This is a recording of Big Brother Radio from January 1st 1981. The clip is off 88.65MHz and features Philip Lee on air from 4.25pm.
Big Brother Radio station page
Radio Retro – archiving Irish Radio broadcasts in collaboration with Ken Baird / DX Archive
From January 29th 1981 this is Sunshine Radio from just before 9am.
In this recording of the Dublin station, we hear the final link from Peter Madison before Robbie Dale starts his 9am show.
Adrian Horsman reads the News.
Robbie Dale
This recording is with thanks to Chris Ridley
Radio Retro – archiving Irish Radio broadcasts since 2002
This is a recording of Radio 257 from March 25th 1981 with Tony King on the air from 6pm.
Radio Retro – archiving Irish Radio broadcasts in collaboration with Ian Biggar
This is a recording of the Swords-based K.E.L.O. Radio from March 26th 1981. Starting at 2pm, John Clarke is on air for the north Co Dublin station.
John Clarke:
“Thank God it wasn’t 40 years ago (but almost, you do the sums) great little station, fun, exciting, free flow radio – and dare I say the humble beginnings of a “clutter-free format“ with a wide selection of music – where the waffle & the egos were barred from the studio – just great to be part of it.”
Barry Flynn:
“Hadn’t heard that before. Jaysus, even way back then, Clarke was the master of the jingles/inserts etc.”
Radio Retro – archiving Irish Radio broadcasts in collaboration with Ian Biggar
From March 26th 1981 this is David Lyons on air for Radio 257 from 3pm.
Radio Retro – archiving Irish Radio broadcasts in collaboration with Ian Biggar
From April 15th 1981 this is a recording of Colm Hayes on KELO, the north co Dublin pirate starting at 3.55pm. It was recorded off 1233kHz.
Radio Retro – archiving Irish Radio broadcasts in collaboration with Ian Biggar
This is a short sample of the Stardiscs Top 10 Show with John Ryan on Big L Radio Limerick from April 17th 1981.
This is a short sample of Disco Dominic on Big L Radio Limerick from late night on April 17th 1981.
This Radio Retro recording is by kind courtesy of Michael Richardson
Recorded off 7350kHz on shortwave, this is North West Radio from Charlestown, Co Mayo. Graham Paul is on the air from 1pm on May 28th 1981.
Radio Retro: archiving Irish radio broadcasts since 2002
This recording has been added to the Irish Radio Recordings Archive with thanks to Ian Biggar
Test transmissions from the FM only Dublin station Radio Nova. We don’t have an exact date but the tests ran in the first half of June 1981 on 88.1MHz.
This is a recording of Limerick’s Big L and Mike Richardson’s Breakfast Show from 7.20am on July 9th 1981.
As you’re listening you are invited to visit the Big L Station Page and if you can add to the history (factually or anecdotally) or if there’s anything else you can contribute such as photos or recordings, please get in touch.
This Radio Retro recording is by kind courtesy of Michael Richardson
From July 19th 1981 this is a recording of Radio Caroline Cork, the long-running unlicensed station.
This sample was recorded off 98.8MHz FM and it starts just as John O’Mahony is finishing up his show before Paul Curtis takes over at 2pm.
Radio Caroline Cork station page
With thanks to Ken Baird / DX Archive
Radio Retro: archiving Irish Radio broadcasts since 2002
This is an early recording of Radio Nova, Dublin’s best-known station. Mike Edgar is on air on July 30th 1981 from 3.30pm with Peter Madison reading the news.
Radio Retro: archiving Irish radio recordings in collaboration with DX Archive
This is a snippet of an Éamon O’Connor Show interview with Jim O’Carroll on the Limerick pirate radio station Big L from August 10th 1981.
This Radio Retro recording is by kind courtesy of Michael Richardson
This is Radio Nova recorded off 88.2MHz FM from August 13th 1981.
First we hear from Jason Maine from 5.38pm with Peter Madison reading the news.
Later in the evening Mike Edgar (and The Midnight Cowboy) are on air from 11.40pm.
Radio Retro: archiving Irish radio broadcasts in collaboration with DX Archive
From August 14th 1981, this is a recording of Paul Kavanagh on the Afternoon Show on Radio City, the Dublin pirate station.
Taken from 1165kHz, it starts at 3.38pm.
Radio Retro: archiving Irish radio broadcasts in collaboration with Gary Hogg
This is a recording of Radio Nova off 88.2MHz FM from August 15th 1981. The record and play & stop buttons were hit at various points across the day by a touring party from the DX Archive site.
First, we hear from John Clarke and Terry Riley on air from 8.44am.
Next, from 12.30pm, there’s more from John Clarke, along with Hugh O’Brien and Terry Riley.
Radio Retro: archiving Irish radio recordings in collaboration with DX Archive
This is a rare recording of Athlone-based pirate station Radio Carol-Ann from August 1981.
The presenter is Mark Anthony, who identifies the station by the name Radio Carol-Ann, whereas idents give a station name of Midland Radio.
The banner seen here was at the entrance to the station.
The recording was made by the radio station touring lads of the DX Archive site, who stumbled upon Radio Carol-Ann by accident whilst travelling around.
