Tag: Sunshine Radio

Posted on

Andy Rua on Sunshine Radio

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Andy Rua on Sunshine Radio
Andy Ruane pictured as a ‘past pupil’ in the Sunshine Review of 1985 (courtesy DX Archive).

Andy Ruane (Andy Rua, previously Paul Nicholas) worked on various Dublin pirates in the late 1970s and early 1980s before moving on to a career in RTÉ. Here he is in 1983 in the lunchtime slot on Portmarnock station Sunshine Radio. Cathy Cregan reads the main lunchtime news, which includes results from the abortion referendum of the previous day.

The recording was made from 101.5 FM between 1258 and 1343 on 8th September 1983 and is courtesy of Shay Geoghegan.

Posted on

Saturday Soul on Sunshine Radio from 1985

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Saturday Soul on Sunshine Radio from 1985
An undated photo of Tony, possibly from the early Sunshine days (courtesy Marisa Dixon).

The late Tony Dixon’s 3-hour Saturday Soul slot on Dublin pirate Sunshine Radio gained a big following in the 1980s. Here he is from 1985 with the usual laid-back mix and requests and dedications. News is read by Kate McLean and a commercial break contains a promo for the Sunshine girls who are giving away £25 cash prizes in public places.

The tape is from the Anoraks Ireland Collection and was made on Saturday 2nd November 1985 from 101.5 FM between 1803-1935.

Posted on

Sunshine Radio during jamming campaign

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Sunshine Radio during jamming campaign
Sunshine sticker from the mid-1980s (Anoraks Ireland Collection).

This short recording of Sunshine Radio was made during a night-time slot in the spring of 1984, when RTÉ was relentlessly jamming the station’s signal as part of its campaign against the pirate. First up is the end of the Radio Romance slot with David Dennehy. News at midnight is presented by Justin McKenna and includes reference to the jamming, which was causing serious problems for Sunshine by this time. The iconic Desiderata, which used to be played before closedown of Sunshine every night, is heard before the midnight news as the station had long since moved to round-the-clock broadcasting. After news is Paul Vincent with the overnight show.

The recording is from the Anoraks Ireland Collection and was made from 100.5 FM between 2352-0015 on Thursday 22nd into Friday 23rd March 1984.

Posted on

Sunday evening on Sunshine Radio

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Sunday evening on Sunshine Radio
Sunshine Radio sticker from mid-1980s (Anoraks Ireland Collection).

Before it was relaunched in 1986, the large Dublin pirate Sunshine Radio broadcast specialist programmes at the weekends, sometimes offering a choice of services on AM and FM. This recording from a Sunday evening in 1984 gives a sense of some of that variety. First up is Greg Merriman with a mixture of new and old tunes including the Famous Five slot featuring five tracks by Steely Dan. He is followed by Colin Russell who is standing in for Bill McLaughlin with Sunshine Country. News is read by Caroline Callaghan and an advert for Tamango’s nightclub next door to Sunshine is heard during a commercial break.

Sunday evening on Sunshine Radio
Colin replaces Bill in the recording and Caroline reads news (Sunshine Review 4, courtesy DX Archive).

The recording is from the Anoraks Ireland Collection and was made from 101.5 FM. Part 1 was recorded from 1949-2038 and part 2 from 2103-2152 on 22nd April 1984.

Posted on

101 Hottest Hits of 1987 on Sunshine 101

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

101 Hottest Hits of 1987 on Sunshine 101
Sunshine 101 car sticker from 1987 (Anoraks Ireland Collection).

On New Year’s Day 1988, Dublin super-pirate Sunshine 101 broadcast the ‘101 Hottest Hits of 1987’ presented by Nails Mahoney. The show was sponsored by the Evening Press newspaper and sounds like it was pre-recorded as there are no time-checks.

The recording is from the Anoraks Ireland Collection and was made from 101.5 FM between 1317-1403 on 1st January 1988.