From 10am on December 6th 1982 this is a recording of Boyneside Radio North off 1233kHz.
December
Smile FM December 4th 1988
The Anorak Show from Dublin pirate Smile FM from December 4th 1988. Rob Davis, Graham Turner and Eamonn Eliott broadcast the latest industry news and various clips.
The 94.3MHz recording of the local Ballyfermot station starts at 4pm.
Super Q December 10th 1988
Some output from Dublin superpirate Super Q off 102.1MHz from December 10th 1988. The first recording features Dave Kelly from 4.56pm…
…and the second recordiing has The Boy Wonder on evening duty from 7.07pm
Radio Nova December 17th 1988
This recording of Radio Nova’s satellite-delivered incarnation dates from December 17th 1988 and features the Bossman, Chris Cary, getting his hands dirty on the Nova Night Network.
Kiss FM December 17th 1988
Monaghan’s Kiss FM from December 1988 with Denis Murray on air from 3pm on 103.7MHz.
Liberty 104 December 18th 1988
Therese Fagan with her last show on Liberty 104 from December 18th prior to the mass closedowns at the end of 1988.
Recorded off 103.5MHz, we join the show at 1.22pm.
Pulsar 98 December 18th 1988
This is Pulsar 98, also identifying as sister station Community Radio Fingal, from December 18th 1988. This recording of the north Co Dublin pirate station was made off 98FM and features ‘Sharon’ on the air for her afternoon show.
Listen as it was broadcast
Listen to an airchecked version
Radio Retro: archiving Irish radio broadcasts since 2002
Breffni Regional Radio December 18th 1988
Felim Cox on air for Cavan’s Breffni Regional Radio on December 18th 1988. This recording, made a few days before pirate stations were due to close down permanently due to new legislation, starts at 2pm.
Pulsar 98 December 19th 1988
From December 19th 1988 this is ‘Gwen’ on the north Co Dublin pirate Pulsar 98, also identifying as sister station Community Radio Fingal. This recording was made off 98FM and begins just as the station returned from some unscheduled transmission downtime.
As broadcast
Airchecked version
Radio Retro: archiving Irish radio broadcasts since 2002
West National Radio 3 December 20th 1988
This is a morning time recording of West National Radio 3 from a few days before Christmas in 1988. It was made in the north-west of England off 702kHz.
First we hear from Ian Scott at 9am
Then it’s Derek Flood from 10am
Radio Retro: archiving Irish radio broadcasts in collaboration with DX Archive
Radio Snowflake
Seasonal Dublin pirate station Radio Snowflake from December 21st 1988 with David Baker on air.
This recording starts at 5.54pm.
RAIDIÓ LUIMNÍ December 23rd 1988
This recording, which is off 103FM, starts at 10.32am on December 23rd 1988 and features the one and only John Frawley on air for the last time on Raidió Luimní.
New legislation required all unlicensed stations to be off the air by the end of 1988.
RAIDIÓ LUIMNÍ December 24th 1988
The final moments of the long-running Limerick pirate station. This recording is off 103FM and starts at 00:55 on Christmas Eve. It features Alf de Lacy bidding the station’s listeners farewell for the final time.
New legislation required all unlicensed stations to be off the air by the end of 1988.
Radio Dublin December 25th 1988
From Christmas Day 1988 this is Radio Dublin with Shay West on the air from 11am.
11am Shay West
Radio Retro: archiving Irish radio broadcasts since 2002
This recording is courtesy of Ken Baird / DX Archive
Signal 106FM December 25th 1988
Christmas evening on the Dublin pirate radio station Signal 106FM in 1988. This recording starts at 6.50pm.
Capitol Radio December 27th 1988
From December 27th 1988 this is the last show from Tony Gahan on his alternative rock music station Capitol Radio.
The Dublin station was due to close for good just a few days later with the intoduction of new legislation outlawing pirates in Ireland.
