DX ARCHIVE
ESTABLISHED 1996

COMMUNITY RADIO 257 - PORTMARNOCK

ARCHIVES
WITHOUT CLUTTER
Irish Era  -  Offshore  -  Landbased  -  Official Stations  -  Downloads  -  Press  -  Other
Contact


Community Radio 257, Portmarnock, Co Dublin
1116kHz - 1134kHz - 94MHz - 105.7MHz

========================================================

IRISH PIRATES A / Z

Community Rado 257 was on the air during 1983. According to AUK 'Weekly Report' it began broadcasts on 29th May 1983, soon after the May 1983 raids, firstly calling itself Dublin Community Broadcasting, and then changing to Community Radio 257. Initially heard on 1134kHz, it then moved to 1116kHz and also operated on 94MHz FM. During the weekend of 3rd/4th September 1983 the station closed, believed to be in order to move location from Clontarf / Dollymount to Portmarnock Country Club. By November 1983 the FM frequency had moved to 105.7MHz, and 103MHz stereo was also being announced for the future. On 9th December 1983 the station was raided due to alleged interference to Dublin Airport.

================================================

A nice advert taken from The Sunday World of 25th September 1983 which gives their FM service as being on 94MHz.
(Click image for larger version - Size is 800kB)

================================================

An information sheet from when the station was at the Portmarnock Country Club.
(Click image for larger version - Size is 3.6MB)

================================================

Community Rado 257 was located at the Portmarnock Country Club,
when the above photos of David Baker in the studio were taken in early November 1983.

================================================

Community Radio 257 Audio Library

1983_05_30_mon_dublin_comm_broadcasting_1134am_1050-1135_tonydavies-gh060.mp3  New Jan 2024 The second day of transmission on Monday 30th May 1983, when the station was announcing as Dublin Community Broadcasting and on their original frequency of 1134kHz, announced as 257m. This extract is Tony Davies, and as received near Blackpool where the signal suffered some crackling and splatter from Radio Carousel who were very strong at that time, on the next channel of 1125kHz. Not bad for the distance though.  43MB
47mins
1983_05_30_mon_dublin_comm_broadcasting_1134am_1255-1340_donalsummerville-gh060.mp3  New Jan 2024 Again, from Monday 30th May 1983, Dublin Community Broadcasting as received near Blackpool from 1134kHz. This section has the final link from Tony Davies and then at 1pm Donal Summerville, playing mainly continuous music. The recording suffers splatter from Radio Carousel who were very strong at that time on the next channel of 1125kHz, and also some crackling due to the distance.  43MB
47mins
1983_06_02_thu_cr_257_1134am_1030-1205_gordonsommerville-gh675.mp3  New Aug 2021 Received near Blackpool from 1134kHz, so with some background  noise.  The recording suffers splatter from Radio Carousel who were very strong at that time on the next channel of 1125kHz.  The microphone levels are a bit low which is a little unfortunate, as it makes the splatter during the links sound worse.  The station was advertising for presenters at this time.  84MB
92mins


The original Anoraks Ireland cassette for the recording below
with notes denoting location and 'final day'.
1983_09_02_community_radio_257_94fm_1400-1450_markbyrne-ai1539.mp3  New Jan 2024 Mark Byrne from 2pm on Friday 2nd September 1983, with Feargal on news at 1430 and 1530 who also announces the station was going off the air at midnight for a couple of days to make things bigger and better. It is thought the closing down was to move studios from Dollymount to Portmarnock Country Club.  This recording was made by Paul Davidson in Dublin City from 94MHz in mono and forms part of the 'Anoraks Ireland Digitisation Project'. 69MB
50mins
1983_09_02_community_radio_257_1116am_1452-1542_markbyrne-ai1539.mp3  New Jan 2024 Part two of the above recording with Mark Byrne was received in Dublin from 1116kHz and forms part of the 'Anoraks Ireland Digitisation Project'.  46MB
50mins
1983_11_01_tue_community_radio_257_1057fm_1815-1915_davidbaker-gh490.mp3  New Jan 2024 The last hour or so of the 'Bumper to Bumper Programme' with David Baker from Tuesday 1st November 1983.   Recorded in Dublin from FM in mono, from 105.7MHz according to the info on the tape. 1116kHz AM is announced on air,  but David also mentions 103MHz stereo in the future.  57MB
62mins
1983_11_02_wed_community_radio_257_fms_1704-1802_davidbaker_al_orourke-gh487.mp3  New Oct 2023 David Baker from just after 5pm with the 'Bumper to Bumper' programme on Wednesday 2nd November 1983.  During the show, Al O'Rourke does an interview with Brigitte Clark from the National Association For Cerebral Palsy.  The recording is airchecked at the end. Recorded in Dublin from FM in stereo, but the actual frequency is not on the tape label, and 1116kHz only is mentioned.  133MB
58mins

========================================================

Community Radio 257 were raided on Friday 9th December 1983.
Here are some of the press reports relating to the raid.
It happened on the same day as Nova TV were raided, and Nova took the main headline in each article.



Irish Independent - Saturday 10th December 1983
































Irish Times - Saturday 10th December 1983


Irish Press - Saturday 10th December 1983

















====================================================

More detailed history, memorabilia and recordings of Community Radio 257 can be found at :
pirate.ie (history and recordings)
radiowaves.fm (recordings)
radiowaves.fm (history)

========================================================

IRISH PIRATES A / Z