REAL AUDIO INDEX |
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| Irish Era - Offshore - Landbased - Official Stations - Downloads - Press - Other |
EIRE 1981 - EIRE 1982 - OLDER IRISH CLASSICS
- OTHER IRISH
IRISH SW PIRATES - OFFSHORE - RADIO FREE LONDON - UK LBP - DUTCH MW - SW LEGAL - SW PIRATES
| NB. These files were recorded as .ra, "Real Audio 3" back in the very early days of audio on line, and way before the days of the common standard being mp3, and thus the quality could be obviously a lot better. Most
modern day PCs won't even play the .ra files now by default, unless
on line to download the add on for Real Player. VLC player will cope
with .ra, but not .rm or .ram. |
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This Dublin station changed AM channels every morning at around 8am, this recording is the only known recording taken from the 1134kHz channel, before retuning to the worse 1143. It suffered slop from ILR Glasgow, as it was taped in Scotland on 7th June 1981, at 0758. DJs Owen Conroy and Derek Jones (not the well known Radio Valleri DJ).
An FM recording of the silly little tune played to retune the AM signal. This was recorded in Dublin on 14th August 1981 at 0700 on 99.9.
A recording made during their move from Camden Street, to South Richmond St. Taped on Friday 14th August 1981, while in Dublin. The studio was a temp, but they kept the station on air. (despite the terrible hummmm)
A couple of airchecks of veteran offshore broadcaster Tony Allen on Big D, August 19th 1981 around 1830 taken from 1116kHz. Recorded in Dublin.
The Limerick version of Big L has a very original jingle package! Recorded in Limerick on 17th August 1981 0104 from 92.4FM.
A recording made during our visit to BLB, on Friday 14th August 1997, morning prog around 1115. DJ was blind Joe Bollard.
A jingle used during the night tapes in 1981
Another jingle used during the night tapes in 1981. This one made by Heddy Eddie.
This country station in Co Cork, Eire, was heard Europe wide in 1980/1 on 1512kHz. Listen to this well known jingle from the station, taped in Scotland on 8th Nov 1980, around 0130 or maybe 0200. They announce as 202m, and 1485kHz!!
CRY recorded in Youghal, on Tuesday 18th August 1981, just at the lunchtime sign off. Recorded from the MW 1512.
The sign off from Double R Radio taken from 1035kHz on Friday14th Aug 81, around 2100. This was a test from their new set up at the Waldorf Hotel, Eden Key, and not from the Railway Road site.
East Coast Radio was the station which took over the Sonic Transmitter on 1314kHz, listen to this clip from November 1981 with Nigel Roberst and Johnny Lewis, alias Steven Bishop.
KELO Swords, as Skip Cameron winds up the programme, to make way for Davitt Kelly on 4th May 1981, taped in Scotland from 1233kHz. The time, just before 12 midday and just after.
John Clark passed through KELO briefly in mid 1981, before going on to join Radio Nova, and later RTE. This clip is taken from 28th May 1981 from 1233kHz, taped in Scotland. The time was just before 3pm.
This Tralee station had us beaten, but there was some fine recordings made of it. DJ Mike Donovan is heard here with a full station ID. 17/8/81, 99.9 around 1308 in the afternoon, recorded in Tralee
This station with two names I suppose can be heard here with Big DJ Mark Anthony, as well as the Carol-Ann ID and the Midland Radio jingle, which included the wrong frequency. Recorded on Sunday 16th August 1981, at 1657 from the 1125 channel.
Radio Carrick fron Carrick-Upon-Suir had a fairly weak signal on 1512kHz. This recording was made on 18th August 1981, at the station. Hear the sign off announcement at the early time of 6pm.
A unique recording of Alan Reid, at the time City DJ, now Henry Owens of Atlantic 252, recorded in Cork 17/8/81 4pm from the FM 95.6 service.
August 82, while we were in Ireland
A classic clip from The Captain's news bulletin on Sunday 9th August 1981, talking about the hetrodyne caused by WKRC operating off channel, on 1250kHz. This was recorded in Scotland from 6910kHz around 1350 BST.
A typical Sunday afternoon, after the station news overund, Shay West hands over to Leo Malone. This was perhaps when Radio Dublin was at it's best, signal and audio wise. The date on this one, 5th April 1981, from 1188kHz, around 2.20pm, and it was recorded in Scotland.
A recording of Radio Dublin, taped in the city while we were in the station, on Sat 15th August 198. from 1188kHz. This was the announcement which attracted the violence, as per the 1981 story!
