Full recording: Inner City Radio

Full recording: Inner City Radio

This is the first recording from a collection of tapes we were donated by the shortwave operator of Skywave Radio International (Baldoyle, 1980s). The notes here will grow if the wisdom of the crowd can add details on Inner City Radio.

The recording is from 2.20pm on 30 July 1984 and the presenter is Tony Mayo. Frequencies given are 981 kHz AM and 102 MHz FM.

Who owned Inner City Radio? Where was the studio and TX site? Who was Tony Mayo? Did it have prior or future incarnations with a new station name? Any photos or logos? Did you work in Inner City Radio or do an anorak station visit? Please contact us if you have information.

Interview: Maureen Maguire (Radio Pirate Woman, Radio Sinn Féin)

On July 29th 2017, East Wall History Group held the Sarah Lundberg Summer School, an event set up to commemorate the life of Sarah Lundberg, an activist, historian and scholar who was involved in the group. One of Sarah Lundberg’s interests was pirate radio and that was the focus of the 2017 Summer School.

Interview: Maureen Maguire (Radio Pirate Woman, Radio Sinn Féin)
Undated flyer (possibly 1990) about Radio Pirate Woman (courtesy of Eddie Bohan).

In this edited interview Alan MacSimoin (RIP) talks to Maureen Maguire about her memories of political pirate radio in Ireland, including the unique Galway station Radio Pirate Woman, run by left-wing activist Margaretta D’Arcy from the 1980s.

Interview: Maureen Maguire (Radio Pirate Woman, Radio Sinn Féin)
The Woodquay area of Galway from where Radio Pirate Woman broadcast (photo by John Walsh).

Maureen Maguire was also involved with Radio Sinn Féin which broadcast on 298 metres (1008 kHz) in 1983. The station was one of several set up by the party as a protest against Section 31 of the Broadcasting Act which banned interviews with members of certain organisations including Sinn Féin.

Interview: Maureen Maguire (Radio Pirate Woman, Radio Sinn Féin)
Article about Radio Sinn Féin from An Phoblacht/Republican News, November 1983 (Alan MacSiomoin collection).

There were several such stations during the 1980s including many supporting Republic prisoners on hunger strike who stood in the general election of June 1981 under the Anti H-Block banner. A short recording of Radio H-Block based in Dublin can be heard here (courtesy Skywave Collection) It also broadcast on 298 metres.