Radio Dublin Archives - Irish Pirate Radio Audio Archive

25th February 202622nd February 2026

Politics on late-night talk show on Radio Dublin

Pirate stations often became embroiled in politics not just because they were broadcasting without licences but also due to the unregulated nature of the radio scene. One issue that caused friction was Section 31 of the Broadcasting Act that prohibited broadcast interviews with spokespersons for Sinn Féin and the IRA. Although RTÉ implemented the law strictly, the National Union of Journalists (NUJ) opposed it on the grounds of media censorship. As they operated outside the law anyway, some pirate stations ignored Section 31 and occasionally paid the consequences. For instance, in 1982 the Radio Leinster presenter Gavin Duffy announced that he would interview Gerry Adams and other senior Sinn Féin figures. The station received a warning from the Department of Posts and Telegraphs and Duffy was fired. Another consequence was that politicians who appeared on the pirates were blacklisted by RTÉ, depriving themselves of coverage at election time. In a direct challenge to Section 31, temporary pirate stations supporting Sinn Féin or H-Block candidates also popped up from time to time.

This recording of a late-night talk show on Radio Dublin was made a few days before the general election on 17^th February 1987 and is an example of how rules about balance in political coverage often did not apply to the pirates. Presenter Pat Jennings – himself a member of the NUJ – states that he is opposed to the broadcasting ban and interviews Paul Davidson (Tony Donlon, RIP) of Anoraks Ireland about how it plays out in the pirate world. There are also live calls from listeners giving their views on the election and in studio are former H-Block candidate Tony O’Hara and Dublin City Councillor Seán Dublin Bay Rockall Loftus. The owner of Radio Dublin, Eamon Cooke, was well known for his republican sympathies and the station was one of a handful that did not broadcast a minute’s silence in November 1987 after the IRA bombed the war memorial ceremony in Enniskillen.

The label states that the recording was made from 105 FM on Saturday 14^th February 1987 between 0045-0133, but it sounds like there are a few edits. The tape is from the Anoraks Ireland Collection.

29th October 202526th October 2025

Pirate Pioneers: early test transmission on Radio Dublin

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This is a rare early recording of Radio Dublin (1966-2002) featuring the legendary Don Moore (RIP) on a test transmission in 1975. By this time, the Dublin pirate scene was quiet following a raid on Radio Empathy in 1974 and Radio Dublin had been off the air for a year. By 1975, pirate activity had shifted to shortwave, believed to be of less interest to the authorities than medium wave, and Dr Don was operating Radio Westside (later Westside Radio International). However, both he and Prince Terry (Roger Lloyd) were determined to put Radio Dublin back on medium wave and began testing with a new transmitter in October, covering the northside of the city on 30 watts. That summer, Capitol Radio had appeared on 1358 kHz (announcing 220 metres) and with the return of regular weekend broadcasts by Radio Dublin, the new activity ultimately paved the way for the rapid expansion of pirate radio in the late 1970s and 1980s.

In this short recording, Dr Don sends best wishes to Capitol Radio on 220 metres and also mentions that another shortwave pirate, Radio Valleri would return soon. Don signs off by saying that he will shortly be testing on his own shortwave station, Radio Westside. We estimate the date of this untimed recording to be Sunday 12^th October 1985. It was made by Gary Hogg from 1183 kHz (off-channel, announcing 253 metres). Thanks to Ian Biggar for the donation.

22nd September 202521st September 2025

Radio Dublin as heard in Cumbria

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Radio Dublin was one of Ireland’s longest running pirate stations, on air from 1966 to 2002. This recording was made in Broughton-in Furness on the Cumbrian coast and features Gerry Stevens with the end of the breakfast programme, which was also broadcast on Radio Dublin Channel 2. Gerry announces that Channel 2 is coming on the air with separate programming at 1000 and he is followed by Adrian St James (Nolan) with the Morning Call International programme on the main Radio Dublin frequencies on AM, FM and shortwave. The phone is out of order but Adrian still shares requests from listeners, presumably dropped into the station in Inchicore or received by post. The daily Golden Hour slot begins at 1030 and there’s a promo for the weekly Lebanon Requests Show with DJ Angie.

There is good AM groundwave propagation on the recording despite the distance of over 230 kilometres from Dublin to Cumbria. The tape was made from 1188 kHz (253 metres) on 26^th June 1983 between 0936-1037. It is from the Leon Tipler Collection, donated to us by Steve England. Adrian Nolan continues to broadcast on Irish radio to this day.

27th January 202525th January 2025

History of Irish free radio on Radio Valleri

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Radio Valleri was one of the pioneering early Irish pirates, broadcasting first on medium wave and then on shortwave. Its first broadcast was on Sunday 23^rd July 1972 on 196 metres (1525 kHz) from a garden shed on the northside of Dublin, with taped programmes presented by the station’s founders Derek Jones and Mike Anderson. Sunday broadcasts continued on medium wave until September of that year and were augmented by additional programmes with Arno St Jude (Declan Meehan) and Edward LeRoy. Radio Valleri moved to shortwave in 1973, appearing on 6317 kHz on October 21^st and then using 6260 and later 6210 each Sunday morning for a year. It closed on 7^th December 1975 due to increased interest by the Irish authorities but returned on May 16^th 1976 and continued into 1977 for 3 hours every Sunday. In a report in the magazine Free Radio Waves in February 1977, Mike Anderson wrote that in the previous 5 years, Radio Valleri had received over 500 reception reports from around Europe and as far away as the Soviet Union.

This recording of Radio Valleri was made on 19^th October 1975 and is a repeat of a programme broadcast a year earlier featuring the history of Irish free radio. It kicks off with Mike Anderson who gives a potted history of early Irish stations such as Radio Santa Monica (1965), Radio Caroline Dublin (1969), Radio Eamo (1970), Radio Vanessa (1970) and Radio Melinda (1972). Mike is followed by Derek Jones who plays crackly recordings of the early stations, including Radio Melinda (featuring Arno St Jude), Radio Caroline Dublin and Radio Dublin. Other stations mentioned are Radio North Dublin, Radio Galaxy and Radio Jacqueline, which later became Channel 70. Derek also shares a musical history of Radio Valleri from its launch in 1972. This programme appears to be a studio copy rather than recorded from shortwave and is courtesy of Ian Biggar.

11th November 20249th November 2024

Interview with Aidan Cooney on Radio Dublin in 1979

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English radio anorak Leon Tipler (RIP) returned to Ireland in August 1979 to record more of the Irish pirates and interview some of those involved in the expanding scene. This original recording from his collection features a visit to Radio Dublin and an interview with Aidan Jay (Aidan Cooney) about how the station was faring, its coverage area and plans to go on FM in the coming weeks.

A shorter version of this interview was included in Tipler’s acclaimed documentary series The Irish Pirates. This recording was made on 30^th August 1979 and is donated to us by Steve England. Aidan Cooney continues to broadcast on radio to this day.