Reception issues for the Athlone station reported in the Irish Independent.
1916-2000
Limerick
A number of newspapers report that a pirate station has been heard in Limerick
Limerick Station On Air
A pirate station in Limerick was on air today according to The Irish Press
Limerick Station Announces Intentions
A pirate station in Limerick today announced that it was established for the purposes of disseminating Republican Army propaganda according to The Irish Independent
Transmitter Seized in Limerick
A transmitter was seized in Limerick today according to The Irish Independent
Pirate Heard in Waterford
A pirate had been heard over the previous few nights between 7.15pm and 7.45pm, according to The Irish Independent. The station broadcast gramophone records on 400metres.
Irish Freedom Radio
Irish Freedom Radio were heard on air at around midday on this day, Easter Sunday, on 209metres in Dublin
Irish Freedom Radio
Regular broadcasts from Irish Freedom Radio heard in Dublin on 209metres
Irish Freedom Radio
Irish Freedom Radio on air for around ten minutes on 209metres in Dublin
Ministry Warns Radio Pirates
Ministry Warns Radio Pirates is a headline on page 2 of The Leitrim Observer.
A new station operated by schoolboys had appeared in Dublin using the name of Radio Atlantis and operating daily from 11.30pm until midnight thirty.
Tap here to read
Timeline: Resistance Radio
Resistance Radio was a headline from The Irish Independent from January 5th 1972
Irish Independent – January 5th 1972
Timeline: Priest’s Plea for Pirate Radio Station
Priest’s Plea for Pirate Radio Station was a headline from The Ulster Herald from January 6th 1973
Ulster Herald – January 6th 1973
Timeline: Post Office official heard his name on ‘pirate’ broadcast
Post Office official heard his name on ‘pirate’ broadcast was a headline from The Evening Herald from February 7th 1973
Evening Herald – February 7th 1973
Radio in Kerry
February 16th 1979
August 1975
2nd Following a few weeks of tests Capitol Radio launched on 220metres in Dublin.
December 1975
21st Dublin pirate Capitol Radio was raided on this day.
28th Capitol Radio were back on air for a spell today in order to explain the events of last week to their listeners and to say a proper goodbye, promising that they would be back soon.
Timeline: Sylvia on Sunday
Sylvia on Sunday was a headline from The Sunday Independent dated July 3rd 1977.
Sunday Independent – July 3rd 1977
Timeline: Behind the scenes at Radio Dublin
Behind the scenes at Radio Dublin was a headline from The Evening Press dated January 16th 1978.
Evening Press – January 16th 1978
Timeline: Pirate stays on the air
Pirate stays on the air is a headline from The Irish Press from February 2nd 1989.
Irish Press – February 2nd 1989
April 1978
15th Independent Radio Galway launch on 199metres.
Radio Borderside
The Evening Herald reported on a new station called Radio Borderside which was due to launch in June.
Galway Pirates
A report in The Connacht Telegraph reports on pirate activity in Galway, and the planned launch of two new pirates in particular.
Kerry Pirates
A report in The Kerryman suggests two pirate stations are about to launch in Kerry. Kerry Broadcasting Company are due on this weekend and Radio Tralee in August.
Kerry Broadcasting Company
The Kingdom’s first ever pirate Kerry Broadcasting Company launched today on 190m.
July 3rd 1978
The Irish Independent (wrongly) reports that Kerry Broadcasting Company did not appear on the air yesterday and that Radio Tralee is due on within three weeks.
July 7th 1978
The Kerryman confirms that Kerry Broadcasting Company launched last Sunday.
July 16th 1978
Radio Tralee launches in Kerry.
July 1978
27th: Capitol Radio Limerick was raided and closed down by officials of the Dept of Posts and Telegraphs and Gardaí.
28th: Limerick pirate radio station Big L was raided and closed down by officials of the Dept of Posts and Telegraphs and Gardaí.
August 1978
November 1978
Radio Tralee Community
The Kerryman reports that Radio Tralee Community (RTC) are testing a new £7,000 transmitter and plan to change their name to Kerry Community Radio.
Radio Tralee Community
The Kerryman reports that Radio Tralee Community‘s (RTC) plans for expansion and a name change have been held up.