An aircheck or two, while we headed towards the station, on Saturday 15th August 1981, from around the 4pm mark. DJ Derek Nally is on air on 738kHz, with the old telephone number of 983251
A very unique station used to broadcast to Limerick. This long sample of part of John 'The Man' Frawley doing his traditional breakfast show. Sadly this amazing fellow has passed away. This recording was made in Limerick on 17th August 1981, from MW 1368kHz, between 8am and 9am.
From Drumshanbo, Co Leitrim, a jingle and quick link from this top of the dial station. Date on this one 16th August 1981, 1355, on 1615kHz. This was recorded in Drumshanbo.
This rarity was recorded on Sunday 16th August 1981 in Sligo, from the MW 1260 frequency. It is an advert for the charity marathon radio show, as per the 1981 story.
This Shankhill, South Dublin station was heard on the SW as well as regularly on 1314kHz. This clip was taken off 1314kHz on 14th August 1981, while we visited the station. Hear Bob Nailor handing over to Dave Anderson for his first show on Irish MW radio.
A rare recording, made on 1998kHz on the evening of 10th August 1981, just before 2300UTC. This shows how strong the signal was in Scotland on the harmonic.
A rare news report from Sybel Fennel, later to become well known on Radio Nova Dublin. Recorded in the Dublin area around 1230 while on the road to Sunshine. 14th August 81, 999kHz. Also Steven Bishop/ John Lewis celebrates the MOA by playing the Fortunes and Caroline. Quality is a little noisy as we were on the move as the tape was running.
An early tape of Dave Hunt on the afternoon delight programme on Suirside Radio, Waterford. This recording was made in Waterford on Tues 18th August 1981, from FM 97.9.
Sunshine Radio extended their original hour of sign off from 6pm, to 9pm. This sign off was recorded in Scotland with Siobhan Walls, closing up the station for the night, on 16th June 1981,
A unique recording I suppose, made in Waterford, when WLR was off air for maintenence. Sign off was midnight on Tues 18th August 1981, from 1197kHz.
This is about all we have of this station from the trip. It was recorded in the evening of 17th August 1981, around 8pm, from MW 1327kHz. The signal was rather poor, even in Youghal. The only ided as TCR unfortunately.
A relatively longish few airchecks of TTTR in the very early days. They had began in the Summer of 1981, heard in Scotland on 945. The date for these clips, Sat 15th Aug 81, from 945, heading towards Greenacres Country Club, which became known as the Nova Park.
WABC recorded in Scotland on 8th August 1981, with a local DJ, and a classic commercial with a 2 digit telephone.
WCLR (Wexford County Local Radio) (346k)
And finally despite there being no radio jingles in this audio file, this music for me offers something really special, and will always remind me of the Irish pirates. The clip is from the record "Summer In Dublin" by "Bagatelle", from their first album in 1981. I think I speak for all of us when I say it has a special meaning. |
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This station used 96FM for a time, before developing into South City Radio. They were all very short lived these stations, and by the time the legislation was introduced in 1988, they were long forgotton. This recording was made in Dublin on 7th April 1982 signing off at 0100, with Ken Martin, as well as a clip of the breakfast show.
An extract of ABC from 729kHz, taped in Waterford, of an Andy Ellis show just after the station came on the air in March 1982. Monday 29th March 1982. Time around 1330/1430, and includes an advert for a television dealer who was going to do a set up for £8! Changed days.
The announcement heard on the MW band from a reformed CRD and Boyneside Radio. This was recorded in Scotland, and was heard on 2nd May 1982, 0120BST, on 1305kHz.
A clip taken from 6th April 1982, taken from 1116kHz. Recorded in Dublin during their automated days. This project sadly failed and the station folded shortly after.
Community Radio Fingal recorded in Dublin mid morning from 1584kHz, Sunday 4/4/82. This clip includes the address of the Rockabil Hotel, their original studio site. They later moved to 1575, and used the former South Dublin Radio transmitter well heard on 6243 at the time. This rig has about 20 807 valves all strapped together, and seemed to work surprisingly well.
The Irish Christian Broadcasting Service, with Gary St John, who used to run Skull and Bones Radio System, as well as the 6318 transmitter from WLR/ Stella in 1987/8. This test was taken from 1071kHz, 3/4/82, and recorded in Blackpool by Gary.
Some classic early tests from this land locked town of Mountrath. The date for these broadcasts were Monday 5th April on 1160kHz AM and Tuesday 6th April 1982, from 102.3MHz FM.
