraks Ireland Collection.

In this evening show with Simon Dee, adverts and requests are heard from both sides of the border. The recording was made from 100.9 FM (announced as 101) on 27^th April 1988 between 1812-1858. KITS also broadcast on 837 kHz AM and closed down permanently in the afternoon of 31^st December 1988. The tape is from the Anoraks Ireland Tapes Collection, donated to us by Paul Davidson.

7th August 202314th August 2023

Border series: linedancing on Radio Star Country

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This short recording of Monaghan station Radio Star Country from 1997 reflects the linedancing craze that was sweeping rural Ireland at the time, particularly among country music fans. Following the syndicated news from IRN in Britain, a promo airs for a linedancing competition sponsored by Radio Star Country in a pub in Armagh. The extract also includes adverts for local businesses and a station advertising promo. The presenter is Country Girl Claire, who continues to broadcast on Radio Star Country to this day.

The broadcast was recorded on the island of Sotra in western Norway and quality worses towards the end, reflecting the distance from the transmitter on the Irish border. The recording was made sometime in November 1997 between 0858-0910 from 981 kHz. It is kindly donated by Svenn Martinsen.

4th August 202314th August 2023

Border series: Radio Star Country relays United Christian Broadcasters

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Radio Star Country has relied on religious programming since the early 1990s as an income stream. As well as hosting individual gospel programmes, the station has at times relayed other Christian broadcasters. This recording from 1996 is one such rebroadcast of United Christian Broadcasters (UCB) Europe. A postal address in Stoke-on-Trent is announced and Christian music is heard.

The recording was made from 981 kHz from 0717-0723 on 8^th March 1996, using a Drake SPR-4 with a 200-metre antenna facing southwest. Audio quality is poor with co-channel interference and splatter from adjacent stations. Thanks to Svenn Martinsen for the donation.

29th July 202314th August 2023

Border series: Radio Star Country during visit of President Clinton

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This recording of Radio Star Country was made in western Norway in November 1995 during the visit of US President Bill Clinton to Northern Ireland. It begins with continuous music before 0900 interspersed with long commercial breaks taking advantage of the busy run-up to Christmas. Adverts are heard for businesses in Armagh, Down, Tyrone, Derry and Antrim including the outskirts of Belfast, reflecting Radio Star Country’s large coverage area on AM. An unidentified DJ (likely Patsy Jordan) comes on air at 0900 and refers to the Clinton visit during copious requests from listeners. There is an advertisement for a Radio Star Country sales representative for the Lisburn area, with the tagline ‘one of Northern Ireland’s biggest radio stations’. A promo for the gospel programme New Life in Christ is also heard. The recording was made from 981 kHz on Thursday 30^th November 1995. Part 1 above begins at 0828 and Part 2 below at 0902.

Part 2 from 0902.

Audio is of fair quality given the distance with some deep fading but long sections that are quite listenable. Thanks to Svenn Martinsen for the donation.