Timeline: Pirate Halts in Hope of Licence
Pirate Halts in Hope of Licence was a headline from The Irish Independent from January 5th 1979
Irish Independent – January 5th 1979
Timeline: Tactical Silence by Radio Pirates
Tactical Silence by Radio Pirates was a headline from The Evening Press from January 5th 1979
Evening Press – January 5th 1979
Timeline: Hopeful Pirate
Hopeful Pirate was a headline from The Evening Echo from January 5th 1979
Evening Echo – January 5th 1979
Timeline: Big L The last of the Pirates
Big L The last of the Pirates was a headline from The Limerick Leader from January 6th 1979
Limerick Leader – January 6th 1979
Kerry Community Radio
The Kerryman reports that three KCR presenters were sacked for refusing to work extra hours for no extra pay.
ORTC
New station to launch in Kerry according to The Kerryman
Downtown Radio Tralee
A new Kerry-based station with the name Downtown Radio Tralee had all their equipment stolen according to a report in The Irish Independent
Downtown Radio Tralee
Downtown Radio Tralee plan to return to air in the coming days
Downtown Radio Tralee
Downtown Radio Tralee tell The Kerryman they will be back at the weekend
Kerry Pirates Raided
Both Kerry Pirates, Kerry Community Radio and Downtown Radio Tralee, are raided.
Kerry Pirates Raided
Downtown Radio Tralee criticise Kerry Community Radio for not warning them about a raid
July 1979
28th: Independent Radio Galway close, citing lack of advertising revenue.
RTÉ initiative launches in Mayo
RTÉ’s attempts to show the viability of a local radio network in Ireland continues with the launch of RTÉ Community Radio West in Ballina, Co Mayo.
March 1982
March 2nd: ABC Radio launched at 12 noon on this day in Waterford.
April 1982
April 11th 1982
A new studio for the Mayo Gaeltacht was given the green light today on the tenth anniversary of the launch of Raidió na Gaeltachta.
May 1982
May 3rd 1982
Radio City in Dublin goes off air in order to move studio location.
May 7th 1982
Dublin’s Radio City return to air.
May 26th 1982
Radio Nova announce that they plan to launch Breakfast TV within the next three months.
June 1982
June 10th 1982
Capital Dublin appears on test on 98.3MHz.
June 27th 1982
Capital Dublin launches with Tony Allan hosting a programme.
June 28th 1982
RTÉ launch a jamming campaign against Radio Nova from a redundant building in Rathmines.
Timeline: Pirates Laughing at the Law
Pirates Laughing at the Law was a headline from The Evening Echo from January 5th 1983
Evening Echo – January 5th 1983
Timeline: RTÉ Advert ‘Pirated by Radio Station’
RTÉ Advert ‘Pirated by Radio Station’ was a newspaper headline from The Irish Press dates January 7th 1983
Irish Press – January 7th 1983
Timeline: Radio Leinster
Today’s Evening Herald reports on internal problems at Dublin-based pirate Radio Leinster.
Glasnevin Community Radio Launch
RTÉ today launched Glasnevin Community Radio on 202m MW.
Atlantic Sound
The Galway Advertiser reports on a new station in Galway – Atlantic Sound
Timeline: Atlantic Sound
The Connacht Tribune reports on poor reception for RTÉ Radio in Galway allegedly caused by Atlantic Sound
Connacht Tribune – March 2nd 1984
Annabel Close Temporarily
Radio Annabel close for scheduled engineering work to make technical adjustments to their FM and AM signals. Their planned return was Monday August 6th at 7am.
Radio Annabel cease broadcasting
Dublin’s Radio Annabel ceased broadcasting on this day.
WABC testing
Test transmissions appeared in Dublin from a station calling itself WABC. They emanate from the studios of Radio Annabel, which closed down yesterday.
WABC tests cease
WABC tests, on air in Dublin since October 29th, have ceased. The station was set to be a possible revamp of Radio Annabel but when station personnel met yesterday, they contacted management with a view to a relaunch. Management agreed.
The ‘New’ Annabel tests in Dublin
Tests for the’new’ Radio Annabel launch on 1323kHz with promotional materials airing on a loop.
The All New Radio Annabel is on air
Dublin’s Radio Annabel returned to air under new management on 88.0MHz and 1323kHz. Al Dunne opened the new era at 6pm from newly-refurbished studios.
Timeline: Gaelic radio to have Patrick’s Day debut
Gaelic radio to have Patrick’s Day debut was a newspaper headline from The Belfast Telegraph dated March 12th 1985
Belfast Telegraph – March 12th 1985
Timeline: Dublin Traffic Chopper Unjams the Air Waves
Dublin Traffic Chopper Unjams the Air Waves was a newspaper headline from The Evening Press dated January 7th 1986
Evening Press – January 7th 1986
Timeline: Pirate chief shocked by raid
Pirate chief shocked by raid was a newspaper headline from The Evening Herald dated January 20th 1986
Evening Herald – January 20th 1986
Unidentified Tests
Unidentified non-stop music tests appeared in Dublin on this day on 103.1MHz and 738kHz.
