Noel Welch (Noel Evans) Archives - Irish Pirate Radio Audio Archive

11th February 20268th February 2026

Early Cork series: lunchtime to drivetime on Radio City

These recordings of Radio City from 1981 include excerpts spanning lunchtime, afternoon and early evening programmes. First up is Carl Johnson (Dan Noonan) with various examples of the 3-in-a-row feature from his daily lunchtime show. We also hear a new DJ in the Afternoon Delights slot, Jamie Roberts, who is clearly still learning the ropes. He is followed by Noel Evans (Welch), with part of the Homerun drivetime show.

Dates of these recordings are uncertain but the cassette label mentions 11^th May 1981. They were made from 95.5 FM and are courtesy of Lilian O’Donoghue.

17th September 202514th September 2025

Early Cork series: The Homerun on Radio City

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This recording of Cork pirate Radio City feastures Noel Evans (Welch) on the daily Homerun programme. It includes traffic updates, a medical advice slot, a charity appeal from a local nun, adverts for local businesses around Cork and a competition. There’s also a letter from super-fan Lilian McCarthy (O’Donoghue), who donated this recording.

The tape was made between 1700-1730 on 2^nd February 1981 from 95.5 FM.

3rd September 20254th September 2025

Early Cork series: Saturday shows on Radio City

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This recording of Cork pirate Radio City was made on a Saturday in the winter of 1980 and gives a flavour of weekend programmes at the station. Kicking off is Ed Harris with the end of his Saturday breakfast show, who is followed by John Ashford (John Buckley, RIP) with Morning Beat. Next up are Pete Andrews (O’Neill) and Karl Johnson (Dan Noonan) with horoscopes to wind up Saturday Club at 1300, followed by Noel Evans (Welch) with the Saturday Sports Report. The last section is of an unidentified DJ presenting disco music.

The recording was made from 1512 kHz, announcing 199 metres on 1^st November 1980 and is courtesy of Lilian O’Donoghue.

20th August 202512th August 2025

Early Cork series: evening shows on Radio City

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This is another recording of Cork pirate Radio City in the early months of its existence in autumn 1980. Most of the recording consists of Monday evening shows: Paul Cassidy with Travelling Through the 70s including a listeners’ quiz and Tony Allen (Walsh) with Jukebox Jive. These are followed by short snippets of daytime programmes: Pete Andrews (O’Neill) at lunchtime, Carl Johnson (Dan Noonan) with Afternoon Delights and Noel Evans (Welch) with Home Run.

The tape of Radio City was made on 6^th and 7^th October 1980 from 1512 kHz, announcing 199 metres. Audio quality is poor throughout due to rudimentary recording equipment. Thanks to Lilian O’Donoghue for the donation.

13th August 202513th August 2025

Early Cork series: Radio City enters its second month on air

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In October 1980, the new Cork pirate station Radio City entered its second month on air, offering a variety of programmes from 0700-0200 each day presented by many of the DJs who had cut their teeth on the emerging Cork scene since the late 1970s.

The first part of this recording was made on 1^st October 1980 and features Noel Evans (Welch), Alan Reid (the late Henry Condon, known later as Henry Owens on other pirates) and Tony Allen (Walsh). The second part was made on 10^th October and features Tony Allen, Luke Ward and Pete Andrews (O’Neill). Adverts are sparse after a month on air, underlining the financial challenges involved in sustaining a full-time pirate station at the time.

Audio quality is poor as most of the recording was made by placing a tape recorder against a radio. It was recorded from 1512 kHz AM, announcing 199 metres, and is courtesy of Lilian O’Donoghue.