This Cork station recorded in Cork during April 82
This station was very local to the town, just outside Cork City. Unfortunately, the station only ids here as MCR, and is the only aircheck available. Date Tuesday 6th April 82.
This rarity signed off at the early hour of 1800. Recorded by Gary in Cork at the time, the audio had improved dramatically since the previous August. The date Monday 5/4/82, from 98.8FM. Shortly afterwards, the station had an AM outlet on 1188kHz, then 1560, or 1557.
A rare recording made during the stations copy cat automated period, of only a few weeks. Recorded on 7th April 1982, in Dublin, from 738kHz.
Radio Nova announcements regarding the damage to equipment, and reward money being offered. Recorded in Leeds from 846kHz, in March 1982
Jamming announcement from 1st July 1982, from 846kHz, recorded in Leeds at 7pm newstime. John Clarke has the first announcement.
South Coast Radio sign on with Peter Madison, on 6th April 1982, at 0700, recorded in Cork. This was taken from the 104FM service. This was when the station had just moved from the Metropole Hotel, to a new location, and the AM service on 1557kHz had not yet been switched back on.
Suirside Radio with Richard Staines, during a morning show, on Wednesday 31st March 1982, taken off the FM signal 98.7, taped in Waterford. This was at the time there were SW transmissions regularly from Suirside.
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Alternative Radio Dublin Clip 1. (267k) The famous Doctor Don during a Sunday afternoon show in June 1978 introducing Dave C on a promotion for the ARD Summer Roadshow. Also features an impressive ARD jingle. Clip 2. (373k) ARD were the first station to seriously press for advertising. Here is a commercial looking for those potential advertisers from April 23rd 1978. Also from the same day, is the start of the Sunday request show with Dave C and Paul Downey. Clip 3. (213k) Another clip, but of poorer quality from Sunday 23rd April 1978 featuring Arno St Jude, who would become more well known in later years as Declan Meehan on RTE 2, Sunshine Radio and Radio Nova . The station was having technical problems during his programme and had to close down to replace components.
BBC Television - (Yes really) (367k) The audio track of a BBC TV news report about the upsurge in 'pirate activity' on the airwaves of Dublin. This was broadcast on 31st May 1978. Hear a 'young' Kate Adie (years prior to her famous war reports) visit the Dublin stations in those early full time days. Does anyone have the video part of this particular report??
Capital Radio (Dublin City) (356k)
Downtown Radio (Dublin City) (296k)
East Coast Radio (Dublin City)
Independent
Radio Dundalk (576k)
Radio
Caroline Dublin (191k) (405k)
Radio
Carousel Dundalk (207k)
Radio
Dublin (213k)
Radio
Dublin (275k) |
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Radio
Valleri International (260k)
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CAROLINE - MI-AMIGO
One
of the many versions of the loveship jingles made by the amazing Tony
Allen in the late 70s, used in 77, and certainly in 79. There was
also at least one Dutch version played on Radio Mi-Amigo back then
also.
I
suggest no true Radio Caroline fan, who was tuned into the format
and goings on of the station in 1979, can listen to this next clip
without the haird on the back of your neck standing on end. Listen
to a clip of daytime programming when they play a little song made
by Richard Thomson, otherwise known as Busby. Time was coming up to
5pm Dutch time, 4pm in England, on 319m, 963kHz, on Christmas day
1979.. From the Mi Amigo.
Radio
Caroline in a very rough night. Listen to the end of Spaceplay with
Michael Light, or as he is better known, Mike Haggler, followed by
Stuart Russel trying to read the weather at 10 past 10pm, as the sea
crashes into the ship and sends stuff flying. Date 27/12/79, 963.
A
unique recording, made only days before the Mi Amigo sank, Tom Hardy
reads the weather before requesting a spare part. It sounds something
like parts for the genny, or alternatively send out the genny engineer!
The date for this, Friday 14th March 1980, recorded in Scotland, from
963kHz. Stevie Gordon is doing the roadshow advert.
The
last broadcast from the Mi Amigo. I become tired of reading very inaccurate
transcriptions of this, the final announcement before Stevie Gordon
and Tom Anderson, went onto the lifeboat, along with Nick Richards,
the ship's canary Wilson, and Dutch DJ, Hans Verlaan. (Hans was only
17 at the time, but went on to become director of Sky Radio.) The
time was around midnight on 963kHz for this recording.
