KLAS Radio began test transmissions in April 1991 on 828 kHz, although initially it announced 819 kHz. The test announcements were made by Lynsey Shelbourne (Dolan), who later went on to present progr...

This recording of Radio West from summer 1987 begins with the end of Don Allen’s easy listening programme just before the weekly Anoraks’ Show presented by Don and Radio West boss Shaun Coyne. There a...

Radio Caroline Dublin broadcast to the capital between 1989 and 2000, making it one of the longest-running pirates of the post-1989 era. This recording was made towards the end of its run in 2000 and ...

Radio Carousel Navan (1982-1988) was one of several stations in the Carousel network run by Hugh Hardy from Omeath in Co. Louth. The Navan station occupied a high-profile position in a glass kiosk in ...

This recording of Radio Nova offshoot KISS FM was made on St. Patrick’s Day 1983. First up is the final part of the lunchtime show with Colm Hayes. He is joined in studio by Eurovision winner Johnny L...

This is another recording made by English anorak Leon Tipler during his visit to Ireland in summer 1980. First up is a selection of pirates on AM including Chris Barry on Capitol Radio (1332 kHz), Pau...

Leeside Community Radio was a short-lived Cork station that broke away from another pirate, Capital Radio in 1982. Pat Anderson (Pat Galvin), formerly of Capital, was the driving force behind the new ...

On the August bank holiday weekend 1986, Dublin pirate Energy 103 broadcast the Listeners’ Top 100. Presented by Gareth O’Callaghan, the marathon broadcast lasted the entire day and was based on phone...

This recording is of what was billed as the final broadcast by Radio Dublin following a raid in February 1977 that led to most of the station’s equipment being confiscated. In a publicity stunt that w...

This recording is of what was billed as the final broadcast by Radio Dublin following a raid in February 1977 that led to most of the station’s equipment being confiscated. In a publicity stunt that w...

On the August bank holiday weekend 1986, Dublin pirate Energy 103 broadcast the Listeners’ Top 100. Presented by Gareth O’Callaghan, the marathon broadcast lasted the entire day and was based on phone...

Earth South Radio was a short-lived pirate station broadcasting from Co. Tyrone in the early 1990s. It was re-named many time over a number of years and changed its location to south of the border. Ea...

Offshore and land-based pirate radio programmes from the 60's, 70's and 80's non-stop 24 hours a day.

By the summer of 1985, new kid on the block Q102 was well established as a serious player in the Dublin radio market. The Irish-owned super-pirate had a crisp, professional sound and high broadcasting...

Radio Caroline Dublin was one of the longest-running pirates in the post-1989 period, broadcasting from Dublin’s northeastern suburb of Sutton. It was operated by Brian Greene, one of the founders of ...

Southside Radio broadcast from north Wicklow and later from Dún Laoghaire in south Dublin between 1978 and 1982. First up in this recording is the end of Phil’s mid-morning show with requests and dedi...

This recording features programming from Magic 103, the short-lived easy-listening and talk-based experiment launched by Radio Nova in April 1985. Up first is Chris Barry and George Long (Henry O’Dono...

Sound Channel broadcast from Limerick City from 1986-1988, adding the tagline Power 98 in its final six months on air. This recording was made a short time before the station closed down for good at t...

Magic 103 (103.5 FM and 1521 kHz although AM was never announced on air) was set up by Radio Nova in 1985 and was one of many examples of Chris Cary’s innovation in splitting AM/FM services to expand ...

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 Su...

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 ...

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 R...

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 accomplishe...

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 w...

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"

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 mont...

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 parti...

This edition of Gerard Roe’s Free Radio Campaign (FRC) show on Radio Dublin Channel 2 from 1983 includes a recording of Olwen Dixon of Bray Local Broadcasting (BLB) outlining the philosophy of communi...

This is another Free Radio Campaign (FRC) programme presented by Gerard Roe on Radio Dublin Channel 2 in April 1983. The FRC includes a recording of the launch of Channel 2 two years previously in Apr...

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 ...

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 sp...

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 Saturda...

KISS FM (1982-1984) was one of several offshoots of the large Dublin pirate radio Nova. In this recording, Nova founder and boss Chris Cary is on air using the name Harry Cary. He is followed by Chris...

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 a...

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 Co...

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 Co...

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 a...

KISS FM (1982-1984) was one of several offshoots of the large Dublin pirate radio Nova. In this recording, Nova founder and boss Chris Cary is on air using the name Harry Cary. He is followed by Chris...

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 Saturda...

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 sp...

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 ...

This is another Free Radio Campaign (FRC) programme presented by Gerard Roe on Radio Dublin Channel 2 in April 1983. The FRC includes a recording of the launch of Channel 2 two years previously in Apr...

This edition of Gerard Roe’s Free Radio Campaign (FRC) show on Radio Dublin Channel 2 from 1983 includes a recording of Olwen Dixon of Bray Local Broadcasting (BLB) outlining the philosophy of communi...