Listen
Radio Retro: archiving Irish radio broadcasts in collaboration with Gary Hogg
Q102 December 29th 1988
Dave Kelly on air from 1.06am on Q102’s penultimate day of broadcasting on December 29th 1988. The station were due to switch off for good at 6pm the following day.
ABC Radio December 29th 1988
Photo: DXArchive
From December 29th 1988 this is programming from the final day of this Waterford giant before legislation enforced its – and all pirates – closure in December 1988.
We have Clive Derek from 11.07am. Then Kevin McCarthy and Dave Hunt bring us on a tour around the station’s studio location from midday.
11.07am – Clive Derek
Midday – Station Tour
1.35pm – Kevin McCarthy
With the station scheduled to switch off at 3pm, this is the final hour…
Closedown
Sunshine Radio December 29th 1988
From Sunshine Radio’s second last day of broadcast, this is a broadcast of a special ceremony at the station’s Baggot Street HQ.
Kiss FM December 30th 1988
This is the final day of broadcasting from Monaghan’s Kiss FM, who were forced to cease broadcasting with the introduction of new legislation at the end of December 1988.
The full day of live programming is included, running from 6am through to the closedown at 6pm.
Nick Richards at 6am
10am Owen Barry & Midday Denis Murray
Denis Murray with his final hour then Tom Hardy from 3pm to closedown
Photo: Robin Dee
Q102 December 30th 1988
This is the final day of broadcasting from the Dublin superpirate Q102 in December 1988. We start at 8.45am and have the full day leading up to the station’s closedown at 6pm – necessitated by the introduction of new laws outlawing pirate radio.
These recordings are off both AM and FM and feature pretty much everyone who was ever involved with the station in a broadcast full of reminiscing.
You can listen on an hour to hour basis or in two large blocks…
8.45am – 2.15pm
2.15pm – Closedown
8.45am Tim Kelly
9am Boy Wonder
11am Tony Dixon
12pm Liam Coburn
1pm Aidan Leonard
2pm Al Dunne
3pm Dave Kelly
4pm Henry Owens
5pm Martin Block
After Q102’s official closedown, the station reverted to non-stop continuous music. On some frequencies it went blank for a few minutes, on others the closedown song faded straight into U2.
WABC Radio December 30th 1988
The official closedown of WABC Radio with Paul Bentley and all the station staff on air on December 30th 1988.
The recording starts at 2.30pm.
Sunshine Radio December 30th 1988
This is ‘The Final Show’ from Dublin superpirate Sunshine Radio.
Newly introduced legislation required all unlicensed stations to vacate the airwaves at the end of 1988 or face huge fines and possible imprisonment.
Sunshine Radio scheduled their switch off for 6pm on December 30th and ran an all day special show looking back at the history of the station, year by year, from its launch in September 1980.
Paul Kavanagh was in the studio all day and many others came and went.
The main presenters were:-
Dusty Rhodes from 9am;
Mark Byrne from Midday;
Nails Mahoney and Justin McKenna from 4pm
The full day is included here and there are a couple of ways to listen – either by picking an hour (year) or in two large blocks.
9am-3pm
3pm – Closedown
Listen hour by hour…
08:45 Nails Mahoney
09:00 The Final Show 1980
10:00 The Final Show 1981
11:00 The Final Show 1982
12:00 The Final Show 1983
13:00 The Final Show 1984
14:00 The Final Show 1985
15:00 The Final Show 1986
16:00 The Final Show 1987
17:00 The Final Show 1988
Carlow Local Radio December 30th 1988
This is the final 15 minutes of Carlow Local Radio’s closedown from December 30th 1988. Scheduled to close at 3pm, the station overran a little and eventually ceased at 3.15pm.
Closedown
If you can help out with a longer version of this station’s closedown please get in touch or use the free service at wetransfer.com to send to recordings@radiowaves.fm
Radio Retro: archiving Irish radio broadcasts since 2002
Independent Radio Longford December 30th 1988
Independent Radio Longford , along with all other pirates, were forced to close down by new legislation at the end of 1988.
