Northeast series Archives - Page 5 of 17 - Irish Pirate Radio Audio Archive

23rd February 20222nd April 2024

Northeast series: Telstar Community Radio from 1984

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

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

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.

19th February 202217th February 2022

More Boyneside Radio from Kells, Co. Meath

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

These recordings of Boyneside Radio are of its service from Kells, Co. Meath in 1986. The one above begins at 0900 on 20^th May with the breakfast show presented by Mike Ahern (Richard McCullen), relayed from the main service in Drogheda. Following the 1100 news, the Kells opt-out service takes over with station manager Kieran Murray’s mid-morning show. Local adverts from Meath are heard along with household tips and a housewives’ quiz. Made from 98.1 FM, audio quality is fair with some hiss.

Audio quality is much better on the second recording below, which was made the following day, 21^st May 1986, from the same transmitter. It begins at 1235, also features Kieran Murray and is also airchecked. Among the features are racing tips, ‘Tradio adverts’ and the new UK Top 40. At 1315 Kieran switches over to Drogheda for the main lunchtime news with Mike Ahern and Áine Ní Ghuidhir.

Recording of 21st May 1986

Both recordings were made by Kieran originally and 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.

18th February 202217th February 2022

More of Afternoon Delight on Boyneside Radio

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

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

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

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.