Irish Pirate Radio Audio Archive
Open Free Radio Archive
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This is another recording of long-time Irish radio DJ Gareth O’Callaghan on Dublin pirate Sunshine Radio. Using the name Tony Garreth by which he was known on air in his early pirate career, Gareth presents a mid-morning show in 1984. News on the hour is read by Cathy Cregan.
The tape is from the Anoraks Ireland Collection and was recorded from 101.5 FM between 1036-1147 on Monday 27th February 1984.
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Sunshine Radio was one of Dublin’s leading pirate stations, broadcasting from 1980-1988. This recording is of mid-morning programmes from the spring of 1984, before the RTÉ jamming campaign against the pirates would extend to Sunshine. First up is the end of the breakfast show with David Lyons and Cathy Cregan, who are followed by Tony Garreth (Gareth O’Callaghan) with a 3-hour music show until midday. There is a holiday slot and other features, as well as the familiar high-level adverts for larger businesses and brands. News is read by Gary Miley and Cathy Cregan.
The recording was made from 101.5 FM between 0854-1034 on Thursday 1st March 1984 and is from the Anoraks Ireland Collection. Gareth O’Callaghan later moved to other Dublin pirates Radio Nova and Energy 103 and continues to broadcast on independent radio to this day.
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Tony Dixon (RIP) presented the long-running Soul Special show on Saturday evenings on Dublin pirate Sunshine Radio in the 1980s, gaining a loyal following around the city and further afield. This short recording of the popular show is undated but we estimate it to be from October 1982. There are no adverts but some of the iconic Sunshine jingles are heard. The transmitter seems to go off the air at the end although it is possible that the dial of the receiver was adjusted suddenly. After a successful career in radio, Tony died prematurely in 2010.
The tape was recorded from 100.5 FM between 2003-2027 and was kindly donated by Shay Geoghegan.
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Bee Bop Gold was a hugely popular oldies show on Dublin pirate Sunshine Radio in its last few years on air. Sponsored by video rental company Xtravision, it was presented by Nails Mahoney, who would go on to a successful media career in Ireland and abroad. Relaunched as ‘Sunshine Hot Hits 101’ at this time, the Portmarnock station was the radio leader in Dublin and market research showed that Bee Bop Gold was the capital’s most listened to programme on Sundays.
This recording of Bee Bop Gold highlights how tightly-formatted the programme was, with very short links and continuous oldies. There are the usual high-level agency adverts for larger businesses and brands, some voiced by Sunshine boss, Robbie Robinson (RIP). The tape was made on Sunday 16th August 1987 from 101.5 FM between 1317-1447 and is from the Anoraks Ireland Collection.
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One of Sunshine Radio’s most popular DJs Tony Dixon (RIP) was fondly remembered for his Saturday night Soul Special show in the station’s early years. This edition from 1982 contains the usual mix of the latest soul tracks as well as classics. There are no adverts but several of the familiar Sunshine jingles. Tony mentions three loyal fans who record the show every week and bring the tapes with them to Amsterdam so that friends there can listen to it.
Tony also presented Good Day Sunshine each afternoon, as highlighted by this image from the Sunshine Review, a glossy magazine published by Sunshine in 1985. After a long radio career, he died prematurely in 2010.
This FM recording was made on 11th September 1982 between 1910-1940. No frequency is noted, but Sunshine was on 101.5 FM at the time, as well as 531 kHz AM. Thanks to Shay Geoghegan for the donation.