Energy 103
Unidentified non-stop music tests re-appeared in Dublin on this day, again on 738kHz but with a slight FM frequency shift to 103.0MHz. After a couple of hours, a presenter ident confirmed that Richard Jackson was on air and a few minutes later he confirmed that this was a new station for Dublin, Energy 103.
Pirates
A full-page article in the Evening Herald examines the business side of pirate radio.
Evening Herald – May 29th 1986
Timeline: Opening Up the Airwaves
Opening Up the Airwaves was a newspaper headline from January 6th 1988
January 6th 1988
Timeline: Pirates Put RTÉ Radio in a Spot
Pirates Put RTÉ Radio in a Spot was a newspaper headline from The Irish Independent dated January 7th 1988
Irish Independent – January 7th 1988
Raidió Luimní Has Ceased
Raidió Luimni closed this evening to comply with new legislation. Alf de Lacy said a heartfelt goodbye to the station’s listeners.
ABC Radio in Waterford is Gone
ABC The Hot FM is off air in Waterford. It fell silent at 3pm to comply with new legislation.
Timeline: Presenter Dies on Broadcast
Presenter Dies on Broadcast is a headline from The Cork Examiner dated January 3rd 1989.
Cork Examiner – January 3rd 1989
Timeline: Pirate Cooke Defiant
Pirate Cooke Defiant is a headline from The Irish Press from January 3rd 1989.
Irish Press – January 3rd 1989
Timeline: Lone Pirate is Warned
Lone Pirate is Warned is a headline from The Irish Independent from January 3rd 1989.
Irish Independent – January 3rd 1989
Timeline: Pirate Stations to Seek Licence
Pirate Stations to Seek Licence is a headline from The Belfast Telegraph dated January 3rd 1989.
Belfast Telegraph – January 3rd 1989
Timeline: Sudden Death
Sudden Death is a headline from The Evening Echo from January 3rd 1989.
Evening Echo – January 3rd 1989
Timeline: Captain Cooke Walks the Plank
Captain Cooke Walks the Plank is a headline from The Irish Press from January 5th 1989.
Irish Independent – January 5th 1989
Timeline: Pirate Chief is Still Defiant
Pirate Chief is Still Defiant is a headline from The Evening Herald from January 5th 1989.
Evening Herald – January 5th 1989
Timeline: Heffo and Wogan in Radio Bid
Heffo and Wogan in Radio Bid is a headline from The Evening Herald from January 6th 1989.
Evening Herald – January 6th 1989
Timeline: Defiant Pirates Go Back on the Air Today
Defiant Pirates Go Back on the Air Today is a headline from The Irish Press from January 9th 1989.
Irish Press – January 9th 1989
Timeline: Pirate Cooke Dodges Radio Ad Ban
Pirate Cooke Dodges Radio Ad Ban is a headline from The Evening Herald from January 9th 1989.
Evening Herald – January 9th 1989
Timeline: Minister worried as pirate stays on air
Minister worried as pirate stays on air is a headline from The Irish Press from January 31st 1989.
Irish Press – January 31st 1989
July 1989
20th Capital Radio, the first licensed independent station, launched to Dublin on 104.4MHz.
24th Mid West Radio returned to air in Mayo as a licensed service.
August 1989
18th: Radio West, the new licensed service for Galway launched on this day.
September 1989
4th Ireland’s first national licensed commercial station arrived on air at 8am on this day. The station was officially launched by the Minister for Communications and Justice, Ray Burke, and the first voice heard was Terry Wogan, who was also an investor.
April 1990
15th Tipp Mid West Radio launched on this day.
Timeline: Lament for Fab 208
Lament for Fab 208 is a headline from The Sunday Independent from January 5th 1992.
Sunday Independent – January 5th 1992
Timeline: Power FM
Power FM is a headline from The Connaught Telegraph from January 11th 1995.
Connaught Telegraph – January 11th 1995
ABC FM Launches to Dublin
A new station is on in Dublin. Broadcasting automated output from the city centre, ABC FM is on both 88FM and 94.2FM
March 1997
17th Radio Ireland, the long-awaited replacement for Century Radio, launched on this day.
Timeline: Woodstock
Woodstock is a headline from The Limerick Chronicle from January 5th 1999.
Limerick Chronicle – January 5th 1999
