By November 1983, Community Radio 257 was based in Portmarnock in north County Dublin. This recording from that period begins with the final few minutes of a show presented by Gary Hamill (Seán McCarthy) who has a competition for listeners to win £5 in cash. News at the top of the hour is followed by Conor Cuddihy’s drivetime programme. Apart from a promo for community events and the ’257 Communications Institute’ offering radio courses, there are no actual commercials. An original Radio 257 (ARD) ident voiced by Tony Allen is aired but there was no direct connection with the earlier station. Gary Hamill went on to larger commercial pirate stations such as Q102 and Energy 103.
The tape was made from 103 FM on Saturday 12th November 1983 between 1450 and 1535. Community Radio 257 also broadcast on 1116 kHz AM. The recording is from the Skywaves Tapes Collection. Radio Skywave International was a 1980s shortwave station broadcasting from northeast Dublin.
Community Radio 257 rate card (courtesy Ian Biggar).
Community Radio 257 was a short-lived station broadcasting to the northside of Dublin in 1983. One of many stations in the area associated with John Thewlis, it began around the time of the raids on the bigger pirates in May 1983. By July, Anoraks UK reported that it was based in the northern suburb of Clontarf. According to an article by Tony Donlon in the World DX Club magazine in July 1983, Community Radio 257 used a 250-watt rig previously owned by Wicklow Community Radio, which had been closed down by the Council for infringing the planning act. The address given was 77 Dollymount Avenue, Dublin 3.
According to Offshore Echos no. 49 of October 1983, Community Radio 257 broadcast first on 1134 kHz but moved to 1116 kHz in July to avoid interfering with Radio Dublin Channel 2. In an illustration of the cut-throat world of Dublin pirate radio at the time, the Captain’s News reported that for the first two days it was jammed by Capitol Radio’s transmitter as they had planned to use that frequency. Community Radio 257 also announced 94 FM, broadcast 24 hours a day and carried news on the half hour. The grandly titled ‘Community Radio 257 Radiophonic Institute’ offered a course for potential producers and presenters for the proposed new commercial stations. The most promising students were to be be offered jobs on the station. In October, Anoraks UK reported that Community Radio 257 was on and off air and later moved to the Country Club in Portmarnock. It was raided after allegedly causing interference at Dublin Airport and closed down on 25th November.
This recording of the station was made on Friday 26th August 1983 from 1045-1130. The cassette label notes 94 FM but the poor audio quality suggests AM instead. Tony Meyler is on air with a competition for listeners to win cinema tickets. Promos are heard for the 257 Radiophonic Institute and the 257 roadshow disco for party hire. The recording is from the Skywaves Tapes Collection. Radio Skywave International was a 1980s shortwave station broadcasting from northeast Dublin. Thanks for Ian Biggar for further background information.
Ballymun Community Radio was an FM-only pirate broadcasting to the north Dublin suburb of Ballymun in 1983. The station was noted on 104 FM in a DX Archive log from July that year, but did not appear in earlier or later logs. In the July 1983 column by Tony Donlon in Contact magazine of the World DX Club, the station was listed on the same frequency and the address of 39, Balbutcher Lane, Ballymun given. According to the same report, Ballymun Community Radio went on air on 2nd June and broadcast from a ground floor flat with a long wire antenna hanging from a top floor window.
This recording was made on 26th August 1983 from 104 FM between 1135 and 1220 and features Derek Bates playing pop and chart music. There is one commercial break featuring local shops. Sound levels are variable and audio quality is fair with a hiss due to cassette degradation over time.
A station called Ballymun Community Broadcasting set up by Joe Doyle (later of Radio Dublin) was listed by Anoraks Ireland and in the Anoraks UK Weekly Report between July 1987 and July 1988 with an address at 382 Balcurris Road, Dublin 9. Frequencies logged at various times were 89.5 and 104.7 FM. It is not clear whether or not this was linked to the earlier Ballymun station.
This recording is from the Skywave Tapes Collection. Radio Skywave International was a 1980s shortwave station operating from Baldoyle in northeast Dublin. Thanks to Ian Biggar for assistance with background information.
Magic 103 studios in Leeson Street (courtesy Paul Buckle).
This recording of Radio Nova offshoot Magic 103 was made in the new station’s first week on air. It features the end of Morning Magic with Bob Gallico (RIP), including a promo for the new Nova Boutique at 144 Upper Leeson Street where the studios were located. The main lunchtime ABC Network News is read by Bob and Mark Weller and is followed by an afternoon talkshow presented by Jenny McIver and Linda Conway. The show includes interviews with guests in studio and promises to bring listeners news and views from around Dublin.
The recording was made from 103.5 FM on 1st May 1985 from 1242-1328 and is from the Skywave Tapes Collection. Radio Skywave International was a 1980s shortwave station operating from Baldoyle in northeast Dublin.
A march on 27th May 1983 following the raids on pirate radio (courtesy Joe King).
Following the raids by the Department of Posts and Telegraphs on the large Dublin stations Radio Nova and Sunshine Radio, fear spread through the pirate radio world in Dublin and further afield. Many stations closed temporarily as a precaution and Radio Leinster left the airwaves for good. It was expected that the long-running Radio Dublin in Inchicore would be the next to be raided and the premises and equipment were secured as a precaution. During Thursday 19th May, the date of Radio Nova’s official closedown, Radio Dublin opened its phone lines and studios to listeners concerned that they were to lose their favourite pirate stations.
This recording of that afternoon captures both the growing sense of panic among the pirates and the deep loyalty of listeners to Radio Dublin. First up is DJ Damien McCloskey who chats to other DJs and listeners both in studio and by phone, all of whom express their anger at the Department of Posts and Telegraphs. A protest march to support local radio is announced for the following week and there are references to the demise of Radio Leinster and the forthcoming Nova closedown. There are plenty of technical glitches and the Department is accused of jamming the phone lines preventing listeners from getting through. At 4pm Seán Day (Murphy) takes over and continues in the same style.
Audio quality is fair with some cassette degradation and wobble. The recording was made on 19th May 1983 from 1188 kHz, announcing 253 metres, and there is ample use of the iconic Radio Dublin 253 jingle package and station theme ‘I Like It’ by the Da Band. Radio Dublin was not on FM that day, probably as a precaution against removal of transmission equipment. Part 1 of the recording above begins at 1510 and Part 2 below at 1608 but there are minor edits in both.
Part 2 from 1608 with Seán Day
The recording is from the Skywave Tapes Collection. Radio Skywave International was a 1980s shortwave station from Baldoyle in northeast Dublin.
