Peter Madison Archives - Irish Pirate Radio Audio Archive

18th November 20249th November 2024

Peter Madison and Bob Gallico on Magic 103

Magic 103 was one of the many offshoots of the large Dublin station Radio Nova (1981-1986). It was short-lived, broadcasting for only about 5 months between April and September 1985. Magic became entangled in the dispute between Chris Cary and the National Union of Journalists that eventually contributed to Nova’s demise. This recording features two of the station’s star broadcasters, Peter Madison (RIP) and Bob Gallico (RIP), with a mix of chat, community announcements and Magic’s trademark easy-listening music. The conversation is natural and witty and reflects the skill and experience of two fantastic broadcasters at the top of their game.

Bob reads news headlines on the half-hour and there is also a news flash about a bomb explosion in Belfast courtesy of the Press Association wire that was mentioned hourly at the end of bulletins. The programme contains an interview with a representative of the Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals but virtually no advertising, a concern for a station already a few months on air.

The tape is from the Anoraks Ireland Collection and was made on Wednesday 31^st July 1985 from 103.5 FM between 1105-1241. Magic 103 also broadcast on 1512 kHz AM, announced as 199 metres in this recording.

30th September 202424th September 2024

Peter Madison plays oldies on LLCR

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Peter Madison (RIP) was an English DJ who broadcast on many Irish pirate stations in the 1980s. In this recording from 1986, he is heard on Liberties Local Community Radio (LLCR), a newly-established station serving the Liberties area of Dublin’s southwest city centre. Using the name ‘Skip Cameron’, Peter presents the lunchtime golden oldies programme and regularly refers to the station as ‘Big L’. He then hands over to John Keogh for Afternoon Delight. No adverts are heard during the hour-long broadcast, a concern for a new station with bills to pay.

LLCR was set up on 4^th April 1986 from Weaver’s Square in Dublin 8. Focused initially on the local community, it was later re-named Liberty 104 and expanded its coverage, carving out a commercial niche in the Dublin radio market. Liberty 104 closed suddenly before Christmas 1988. This recording was made from 1035 kHz AM between 1303-1410 on Wednesday 23^rd April 1986 and is from the Anoraks Ireland Collection.

2nd August 20242nd August 2024

Peter Madison in the afternoon on Big D

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English DJ Peter Madison (RIP) was a familiar voice on Irish pirates big and small in the 1980s, ranging from Big D and Boyneside Radio to Sunshine Radio and Radio Nova. In this recording of Big D from summer 1981, Aidan Cooney signs off at the end of his lunchtime show before handing over to Peter, who is presenting his final show using the name Skip Cameron although he says that ‘Peter Madison’ is to take over the slot on Monday. There are listeners’ favourites, plenty of requests and the ‘mystery voice’ competition, featuring none other than Chris Cary, who had launched Radio Nova about a month previously.

Peter chats in studio to his producer John Kenny (now with RTÉ Sport), Jason Maine and Tony Allan (RIP) who jokes that many DJs are moving to Portmarnock, referring to the success of Sunshine Radio that was launched the previous autumn. Advertisements include a live-read for Jett’s Nightclub near Dublin Airport, from where Big D broadcast live on Saturday nights.

Big D (1978-1982) broadcast on 1116 kHz AM (announcing 273 metres) and on 98.5 FM at this time. The airchecked recording was made on Friday 26^th June 1981 from AM and is from the Anoraks Ireland Collection.

22nd April 202221st April 2022

‘Media Network’ on Radio Rainbow International

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‘Media Network’ was a weekly radio programme broadcast on the international service Radio Netherlands Worldwide from the early 1980s until 2000. Produced and presented by Jonathan Marks, it covered various aspects of communication and broadcasting. Radio Netherlands Worldwide stopped broadcasting in 2012 after its budgets were slashed.

This 1988 edition of ‘Media Network’ features the Irish pirate radio scene as it was about to be regulated by new broadcasting legislation. It includes interviews with Eddie Caffrey about his Louth stations Boyneside Radio and Radio Rainbow International, and with the late Peter Madison who was heard on various pirates in the 1980s. Radio Nova’s satellite broadcasts from the UK are also covered on the show.

This programme was recorded on 6^th November 1988 from Radio Rainbow International on 6240 kHz shortwave. Reception is fair to good, with some fading. The recording is from the Anoraks Ireland Tapes Collection, donated to us by Paul Davidson.

8th April 202212th April 2022

Peter Madison on South Coast breakfast

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The late Peter Madison was a familiar voice on Irish pirate stations of the 1980s, including South Coast Radio in Cork, Boyneside Radio in Drogheda and Radio Nova, Magic 103 and Sunshine Radio in Dublin. In this recording, Peter can be heard presenting various editions of the South Coast breakfast show in early 1982 not long after the station’s launch.

Peter was a real professional and clearly put a lot of work into his shows. It’s all very up-beat and there are plenty of zany sound effects and corny jokes, some of which are a bit off-colour by the standards of today. Adverts are cut, but the voice of the other late great radio legend Tony Allan can be heard on some of them.

The first part of the recording dates from 13^th April but it is clear that a few editions of the show are included. Although the label refers to June, Peter Madison left South Coast in late April 1982 so this is a mistake. The recording was made from 104 FM in mono and audio quality is fair with some wobble in places. It is from the Anoraks Ireland Tapes Collection, donated to us by Paul Davidson. You can find more material from the collection on Radiowaves and the Irish Pirate Radio Archive.