Pete O'Neill (Pete Andrews) Archives - Irish Pirate Radio Audio Archive

Early Cork series: More of the lunchtime show on Radio City — Pete O’Neill at Radio City in 1980 (courtesy Lilian O’Donoghue).

This is another recording of the lunchtime show on Cork pirate Radio City, presented by one of the station founders, Pete Andrews (O’Neill). There are plenty of community notices in this edition, as well as requests and dedications and the usual Golden Year feature. Following Pete, fellow Radio City founder Carl Johnson (Dan Noonan) is heard with the beginning of his Afternoon Delight show.

The partially airchecked recording was made from 95.5 FM between 1202-1403 on Wednesday 8^th April 1981 and is courtesy of Lilian O’Donoghue. Radio City also broadcast on 1512 kHz AM, announcing 199 metres.

14th January 202612th January 2026

Early Cork series: Lunchtime shows on Radio City

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

This recording of Cork pirate Radio City was made in spring 1981, about seven months after the station went on the air. Up first is the end of Mark Lawrence’s mid-morning programme. He is followed by one of the station founders, Pete Andrews (O’Neill), with his Lunchtime Special show. Radio City super-fan Lilian McCarthy (O’Donoghue) has brought presents to the station for Pete’s birthday and there is the usual Golden Year feature and ‘for sale’ slot.

The tape was made from 95.5 FM between 1156-1244 on 25^th March 1981 and is courtesy of Lilian O’Donoghue. Audio quality is fair with distortion in places, probably due to an issue with transmission, and some wobble on the cassette after the decades.

15th December 202515th November 2025

Early Cork series: Lunchtime on Radio City

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Pete Andrews (O’Neill) was a familiar voice on Cork pirate radio, and was heard on the early stations of the late 1970s before setting up Radio City in 1980 with Dan Noonan. Here he is on the Lunchtime Special from spring 1981 with a mixture of chart, classics and a bit of country. Features include the Golden Year, for sale slot, featured album, record of the week, weather forecast and the Top 10 from the Radio City Top 50. Many of the adverts are voiced by Pete, who also reads news headlines on the hour. Such was the multi-tasking of pirate radio!

The recording was made from 95.7 FM between 1202-1403 on 23^rd March 1981 and is courtesy of Lilian O’Donoghue.

10th December 20251st December 2025

Early Cork series: Sunday shows on Radio City

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

This recording features a selection of Sunday programmes on Cork pirate Radio City from the spring of 1981. Up first is John Rice signing off at the end of his show, followed by Pete Andrews (O’Neill) with the Radio City Top 50 and then Susan James (O’Connor) with the Groove Galaxy. The last segment is from a Sunday morning show presented by John Mariner, possibly from another date.

This airchecked recording was made from 95.7 FM from around 1400 on 22^nd March 1981. Audio quality is generally good but there is some distortion and wobble due to cassette degradation. Thanks to Lilian O’Donoghue for the donation.

10th November 20252nd November 2025

Early Cork series: Lunchtime Special on Radio City

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

This recording of early Cork pirate features popular DJ Pete Andrews (O’Neill) with his Lunchtime Special show from 1981. Pete plays a mixture of current hits and oldies, including a new Golden Year feature. News headlines are read by Mark and there are adverts for businesses around Cork City. Pete refers to 95.5 FM but there is no mention of Radio City being on AM at this time.

The recording was made from 95.5 FM on 9^th March 1981 between 1159-1244 and is courtesy of Lilian O’Donoghue.