So, thanks to them for both the recording and for these photographs which were taken whilst the recording was being made!
Starting at 3.20pm (with a few edits at the start) this is Mark Anthony on the air – and the picture on the left was taken during this show.
Mark later went on to start the pirate station Signal 102 in 1986, which was also in Ahlone, and lasted until 1988, and also to work for Midlands Radio 3 in the licensed era in the 1990s.
Jimmy Dean followed Mark at 5.30pm
This Radio Retro recording is presented by kind courtesy of DX Archive
From August 16th 1981 this is some late-night music programming from Big L in Limerick.
This Radio Retro recording is by kind courtesy of Gary Hogg & Ken Baird (DX Archive)
This is Mike Donovan on Kerry Local Radio from August 17th 1981.
This recording was made by the touring DX Archive party, who failed to locate the station so unfortunately there’s no photos.
You can listen to the recording; and below there’s a link to the DX Archive account of that part of their tour.
DX Archive 1981 tour – Kerry Local Radio
As you’re listening you are invited to visit the Kerry Local Radio station page and if you can add to the history (factually or anecdotally) or if there’s anything else you can contribute such as photos or recordings, please get in touch.
This Radio Retro recording is by kind courtesy of Ian Biggar
From August 17th 1981 this is Radio City from Cork, recorded off 95.5MHz.
We’re looking for an ID on the first presenter; he’s followed by Carl Johnson from just after 5pm.
Radio Retro – archiving Irish Radio broadcasts in collaboration with Gary Hogg
This is a recording of Capital Radio from Cork on 1305kHz, dated August 17th 1981 and starting at 5.46pm.
Radio Retro – archiving Irish Radio broadcasts in collaboration with Gary Hogg
This is a recording of the Cork station Community Radio Youghal from August 18th 1981. Starting at 12.10pm, Eileen Connolly is on air and she’s followed by ‘Lunchtime with Seán Healey’ at 12.30pm.
Radio Retro – archiving Irish Radio broadcasts in collaboration with Gary Hogg
This is a recording of Kildare Community Radio, who were based in Naas. We first hear from ‘Niamh’, who is followed by ‘Adrian’ on either side of the 5pm news and community notices on August 19th 1981.
‘Niamh’, followed by ‘Adrian’
Radio Retro: archiving Irish Radio Recordings since 2002
This Kildare Community Radio recording is by kind courtesy of Ken Baird / DX Archive
This is a recording from the day Radio Nova launched their medium wave transmitter on 846kHz following months of FM only broadcasts. John Clarke is on air on Saturday, September 12th 1981 from 8.50am.
This recording is by kind courtesy of Ken Baird / DX Archive
Radio Retro: archiving Irish radio broadcasts since 2002
From October 15th 1981 this is the Boss, Chris Cary on Radio Nova in Dublin.
This Sunday afternoon broadcast was recorded off 88.2MHz from 3.30pm.
Pete Moss reads the News.
Radio Retro: archiving Irish radio broadcasts in collaboration with DX Archive
This is a recording of Colm Hayes on Radio Nova, recorded off 846kHz, on October 19th 1981. Starting at 4pm, Sybil Fennell is also featured for the Dublin station.
Radio Retro: archiving Irish radio broadcasts since 2002
From October 21st 1981 this is Mike Richardson (pictured) on the Limerick pirate radio station Big L.
This Breakfast show recording starts at 7.30am.
This Radio Retro recording is by kind courtesy of Michael Richardson
This is Chris Cary on Radio Nova from Dublin. The recording is off 846kHz and starts at 7.30am on Wednesday, November 25th 1981.
Terry Riley reads the News.
Radio Retro: archiving Irish radio broadcasts in collaboration with DX Archive
From November 1981 this is a recording of Big L Radio Limerick’s Roundtable programme with Keith Knowles, Mike Howes and Eoin Devereaux discussing new music record releases.
This Radio Retro recording is by kind courtesy of Michael Richardson
From December 3rd 1981 this is a recording of Tony Fenton (right) on Dublin pirate Radio Nova starting from 8.30am.
Terry Riley reads the News and reacts to the latest government plans for pirate radio.
Radio Retro: archiving Irish radio broadcasts in collaboration with DX Archive
This is a Christmas Eve recording of Radio Nova off 846kHz. We join Tony Fenton in the hot seat from 5.50pm.
Radio Retro: archiving Irish radio recordings since 2002
Christmas Eve 1981 on Radio Nova in Dublin with Chris Cary from 12.50pm.
Chris is followed at 2pm by Terry Riley.
This recording was made off 846kHz.
Chris Cary
Terry Riley
Radio Retro: archiving Irish radio recordings in collaboration with DX Archive
From August 1987 this is Signal 102 from Athlone in Co Westmeath. Jason Ross is on the air from 3.09pm.
Radio Retro: archiving Irish radio broadcasts since 2002
This recording is by kind courtesy of Jess Codd
This is Community Radio Youghal from December 31st 1988, the final day of broadcasting as a pirate station. The recording starts at 1.25pm.
Radio Retro: archiving Irish Radio broadcasts since 2002
This recording is thanks to Ronan Walsh via DX Archive