Treble TR Radio Archives - Irish Pirate Radio Audio Archive

22nd August 202522nd August 2025

Saturday night on country station Treble TR

This recording of Dublin’s country and Irish music station Treble TR was made in autumn 1983, when the station was about 2 and a half years on air. On air is DJ Christine with a mixture of Irish and American country music, requests and dedications, information about gigs and a listeners’ chart countdown. There are plenty of adverts for businesses around Dublin, reflecting the station’s solid audience.

The airchecked recording was made from 99.5 FM on Saturday 16^th October 1983 between 2000-2305 and is from the Anoraks Ireland Collection. Treble TR also broadcast on 945 kHz AM at this time.

18th July 202513th July 2025

Sunday evening on Dublin country music station Treble TR

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Dublin’s country and Irish music station Treble TR broadcast from spring 1981 until the end of 1988, building up a loyal listenership during that time. This recording was made on a Sunday night in 1983 and features some of the variety of programmes on the station.

Shay Eustace is up first with the final part of his Irish traditional and folk music show. He is followed by John Deane with his mixture of country and ballads until midnight. There are some agency adverts and commercials for various Dublin businesses, including the Red Corner Shop, a regular advertiser on the pirates.

The airchecked recording is from the Anoraks Ireland Collection and was made from 99.5 FM between 2000-2230 on Sunday 9^th October 1983.

31st December 20248th January 2025

Country station Treble TR welcomes 1986

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Treble TR (sometimes written TTTR) was a country and Irish pirate station broadcasting from Dublin from the spring of 1981 until the end of 1988. The station began on 945 kHz AM, announcing 317 metres, adding FM from 1983. A second AM frequency on 891 kHz was added in 1987. Initially based in Rathfarnham near Radio Nova, TTTR later moved to Harold’s Cross south of the city centre. It closed down on 30^th December 1988 in line with new broadcasting legislation.

This recording was made as TTTR entered 1986. First up is Conn O’Mahoney who shares plenty of New Year’s requests from listeners around Dublin. He signs off at midnight and hands over to Dave Stewart who picks up the pace a bit, although the music is still country in style. Adverts are heard from small and medium-sized businesses around town.

The tape is from the Anoraks Ireland Collection and was made from 99 FM between 2343-0030 on 31^st December 1985 and 1^st January 1986.

14th June 20206th August 2021

Documentary: The Irish Pirates (Volume 5)

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Part 3 of Leon Tipler’s documentary ‘The Irish Pirates’ is entitled ‘Hello Again’, and features a return visit to Ireland in September 1983. In this episode, Volume 5 of the 8-part series, Tipler begins with a bandscan of Irish AM and FM from Aberystwyth on the west-Wales coast in August 1983. Returning to Dublin a month later, he comments on the improved sound of Treble TR before boarding a train to Kilkenny and Waterford. Kilkenny Community Radio and Suirside Radio are featured in depth and as usual there are several interesting bandscans.

This recording is from the Leon Tipler Tapes Collection, donated to us by Steve England.

Index to Volume 5

00:00 Irish bandscan from Aberystwyth August 1983
00:30 1983 raids
01:23 ERI
02:00 Radio West
04:10 South Coast Radio
06:00 FM DXing from Aberystwyth
07:00 Arklow Community Radio
08:31 Radio West
09:05 Kilkenny Community Radio
11:00 September 1983 visit
12:00 Treble TR
15:50 Radio Carlow
16:30 Visit to Kilkenny
17:15 Kilkenny Community Radio
27:45 Visit to KCR – community radio ethos
41:00 Visit to Waterford
42:05 WLR
42:50 Suirside Radio
43:25 ABC Tramore
46:00 Suirside Radio
48:30 Visit to Suirside Radio

4th May 20202nd May 2024

Treble TR Radio during 1983 raids

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Treble TR was Dublin’s country and Irish music station and broadcast from 1981 until the end of 1988 on 945 kHz and 99.5 FM. This recording is from the 18th of May 1983, the day of the Radio Nova raid when panic took root among pirates throughout the country. This recording (presenter unidentified) is of part of the Top 20 of country and Irish, a programme sponsored by none other than Nova Dry Cleaners! A barking dog also features but there is no mention of the Nova raid. Like many other stations, Treble TR closed temporarily the following day.

This recording from a noisy 945 kHz AM is from the Skywave Tapes Collection. Skywave Radio International broadcast a shortwave station in the 1980s from Baldoyle in northeast Dublin.