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Tony Dixon (RIP) was one of the best-known DJs on Dublin’s Sunshine Radio in the 1980s, presenting a daily show every afternoon and also a popular weekend soul programme. This recording from 1982 is of part of Tony’s lunchtime show with the usual mix of music, chat and dedications. The soundtrack of the afternoon features music from James Bond movies and there is a promo for a competition to win a house worth £45,000, an example of the eye-watering giveaways on larger pirate stations like Sunshine and Radio Nova during this period.
Tony also mentions the Sunshine Radio election special that was broadcast every evening. The involvement of pirate radio in elections in the 1980s was controversial because of several failed efforts to bring forward legislation to licence local radio. Sunshine Radio took the unprecedented step of publishing a newspaper advertisment in support of Fianna Fáil in the February 1982 election because that party had committed to introducing local commercial radio.
After a long career in pirate and licensed radio, Tony died prematurely on 25th November 2010. This recording was made on Tuesday 9th February 1982 between 1210-1255 from 91.6 FM and is courtesy of Shay Geoghegan.