Irish Pirate Radio Audio Archive

Drive 105 began transmissions to Derry and surrounding area on 105.3 MHz in 1999. Originally the station was located in a property just over the border in Muff, County Donegal, near the Rock Bar. The station broadcast a mainly pop music format and featured some staff who had worked on other pirates like Radio North … Continue reading "Border series: Drive 105 from Donegal/Derry" The post Border series: Drive 105 from Donegal/Derry appeared first on Irish Pirate Radio Audio Archive.

An early pioneer in news for radio anoraks was the weekly Free Radio Campaign (FRC) show on Southside Radio from Dún Laoghaire in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Presented by Marc Boland, it was often relayed on shortwave pirate Westside Radio International. This short recording of the end of one edition of the FRC … Continue reading "Southside Radio FRC show from March 1981" The post Southside Radio FRC show from March 1981 appeared first on Irish Pirate Radio Audio Archive.

This recording of the Free Radio Campaign (FRC) show on Radio Dublin Channel 2 dates from summer 1983. It is presented by Tony Healy, who is filling in for Gerard Roe and making his first appearance on the station. The FRC features a Christmas recording from Radio Snowflake on 99.9 FM from December 1982, operating … Continue reading "Free radio show on Radio Dublin Channel 2 (6th July 1983)" The post Free radio show on Radio Dublin Channel 2 (6th July 1983) appeared first on Irish Pirate Radio Audio Archive.

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 … Continue reading "Sunday evening on Sunshine Radio" The post Sunday evening on Sunshine Radio appeared first on Irish Pirate Radio Audio Archive.

KIKX 102 was the new name for the short-lived Monaghan pirate FM 100, that broadcast for a few months from 26th July 1989. Using the former studios and transmitter of previous pirate KITS in Monaghan Town, FM 100 had big plans to secure a music radio licence for Northern Ireland following the closure of the … Continue reading "Border series: Evening show on KIKX 102" The post Border series: Evening show on KIKX 102 appeared first on Irish Pirate Radio Audio Archive.

Blanchardstown Community Radio (BCR) was one of several short-lived pirate stations that came on air in Dublin in the second half of 1983, following the drama of the raids on Radio Nova and Sunshine Radio that spring. It was based in the western suburb of Blanchardstown and was set up by some of those involved … Continue reading "Test broadcast by Blanchardstown Community Radio" The post Test broadcast by Blanchardstown Community Radio appeared first on Irish Pirate Radio Audio Archive.

Magic 103 was one of the many offshoots of Radio Nova, broadcasting from April to September 1985. This recording was made on a sunny summer afternoon and features two of the station’s most accomplished presenters, Bob Gallico and Peter Madison, both since deceased. First up is the end of Morning Magic with both presenters, while … Continue reading "Bob Gallico and Peter Madison on Magic 103" The post Bob Gallico and Peter Madison on Magic 103 appeared first on Irish Pirate Radio Audio Archive.

The small Dublin pirate ABC Radio was one of a handful to stay on the air after the raids on the bigger station Radio Nova and Sunshine Radio on 18th and 19th May 1983. This short recording of ABC was made before 2300 on the evening of 19th May and includes a call from a … Continue reading "ABC Radio still on air after raids" The post ABC Radio still on air after raids appeared first on Irish Pirate Radio Audio Archive.

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 … Continue reading "101 Hottest Hits of 1987 on Sunshine 101" The post 101 Hottest Hits of 1987 on Sunshine 101 appeared first on Irish Pirate Radio Audio Archive.

Radio City changed AM frequencies in summer 1981, moving from 1512 kHz (announcing 199 metres) to the slightly off-channel 1243 kHz (announcing 240 metres). This recording begins at the end of Seán Collins’s Saturday afternoon show with laid-back tunes and a listeners’ competition. He is followed by Alan Edwards who is running late for his … Continue reading "Early Cork Series: Radio City on new frequency" The post Early Cork Series: Radio City on new frequency appeared first on Irish Pirate Radio Audio Archive.

This is another recording of Radio Nova founder and boss, Chris Cary, using the name Harry cary on the Nova offshoot station, KISS FM. Chris mentions the visit of a youth club to the studios of Nova and KISS FM that day and says that other such groups would be welcome at the weekends. There … Continue reading "More Chris Cary on KISS FM" The post More Chris Cary on KISS FM appeared first on Irish Pirate Radio Audio Archive.

This recording features weekend shows on Cork pirate Radio City in summer 1981. Up first is John Ashford (RIP) with the final part of his Saturday Nightbeat show. He is followed by Jamie Roberts, who takes a call from fellow DJ Pat O’Rourke who is in hospital! Of interest is the advert for Fianna Fáil … Continue reading "Early Cork series: weekend shows on Radio City" The post Early Cork series: weekend shows on Radio City appeared first on Irish Pirate Radio Audio Archive.

Misty Mountain Radio broadcast from the Cavan border region in the 2000s, specialising in show bands and country and Irish music. In this recording, DJ Mark Gregory has a CD to giveaway and there are requests from listeners around the county. The recording was made between from 106.2 FM between 2056-2200 on 15th January 2007. … Continue reading "Border series: Country requests on Misty Mountain Radio" The post Border series: Country requests on Misty Mountain Radio appeared first on Irish Pirate Radio Audio Archive.