CAROLINE - ROSS REVENGE
Simon
Barrat, returned to the North Sea after 8 years away. This was one
of many broadcasts Simon made from the Ross Revenge when Caroline
restarted broadcasting in 1983. He quickly picked up the name "Wally"
Simon was the author of the book, "10 days in the life of a lady",
about the drifting and raid on the Mi-Amigo in 1975. The date for
this clip, 20th September 1983, from 963kHz, taped in Scotland, around
1055pm.
Classic
recordings of Andy Archer during his last stint in offshore radio,
when he never called himself by name. This was because he had been
nicked coming ashore in a tender just previous. The station lost it's
anquor and was apparantly sailing back to it's anquorage this morning,
hence the comments, "we're just testing out engines". This is certainly
one for the records, and was recorded in Scotland on Wed 25th Jan
1984 from 963kHz around 0630/0730. The ship of course was the Ross
Revenge.
RIN - MEBO 2 The last news bulletin of 1973, recorded in Holland from FM originally, although it must be a 20th generation copy. Robb Eden on news, along with a catchy jingle, 31/12/73 @ 11pm. I actually have a recording made here in Scotland from MW, 1367, although quality is not so good.
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RFL
1 A very early recording of Radio Free London on 255m, recorded during September 1968, with DJ Jason Wolf, who later appeared on Radio Northsea from the Mebo 2. These transmissions were tests in preperation for the opening on October 13th 1968 (145k) |
RFL
2 Kenny Myres via the transmitter of European Music Radio on 6265 and 7315 on 16th September 1979. (228k) |
RFL3
John Dawson from 1979, on 92FM. John was a really lively DJ at this stage, and the station was sounding great. (173k) |
RFL4
Andy Walker on his high horse about the Dutch station which turned into the Farmers from Holland. They drifted onto the top of RFL while they were on 6285kHz regularly. Aired 19th May 1996 on 6210. (250k) |
RFL5
Eric May and Jack Russel in the studio, 25-26th August 1996 aired on 3945 and 6400 (116k) |
RFL6
Terry Philips for the 24-25th August 96. Aired 3945 and 6400 (120k) |
Sunday
2nd September 1979 The airchecks in this section were recorded during a trip to the Great British Beer Festival in September 1979. The Festival was located at Alexandra Palace in North London and the recordings were made in front of the old 1936 TV tower from which there is an excellent view over the city. At this time in its life, Radio Free London broadcast on 92.0MHz between 2pm and 7pm. This particular Sunday saw problems at sign-on due to a chewed tape for several minutes of the Kenny Myers show. Eventually this was sorted and a good quality signal was put out until 7pm closedown. The first two hours were mono, and after a break at 4pm stereo was announced at the start of the Mark Ashton show. There is a full sign-off including the station theme, at the end of the Jerry James show.
Kenny
Myers - 2-3pm (590k) |
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One
of the most innovative Pirates to broadcast in Britain, Kaleidoscope
followed a strict format which was popular on American Top 40 stations
of the time.They originally began in Essex in 1970, but it wasn't
until early '73 when operations were transferred to South London that
the station became a force to be reckoned with. Even the well established
Radio Jackie was left behind, indeed most of Jackie's best known presenters
left to join "Big K". Transmissions took place every Sunday from 10
am on 1133 khz, announced as 266 metres. The station broadcast mobile
from various sights around South London with programmes being recorded
earlier in the week. The station suffered almost weekly raids by the
then GPO, but on many occassions staff were able to flee the site
with all the equipment. An FM service was also broadcast on 94.4 mhz
on Thurday nights as part of the London transmitter of Independant
Radio. Kaleidoscope continued weekly transmissions until February
22nd 1976 when at 1300 Pat Edison closed the station down. It is a
fitting tribute that most of the Big K staff went on to work on the
new ILR stations around the country. The aircheck on line features
the station in its heyday signing on at 1000 hrs on Sunday December
29th 1974.
One
of the first pirates to broadcast in London, Jackie was first heard
in 1969 as part of the Helen Network on 197 metres. After its demise
Radio Jackie continued broadcasting moving to its well known frequency
of 227 metres. Regular Sunday broadcasts were heard throughout the
70's and an FM service periodically took to the air. Jackie was raided
many times by the GPO, resulting in heavy fines and a prison sentence
for station operator Nick Catford (Mike Knight). The station commenced
daily broadcasts in 1983 and gained respectability providing a community
radio service for South London. However in March '84 the station was
raided three times in the course of a weekend resulting in its final
closure. The recording on line features Phil Hazelton (aka Lee Alvin)
one of the original and best Jackie presenters on the last transmission
of 1979.
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European Music Radio (78k) Radio Valentine (207k) Radio Woodstock (263k) |