They opted to shut at 6pm on December 30th and this is their final three hours of broadcast.
Gerry Conboy
Mike McCartney
The final hour with Phil Farrell
Radio Retro: archiving Irish radio broadcasts since 2002
This feature was put together with the help of Michael Bermingham
Treble TR December 30th 1988
Aidan Cooney on the final day of transmission for one of Dublin’s popular pirates which, like many others, was forced to close at the end of 1988 due to new legislation. This recording starts at 5.06pm.
WLR December 30th 1988
This is the final 90 minutes of broadcasting from WLR (Waterford Local Radio) on December 30th 1988.
The recording is off 89.9MHz and starts at 4.35pm.
The station, along with all other pirates, was forced to close down thanks to new legislation.
Power 98 December 30th 1988
This is how Limerick pirate Power 98FM, formerly known as Soundchannel, closed down in December 1988 due to new broadcasting regulations.
Recorded off 98.7MHz, this recording starts at 5.45pm with Steve Phillips on air with Power Drive.
North Dublin Community Radio December 30th 1988
From December 30th 1988 this is a recording of the final broadcast from North Dublin Community Radio.
This Radio Retro and 1988 Closedowns recording is by kind courtesy of Dave O’Connor
Midway Radio December 30th 1988
Midway Radio, based in Mullingar, Co Westmeath, ceased broadcasting at 9pm on December 30th 1988. This is their final 15 minutes.
ERI December 30th 1988
This is a recording of the final three hours of broadcast from ERI. The Cork station ceased, along with all the others around the country, in order to comply with new legislation
We join Tony Magner for the last hour of his show before Mark Lawrence takes over at 10pm.
Radio Retro: archiving Irish Radio Recordings since 2002
Midwest Radio December 30th 1988
This is a selection of recordings from Mid West Radio’s final day broadcasting as a pirate radio station in Mayo on December 30th 1988. All unlicensed stations were required to vacate the airwaves if they wished to attain one of the new licences that the government were making available in 1989.
At 10am this is the final link from the morning show. This is followed by the first link from Paul Claffey’s show.
The final link from Paul Claffey’s show as he says goodbye to the listeners…
From 2.45pm this is the last 15 minutes of Gerry Glennon’s show…
From 3.05pm this is the first few minutes of Johnny Oosten’s show…
…and from 5pm this is the last link from Johnny Oosten
From 5.10pm this is the first link from Chris Carroll’s show
John Duggan on the final studio show
This is the final show from Midwest Radio time as a pirate station from December 30th 1988.
Radio Retro: archiving Irish Radio Recordings since 2002
Videos courtesy of Seán Browne – seanbrownevideo.ie
West National Radio 3 December 30th 1988
West National Radio 3, formerly Radio West, closed for good at 10pm on December 30th 1988.
Don Allen was on air to bid farewell to the station’s listeners in this recording off 702kHz which starts at 8.38pm.
KLFJ
Even Jesus couldn’t save some stations from having to close with all the other pirates in December 1988.
This west Cork-based pirate had launched at the start of the year and needed to close for good at the end of the year.
The recording starts at 10.04pm.
Hope FM
Religious station Hope FM’s last programme before closure. We join the recording off 104.4MHz at 10.16pm with the station due to be off air by midnight.
Breffni Regional Radio December 30th 1988
This is how Breffni Regional Radio in Cavan closed for the final time on December 30th 1988. New legislation forced all pirate stations in the state to be off the air by the start of 1989.
Both recordings are off 95.6MHz; the first starts at 10.25pm and runs into the second which starts at 11.05pm.
WKLR December 30th 1988
This is last orders from Cork pirate WKLR from December 30th 1988. With legislation requiring all pirate stations to vacate the airwaves by the start of 1989, WKLR held a marathon 30 hour outside broadcast.
