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

22nd September 202317th September 2023

Drivetime on Sunshine Radio

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.

19th May 20232nd May 2024

Sunshine Radio is raided

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Gardaí and officials from the Department of Posts and Telegraphs raided Sunshine Radio on the morning of 19^th May 1983. This a recording of the final minutes of Sunshine from 0924 before the closedown at 0938. There are adverts right up to the end, including a promo for a Sunshine Radio car sun visor, although Sunshine boss Robbie Robinson comments that ‘this may be your last chance’. News headlines at 0930 with Cathy Cregan make no reference to the situation but shortly afterwards Robbie Robinson announces that the station is being raided and invites listeners to come down to the Sands Hotel and ring their TDs to protest. Sunshine’s theme song ‘You are my Sunshine’ is played and then goes off the air. The station returned on June 12^th.

The recording was made from 100.58 FM stereo, announcing 101. It is from the Anoraks Ireland Tapes Collection, donated to us by Paul Davidson.

12th May 202311th May 2023

Sunshine Radio breakfast with Pat Courtenay

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Pat Courtenay was a familiar voice on many 1980s pirates including the Portmarnock-based station Sunshine Radio. This recording from summer 1985 features him on Sunshine’s breakfast show. It’s a Monday morning but Pat promises to drag listeners into the working week with the usual blend of music and chat. News at the top of the hour is read by Bob Powell (the headlines at half-past are cut). There are the customary agency adverts and commercials for businesses around Dublin and a promo for a £1,000 giveaway as part of the Sunshine Summer Lotto. Pat Courtenay continues to broadcast on radio in Dublin and Bob Powell went on to become a journalist with RTÉ.

The recording was made from 100.5 FM from 0657-0740 on 15^th July 1985 and is from the Anoraks Ireland Tapes Collection, donated to us by Paul Davidson.

30th November 202230th November 2022

All-night Sunshine Radio

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This recording of Dublin’s super-pirate Sunshine Radio was made in the early hours of the October bank holiday Monday 1985. Non-stop music is heard for the first twenty minutes or so, possibly from the Tamango’s nightclub at the Sands Hotel in Portmarnock where Sunshine was based. The Sunshine Radio Review of 1985 lists live music from Tamango’s from midnight to 2am every Saturday morning. This may have been the case also on the Sunday of the bank holiday weekend, although there is no mention of the club during the music sweep. News at 2am is read by Joyce Jackson, who would go on to work as a journalist in RTÉ.

The recording was donated kindly to us by Shay Geoghegan.