Cork Eastside Radio began broadcasting during the early part of 1982 from the coastal village of Ballycotton in County Cork, a few miles South East of Cork City. The station initially operated on 102MHz and 1305kHz / 225m, with a medium wave power of around 200 watts. The studio was built in the garage adjacent to Glebe House on the road leading into the village.

The station's name was confusing for listeners in the early days. Initially it was known as Cork Eastside Radio, because of its geographical location. Then it became Eastside Recording Ireland, and Eastside Radio Ireland, which was abbreviated to E.R.I. Eventually it became simply known as Radio ERI, the name with which it operated for several years.

By 1983 the station had started a major expansion. Initially a powerful 5kW transmitter was installed in a factory on the outskirts of Cork City. This commenced broadcasts on 1332kHz, but was so powerful that it caused interference to Suirside Radio in Waterford, and so it was moved to 1305kHz, the frequency of the original Ballycotton transmitter. It remained on this frequency until the station closed. Around this time, the studios were also transferred from Ballycotton to some portacabins on the outskirts of the town, which were installed with improved broadcast equipment. An office in the centre of Cork City was also opened. The station went from strength to strength, and eventually became the biggest station in the Cork area. In later years, the FM transmitter was also increased in strength. ERI continued through until legislation at the end of December 1988.

Photos from inside the studio in Ballycotton in 1982