This recording joins the broadcast at 11.11pm as it is coming to an end. The station were scheduled to go off the air at midnight.
Radio Retro: archiving Irish radio broadcasts since 2002
This recording is courtesy of DX Archive
Big M Radio December 30th 1988
This is the final three hours on air from Monaghan station Big M Community Radio – which decided to close at 11pm on December 30th 1988 to comply with a new broadcast bill.
Heartbeat FM December 30th 1988
Heartbeat FM, Dublin’s love songs station, closed in December 1988 because of the introduction of new laws with stiffer penalties than before.
This is their last programme on air from 10.44pm on December 30th.
Treble TR December 30th 1988
Dublin’s long-running country & Irish music pirate station closed for the last time at midnight on December 30th 1988 as a result of new legislation outlawing illegal broadcasting.
This recording is off 99.5MHz and starts at 11.40pm.
Kiss 106 December 30th 1988
This is a recording of the final minutes of Dublin station Kiss 106 as it closed for good on December 30th 1988.
This recording is by very kind courtesy of Eddie Bohan / Irish Broadcast Hall of Fame
Radio Retro: archiving Irish radio broadcasts since 2002
Smile FM December 30th 1988
Off 94.2MHz from the west Dublin area of Dublin, this is Smile FM’s final moments on air in December 1988.
They decided to close at midnight on the 30th to comply with a new broadcast bill.
Zee 103 December 30th 1988
This is the final show from Zee 103, the Co Louth border pirate. Noel McStay counts down to the station’s midnight closedown.
RadioFax
Radiofax were a new, experimental information radio station when legislation struck in December 1988. Desperately seeking a licence in the UK they used transmitters based in Drogheda, Co Louth to broadcast their programming all over Britain and Ireland, and beyond.
The Final Programme was a looped broadcast which first ran on December 28th, this is the final airing in the overnight hours of December 30th/31st when the transmitters were switched off.
K.I.T.S. December 31st 1988
From the final day of broadcast for all of Ireland’s pirate stations in 1988 before new legislation kicked in, this is the last six hours on air from K.I.T.S., based in Monaghan.
Boyneside Radio December 31st 1988
From Boyneside Radio’s last day on air, this is the final Green Scene for the station with presenter Heady Eddie.
The programme starts at 10am on December 31st 1988.
Listen, as broadcast
Listen, airchecked
Boyneside Radio’s final two hours on the air in Drogheda in 1988 took the form of a programme called ‘Boyneside Radio Saying Goodbye’, with a full history of the station.
We join it right at the start at 1pm on December 31st .
Eddie Caffrey: Hasn’t changed much if you listen in now! Lol I remember that day well as we followed the Green Scene with a closedown show, and after a few drinks (you could then) in the Trinity Arms went around to turn off the AM at the Rossnaree Hotel and the two FMs at Fieldstown Hill, Monasterboice, and that night played records in the Lemon and Clove, Ardee and then later at Julianstown, Co Meath…what was I thinking!
Radio Retro: archiving Irish radio broadcasts in collaboration with Gary Hogg
Telstar Community Radio December 31st 1988
This is the final 90 minutes on the air for Telstar Community Radio, the Dundalk, Co Louth pirate station which was forced to close at the end of 1988 due to new legislation.
Westside Radio International December 31st 1988
The final programme from Prince Terry and Gary Lewis on the Dublin-based shortwave pirate Westside Radio International from December 31st 1988.
Scheduled to close at 1pm due to the new Wireless & Telegraphy Act, which outlawed pirate stations in Ireland, the pair say their final goodbyes to their audience at home and abroad in this recording off 6280kHz which starts at midday.
Boyneside Radio [North] December 31st 1988
Cavan Community Radio December 31st 1988
The final 90 minutes or so from the Cavan pirate before legislation forced it, and all other unlicensed stations, off the air at the end of 1988.
Cavan Community had been on air since 1983 and their country and pop music mix proved very popular. On December 31st it was all coming to an end as we tune in from 1.36pm on 819kHz.