This is another recording of Cork pirate Radio City in summer 1981. First up is the end of the community association programme with Seán Collins, followed by Alan Edwards with his weekly early Saturday evening slot. Alan plays mostly chart hits including plenty of Irish tunes and some oldies thrown in. There are plenty of … Continue reading "Early Cork series: more summer sounds on Radio City" The post Early Cork series: more summer sounds on Radio City appeared first on Irish Pirate Radio Audio Archive.

Radio Dublin Channel 2 was the first such offshoot service by an Irish pirate station, operating initially at weekends and then on a more full-time basis in parallel with the main station. Offering specialist output such as a rock show, country show and student programme, it was an alternative to the chart music focus of … Continue reading "Test of Radio Dublin Channel 2 and station launch" The post Test of Radio Dublin Channel 2 and station launch appeared first on Irish Pirate Radio Audio Archive.

This recording of popular DJ Declan Meehan on Sunshine Radio was made in summer 1982, as the north Dublin station approached its second birthday. Along with the usual mixture of contemporary hits and oldies, there’s mention of the ongoing World Cup tournament and the Sunshine Radio rock concert in Malahide Castle that evening. Commercial breaks … Continue reading "Declan Meehan on Sunshine Radio in 1982" The post Declan Meehan on Sunshine Radio in 1982 appeared first on Irish Pirate Radio Audio Archive.

This recording of Cork pirate Radio City features Pat O’Rourke (Smurf) on a Saturday morning in summer 1981, followed by the start of Paul Cassidy’s show. The recording begins around 1020 but is partially airchecked. Paul announces 189 metres (1584 kHz) but this is likely to be a mistake as there is no log of … Continue reading "Early Cork series: summer Saturday on Radio City" The post Early Cork series: summer Saturday on Radio City appeared first on Irish Pirate Radio Audio Archive.

Magic 103 was an offshoot of Dublin super-pirate Radio Nova, set up as an information and easy listening music service for the city. Its first full day was 29th April 1985 but it closed only five months later on 22nd September, citing financial difficulties. However, the station was also embroiled in the ongoing dispute between … Continue reading "Plans for new kids’ programme on Magic 103" The post Plans for new kids’ programme on Magic 103 appeared first on Irish Pirate Radio Audio Archive.

KISS FM (1982-1984) was one of many offshoots of Dublin pirate Radio Nova. This recording is from the station’s first evening on air and features the ‘clutterfree’ format of continuous music and limited talk associated with Nova. DJ Hugh O’Brien reads a reception report from near Belfast, indicating the strength of the transmitter. Nova’s now … Continue reading "First evening on Nova offshoot KISS FM" The post First evening on Nova offshoot KISS FM appeared first on Irish Pirate Radio Audio Archive.

This is another recording of the Saturday evening show with Alan Edwards on early Cork pirate Radio City. This edition features listeners phoning in requests live on air and is followed by Rock City Review with Luke Ward. At the very end are a few undated airchecks from programmes presented by Noel Evans (Noel Welch) … Continue reading "Early Cork series: phone-in requests on Radio City" The post Early Cork series: phone-in requests on Radio City appeared first on Irish Pirate Radio Audio Archive.

Radio City 2 appears to have been a short-lived experiment broadcasting in 1981 on a different FM frequency to the main Radio City, one of the early pirates in Cork City. This short recording is of Pete Andrew (O’Neill) around 1400 on a Sunday afternoon, testing on 88.8 FM. The main service continues on 95.5 … Continue reading "Early Cork series: another test by Radio City 2" The post Early Cork series: another test by Radio City 2 appeared first on Irish Pirate Radio Audio Archive.

Radio Vera broadcast from Limerick City from 1987-1988. It was linked to another city station, Radio Munster, that focused on older listeners while Radio Vera chased the younger market. Radio Vera claimed to have coverage over a 50-mile radius of Limerick City, including parts of Clare and Kerry. This recording is of Francis Jones on … Continue reading "Afternoon Delights on Radio Vera" The post Afternoon Delights on Radio Vera appeared first on Irish Pirate Radio Audio Archive.

Don Moore (Dr Don) was one of the pioneers of early pirate radio in Ireland, and developed Alternative Radio Dublin (ARD) into a credible and professional station in an increasingly competitive market at the end of the 1970s. This recording is of Dr Don in the lunchtime slot on ARD, featuring his usual zany and … Continue reading "Dr Don’s Dinner Spinner on ARD" The post Dr Don’s Dinner Spinner on ARD appeared first on Irish Pirate Radio Audio Archive.

In January 1978, Radio Dublin began a full daytime schedule, a change that shook up the Dublin radio scene and ushered in a new era of increased competition and rising standards. This recording was made around lunchtime and features DJ Sylvia with good tunes, an album of the week feature and live-read adverts. The iconic … Continue reading "Lunchtime on Radio Dublin in 1978" The post Lunchtime on Radio Dublin in 1978 appeared first on Irish Pirate Radio Audio Archive.