Sunshine Radio Archives - Page 4 of 13 - Irish Pirate Radio Audio Archive

28th February 202425th February 2024

Tony Dixon on early Sunshine Radio

Tony Dixon (RIP) was one of the popular DJs on Sunshine Radio, a large and successful pirate that broke the mould in Irish local radio when it came on the air in September 1980. In this short recording from the station’s early days, he is heard on a Sunday night programme that includes the tagline ‘Dance Radio – Sunshine 539’, highlighting the station’s emphasis on that genre of music after its launch. There’s also mention of Tamango’s nightclub that advertised heavily on Sunshine and was based next door at the Sands Hotel in Portmarnock. The tape ends with the iconic Desiderata that closed down Sunshine every night, followed by the station’s theme song ‘You are my sunshine’. Tony Dixon went on to have a career on licensed radio but died prematurely in 2010.

The airchecked recording was made from between 2000 and 2100 on 12^th January 1981 from 531 kHz AM, announced as 539 metres, and is from the Anoraks Ireland Tapes Collection.

26th February 202425th February 2024

Tony Allan interviewed at Sunshine Radio

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Tony Allan (RIP) was one of the most iconic voices of Irish pirate radio in the 1970s and 1980s. He presented on many larger stations and was heard doing voiceovers on countless other pirates throughout the country. In this recording, he is interviewed by Kieran Murray of the Free Radio Campaign Ireland outside the Sands Hotel in Portmarnock in north Co. Dublin, where Sunshine Radio was located. The station had started broadcasting less than two months previously on 29^th September 1980, its launch delayed by the sabotaging of its aerial, allegedly by a rival Dublin pirate. Tony refuses to speculate about the incident and instead emphasises the professionalism of Sunshine in contrast to existing Dublin stations. He also talks about his background in the offshore station Radio Caroline.

The interview was conducted on 16^th November 1980 and is from the Anoraks Ireland Tapes Collection, donated to us by Paul Davidson.

23rd October 202325th October 2025

Nails Mahoney on Sunshine 101

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Bee Bop Gold was a hugely popular oldies show broadcast on Dublin super-pirate Sunshine Radio towards the end of its eight-year run on air, by which time the station had been rebranded as Sunshine Hot Hits 101. The presenter was Nails Mahoney, who would go on to have a successful radio and television career in Ireland, the UK and Canada, including on longwave giant Atlantic 252.

This tape features a special late-night bank holiday edition of Bee Bop Gold, featuring hits from the 1950s, 60s and 70s. An animated Nails Mahoney takes requests from listeners on air and promotes a competition. The show is sponsored by health supplements company Seven Seas and commercial breaks contain high-level agency adverts indicating the commercial success of Sunshine 101. There are several references to a radio survey in 1988 that put the station first in Dublin, an achievement that is also centre-stage in the advertisement above.

Our recording was made from 101 FM on 30^th and 31^st October 1988 between 2307 and 0037. It is courtesy of John Breslin.

22nd September 202317th September 2023

Drivetime on Sunshine Radio

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This recording of Sunshine Radio from the autumn of 1983 features the final part of the drivetime show Sunshine in the Afternoon with Paul Kavanagh. It begins with a music sweep followed by a super-set from the Hollies. Solar Energy with David Dennehy is to follow after the news at 8pm. Despite Sunshine’s commercial success, it is interesting to note that there is no commercial break in the half-hour recording.

The tape was made on 24^th August 1983 between 1917 and 1947 from either 100.5 or 101.5 FM (only the announced frequency of 101 FM is mentioned on the label). It is from the Skywave Tapes Collection. Radio Skywave International was a 1980s shortwave station broadcasting from Baldoyle in northeast Dublin.

2nd August 202330th July 2023

Pat Courtenay and Cathy Cregan on Sunshine 101

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Sunshine Radio, later Sunshine 101, broadcast from the Sands Hotel in Portmarnock in north Dublin between September 1980 and December 1988. By 1985, it was well established as one of the capital’s leading professional pirates, broadcasting chart music and specialist programming on high-powered AM and FM frequencies. This recording of the final half hour of Pat Courtenay’s breakfast show begins with 15 minutes of non-stop music, interspersed with station idents. Agency adverts reflect Sunshine’s commercial success but a local community event is also promoted, reflected the station’s roots on the northside of Dublin. News is ready by Cathy Cregan, who is followed by station founder and owner, Robbie Dale (Robinson).

Both Pat Courtenay and Cathy Cregan continue to broadcast on radio today. Listen here to our tribute to Robbie Robinson, who died in 2021. This recording was made from 100.5 FM on Tuesday 1^st October 1985 from 0921-1006. It is from the Anoraks Ireland Tapes Collection, donated to us by Paul Davidson.