Rainbow Radio December 31st 1988
Rainbow Radio’s final programme with Fiddlin’ Tom Cameron on the air in the border area of Carrickcarnon in Co Louth on December 31st 1988.
Recorded off 1152kHz, we join the programme at 1.42pm.
Boyneside Radio Navan December 31st 1988
This is the final 30 minutes from this Boyneside Radio opt-out service in Co Meath. Tina Anderson says her farewells to the local audience.
Radio Retro: archiving Irish radio recordings in collaboration with Gary Hogg
Independent Radio Limerick December 31st 1988
Grab your transmitter, pop around to your mates and stick it on air and proceed to broadcast to the city for the day. Unlicensed radio pre-1988 wasn’t quite that simple but sometimes it felt like it was, and then at other times – like in the case of this special once off broadcast – it was actual.
IRL was a chance for some broadcasting mates to get together, play some music, and reminisce. Involved were Francis Jones, Barry Sullivan, Ger Watson plus others.
The ‘station’ came on air at midday but we join the broadcast at 5.30pm, as they look to finish around 6.30pm.
KTOK Radio December 30th 1988
This is the final 15 minutes of KTOK Radio’s closedown from December 31st 1988. Scheduled to close at 4pm, this is the final 15 minutes with Russ Padmore.
Closedown
Radio Retro: archiving Irish radio broadcasts since 2002
Radio Dublin December 31st 1988
Radio Dublin on the final day of broadcasting for the country’s pirates in December 1988. This recording, from a chaotic-sounding studio, is off 105.3MHz and starts at 4.32pm.
Class Radio December 31st 1988
From the final day on air at the end of December 1988, this is Class Radio, the easy listening station for Dublin.
The last two hours with John May which started at 6pm is below. An assortment of guests reminisce about the station leading up to the switch off at 8pm.
Before that we have David Baker between 5pm and 5.30pm with a history of the station.
David Baker from 5pm
John May from 6pm
Radio Retro – archiving Irish Radio broadcasts since 2002
Twin County Radio December 31st 1988
Broadcasting from Ballina, Co Mayo, Twin Counties Radio, or TCR, was a short-lived station not on air long when the axe fell on the nation’s pirates at the end of 1988.
It had a powerful FM signal designed to cover both Mayo and Sligo, hence the name.
This recording starts at 5.30pm on December 31st and leads to the station leaving the airwaves for good.
Erneside Radio December 31st 1988
Here’s a few recordings from December 31st 1988, Erneside Radio’s last day of broadcasting before closing to comply with a new broadcasting bill.
Recorded off 1251kHz, from 9.40am we have Larry Burns who’s followed by Lynsey Shelbourne from just after 10am. Pio McCann takes over at 1pm.
There’s also the final hour of programming from 7pm recorded off 97.8MHz.
Larry Burns
Lynsey Shelbourne
Pio McCann
The final hour from 7pm
Roscommon Community Radio December 31st 1988
This is the last show from Roscommon Community Radio, who were based in Elphin. The station were forced to cease broadcasting at the end of 1988 due to new legislation.
Starting at 10.32pm on December 31st, the recording features Michael Bermingham charged with the task of closing the station.
Capitol Radio December 31st 1988
The last show from Capitol Radio, Dublin’s alternative station, from December 31st 1988.
Starting at 10.35pm, the recording features the station getting ready to close for good.
Coast 103 December 31st 1988
This is the final 80 minutes from Galway’s Coast 103. The station closed at midnight on December 31st 1988 to comply with new legislation outlawing the country’s pirates.
Radio Retro: archiving Irish radio broadcasts since 2002
KFM Galway County Radio December 31st 1988
This is Shane Keating with the final 80 minutes from KFM Galway County Radio from December 31st 1988. The recording is off 95FM and starts at 10.40pm.
Independent Radio Mayo December 31st 1988
Independent Radio Mayo’s final minutes on air as a new law came into force outlawing pirate stations.
