David Baker on Christmas Day Radio Annabel

David Baker on Christmas Day Radio Annabel
David Baker pictured on community station Radio Donnybrook (courtesy Dave Reddy).

David Baker was a familiar voice on many Dublin stations throughout the 1980s. In this recording, he is heard on Radio Annabel on Christmas Day 1984. Reflecting David’s own taste, the music is in the laid-back and easy listening style. There are plenty of requests and dedications from listeners as well as a competition to win a bottle of wine. No adverts are aired as is the custom for Christmas Day but festive Radio Annabel jingles are heard.  

David Baker on Christmas Day Radio Annabel
Original cassette label from Anoraks Ireland Collection.

Radio Annabel was one of the smaller Dublin pirates and broadcast from the north inner-city from 1983 to 1985. Listings from around Christmas 1984 logged it on 1323 kHz AM and 92.4 FM, although the cassette label mentions 91.8 FM. Part 1 of the tape above runs from 1406-1454 and Part 2 below from 1506-1554.

Part 2 from 1506.

The recording is from the Anoraks Ireland Tapes Collection, donated to us by Paul Davidson. Listen to our special podcast with David Baker here.

Gerard Roe on Radio Annabel (3rd February 1985)

Gerard Roe on Radio Annabel (3rd February 1985)

This recording of Gerard Roe’s Free Radio Campaign (FRC) show on Radio Annabel dates from spring 1985. As usual, the FRC kicks of with the news from the same week in the previous year, including RTÉ jamming of Radio Nova. There’s a feature about Irish pirate radio by a US station in 1982, including an interview with Sunshine Radio’s Robbie Robinson. Gerard complains about the crowded FM band in Dublin and criticises irresponsible behaviour and poor technical quality among some pirate operators. There’s also a 1981 recording of an RTÉ spoof on the pirates called ‘Grot Radio’ and recordings from the same year when the radio ship the MV Lieve was being kitted out in Dublin.

Gerard Roe on Radio Annabel (3rd February 1985)
Original cassette label from Anoraks Ireland Collection.

The programme was recorded from 1730-1812 on Sunday 3rd February 1985 from 91.8 FM. There was a late start due to technical issues and signal quality is fair. Radio Annabel also broadcast on 1323 kHz, announcing 227 metres. This recording is from the Anoraks Ireland Tapes Collection, donated to us by Paul Davidson.

Listen here to Pirate.ie Podcast #10 featuring our interview with Gerard Roe about his memories of pirate radio.

Gerard Roe on Radio Annabel (10 June 1984)

Gerard Roe on Radio Annabel (10 June 1984)
Radio Annabel advert in the Sunday World, 06.01.1985 (Alan MacSimoin Collection).

Radio Annabel began broadcasting in September 1983 and soon became the new home for Gerard Roe’s popular Free Radio Campaign (FRC) show. Facilities and coverage were better than at Radio Dublin Channel 2 and the FRC moved to a Sunday afternoon slot. In this recording from summer 1984, Gerard begins with a recap of news from the same week the previous year, which included the renowned £6,000 giveaway by Radio Nova. There’s also a recording of Andromeda Independent Radio from Manchester and a feature about the use of pirate radio for political reasons. Radio Sinn Féin is reported to be on air in advance of the European elections and Gerard notes previous radio activity by Republicans, including disruption to existing pirates. The show also covers the 20th anniversary of Manx Radio.

Gerard Roe on Radio Annabel (10 June 1984)
Original label from the Anoraks Ireland Collection.

Our recording was made from 98.3 FM from 1405-1507 on Sunday, 10th June 1984. It is from the Anoraks Ireland Tapes Collection, donated to us by Paul Davidson. Listen here to Pirate.ie Podcast #10 featuring our interview with Gerard Roe about his memories of pirate radio, including the move from Radio Dublin to Radio Annabel.

The Pirate.ie Podcast #10: Interview with Gerard Roe

The Pirate.ie Podcast #10: Interview with Gerard Roe
Gerard Roe at Phantom FM in its licensed days.

We’re delighted to bring you an interview with Gerard Roe, one of the most respected voices in Irish pirate radio circles from the 1980s to the 2000s. Gerard presented weekly Free Radio Campaign (FRC) shows on various pirate stations in Dublin, bringing the latest free radio news and industry gossip to fans of the medium in Ireland and further afield. Gerard’s first FRC aired on Radio Dublin Channel 2 in 1982, a specialist offshoot of the original Radio Dublin. A recording was carried on shortwave station Westside Radio International on Sunday mornings, bringing the FRC to a wider European audience.

The Pirate.ie Podcast #10: Interview with Gerard Roe
Radio Dublin Channel 2 studio (courtesy Gerard Roe).

Poor technical standards and unreliable coverage prompted Gerard to move to new station Radio Annabel when it was established in autumn 1983, where he remained until its closure in 1985.

The Pirate.ie Podcast #10: Interview with Gerard Roe
Part of 1985 letter from Gerard Roe of Radio Annabel to Brian Greene.

FRC-style programmes on 1990s pirates run by Simon Maher also benefited from Gerard’s input and expertise. He contributed to the Anorak Hour on Coast FM (1991-1996), Spectrum FM (1996-1997) and Phantom FM (1997-2003). Gerard became CEO of Phantom when it was licensed as a full-time alternative rock station in 2006.

The Pirate.ie Podcast #10: Interview with Gerard Roe
Gerard (second from right) at the launch of Phantom FM’s licence application in 2004.

In this interview with Brian Greene, Gerard reflects on his long career in radio from the pirate years of the 1980s and 1990s to the licensing and eventual demise of Phantom FM.

Non-stop Radio Annabel

Non-stop Radio Annabel
Part of a letter sent by Gerard Roe to Brian and Dónal Greene in 1985.

Here’s another recording of Dublin pirate station Radio Annabel made from 98.1 FM on 20th September 1983. The station also broadcast on 1035 kHz AM at this time. Continuous music with jingles and stations idents are heard. There are no timechecks, so this could be an automated show, possibly for broadcast overnight. Radio Annabel was one of the smaller Dublin pirates of the early 1980s, broadcasting from Parnell Square in the north inner-city from 1983 to 1985.

Thanks to Shay Geoghegan for the donation.