From December 31st 1988 this is Andrew Ryan on air saying goodbye to the station’s listeners. The recording starts at 10.42pm
County Sound FM December 31st 1988
The final broadcast from County Sound in Galway, recorded off 101.0MHz on December 31st 1988.
Station manager Benen Tierney is on air with Tommy Kelly, and a few guests, to see out the old station and welcome in the new year – with silence.
South West Radio December 31st 1988
From December 31st 1988 this is the final 75 minutes from Kerry station South West Radio as they close down before new legislation outlaws pirate stations.
South Coast Radio
The final broadcast from South Coast Radio, formerly known as WBEN. They ceased broadcasting at the end of 1988 in the hopes of securing one of the new licences on offer.
We join the proceedings at 10.50pm with station owner Romano Macari taking calls from listeners.
Radio North December 31st 1988
Broadcasting from Carndonagh in Co Donegal, Radio North had been on air for two years when new legislation was introduced forcing all pirates off the air at the end of 1988.
Scheduled to close at midnight on December 31st, this recording off 97.9MHz starts during their final show with Mickey Henry at 11.04pm.
Community Radio Wexford December 31st 1988
With just one hour to go before a new law forces them off the air, Community Radio Wexford chose to broadcast a mass service.
Leading into the Mass broadcast, station manager John O’Connor had this to say from 11.04pm…
Following Mass, at 11.41pm station owner Dominic Kiernan, who was a local Councillor and many times Mayor, brought the station to a close…
This Radio Retro presentation is with thanks to Brian Cleary
Premier County Radio December 31st 1988
The last 30 minutes from Premier County Radio, who were based in Clonmel, Co Tipperary.
This recording starts at 11.30pm on December 31st 1988 with the station due to go off the air at 12 midnight to comply with new legislation.
Roscommon Radio December 31st 1988
This is Roscommon Radio’s last minutes on air from December 31st 1988. Based in Elphin, the station were forced to cease broadcasting at the end of 1988 due to new legislation. Alan Hanley presents.
Radio Retro: archiving Irish radio broadcasts since 2002
This recording is with thanks to Michael Bermingham
NWCR
North West Community Radio
Donegal pirate North West Community Radio from December 31st 1988
The last few minutes from North West Community Radio, who were based in Buncrana, Co Donegal.
We join Mary Gallagher on air at 11.45pm with the station due to switch off at 12 midnight to comply with new legislation.
Laois Community Radio
The last few minutes from Laois Community Radio, who were based in Mountrath.
The (slightly edited) recording starts at 11.45pm with the station due to go off the air at 12 midnight to comply with new legislation.
A.M.S. December 31st 1988
Broadcasting from Kilkenny, A.M.S. was one of the shorter-lived stations on air who were forced to shut down when new legislation was introduced at the end of 1988.
They were scheduled to close at midnight on December 31st, and this recording joins them on 98.6MHz at 11.50pm for their final few minutes.
CBC Radio December 31st 1988
Tipperary’s CBC Radio ceased broadcasting at midnight on December 31st 1988 in order to comply with new legislation introducing huge fines and the threat of imprisonment for anybody still broadcasting from January 31st.
This is their final hour.
Radio Retro: archiving Irish radio broadcasts since 2002
This recording is by kind courtesy of Jonathan Ryan
Signal 106FM December 30th 1988
Signal 106FM’s final night of broadcast as they close at the end of December 1988 in line with the introduction of a new broadcast act.
Note, these recordings have been transferred from cassette and quality is not so great in parts but we’ve included it all for historical completion…
First of all, from 6.30pm, we hear from Garv Rigby
From 7pm, this is Benny Ryan…
At 8pm, Graham Turner takes over…
Station owner Mike Ormonde is on from 10pm…
And this is the final hour to closedown…
This recording is with huge thanks to Mike Ormonde
Radio Retro: archiving Irish radio broadcasts since 2002