That’s Pirate Radio Part 1 – Radio Dublin 253
June 5, 2007 at 11:30 pm 23 comments
This is the first post in a series about a bizarre decade in Dublin – the pirate radio era from Radio Dublin, A.R.D. and Big D in the 1970s to Sunshine, Nova and Q102 in the 1980s. It was a craze without rules, where anyone with enough nerve and a half-decent record collection could make up an exotic ‘DJ name’ and defy the law.
During my final years in secondary school, I started listening to crackly signals from Radio Dublin on my new portable radio. I soon joined thousands of teens in a protest march, calling for the pirates to be legalised. Then I started visiting Radio Dublin, at first answering the phone and taking requests. >>>
Aidan Jay
For an hour every Sunday evening my friend Aidan Cooney became ‘Aidan Jay’ and ruled the capital’s airwaves from Studio One of Radio Dublin 253. Well, okay then, from the front room of a small terraced house in Inchicore, with the carpet and wallpaper heavily patterned in high-quality kitsch.
Aidan sat facing a microphone, a mixer, two vinyl record decks and a net-curtained window looking onto the front garden. There was a cassette tape deck to his right for playing ads; and to his left a domestic fireplace and a chipped statuette of Jesus, presumably to protect us from evil.
758684
The transmitter was hidden in an upstairs bedroom, and the aerial was on a large pole in the back garden. As Aidan played the music, I sat in a cramped back room scribbling down requests phoned in, mainly by giggly schoolgirls, to 758684.
We were protected from police raids by a CCTV system at the front door, a reinforced steel door inside, and the fact that the only policeman I ever saw near the station wanted a request played for his girlfriend Deborah.
Entry filed under: Culture, Favourites, Most Discussed. Tags: .
1.
John | June 6, 2007 at 8:25 am
Is Aidan Cooney from Radio Dublin Aidan Cooney from TV3?
2.
Michael Nugent | June 6, 2007 at 9:11 am
He is indeed a younger model of the same gentleman.
3.
Twenty Major | June 6, 2007 at 11:28 am
Cool, looking forward to the rest of these posts. Were there two houses in Inchicore because when I used to work there I seem to remember it as quite big?
4.
Michael Nugent | June 6, 2007 at 2:14 pm
Yes, the original one was 3 Sarsfield Road, which was Cooke’s domestic house (well, more like a domestic house after a visit from the A-Team). He had to move in the late seventies when a neighbour took out an injunction against the station. He first moved a few doors down the road, then ended up on Inchicore Road.
5.
Paige Harrison | June 6, 2007 at 10:49 pm
Two things I loved about Radio Dublin.
(a) How they used to cue up a record (kids, ask your Dad) then turn on the turn table. The sound of Otis Redding singing from a standing start would make you think it was going to be a song by Philomena Begley (ask your mum).
(b) For the six o’clock news, they’d formally announce that they were going over to their news room. You then heard a man turn the radio dial over to RTE Radio 1. The one minute angelus delay was so useful!
Memories….
Paige
6.
Michael Nugent | June 7, 2007 at 7:41 am
What still sticks in my mind is the jingle -
I like it, I like it, I like it, I like it…
We’ve got the sounds
You want to listen to
Don’t mess around, it’s got to be
Hang in
To Dublin Radio
Tune in, 253
7.
Twenty Major | June 7, 2007 at 11:48 am
Man, it was a really strange place.
http://twentymajor.net/2007/03/01/its-funny-the-people-you-know/
8.
Michael Nugent | June 7, 2007 at 12:09 pm
Twenty, I love the bit from your link where Cooke asks ‘Are you a thief?’ Because that, presumably, would be crossing the line with regard to his code of ethics.
9.
Twenty Major | June 7, 2007 at 2:21 pm
Yeah, I don’t know why that line stuck with me. Even the world’s biggest thief would have been hard pressed to find anything in that house worth nicking.
And considering his recent exposure, if you’ll pardon the expression, it does seem funny.
10.
Richie Kearns | February 16, 2008 at 5:28 pm
Check out the radio Milinda site at
http://www.radiomilinda.com
I have just started to put stuff up. Anyone out there with info or photos or press cuttings to share…I’d be most greatful..
Thanks Folks
11.
Tommy Keenan | October 23, 2008 at 6:30 pm
I was the best DJ at Big D.
I am now an even more succesful big noise in England on BBC Radio. They say the greatest go on to bigger and better things.
12.
Chris Thompson | December 2, 2008 at 9:24 am
Thanks for the memories. I was DJ on Radio Dublin between 1984 and 1986 roughly, mainly on Saturday mornings. James Redmond was on after me, followed by Pia Kinsella doing the the Top 30 show. A very popular show during the week was hosted by Tracy Evans ( I think). On my first show, an overnight, I was warned to be on guard for the station’s resident ghost Ermitrude. I loved my time there before moving for a while to LLCR, Liberties Local Community Radio off Cork Street and then spent a couple of years on St James Hospital Radio.
Hi to any former station dj-s and listeners.
13.
Miami1908 | January 9, 2009 at 7:42 pm
I was there from ’78 to ’83. The rot had well and truly set it from about late ’81 around the time Angie got pregnant. The place was falling asunder and any one even who knocked at the door got a job as DJ.
14.
Declan O'Callaghan | January 23, 2009 at 12:53 am
Many years ago and more than I care to remember. I knocked on the front door of Radio Dublin “1974″. This started a life time love of radio and music. A love affair which has stayed with me to this day. I produce and present a three hour radio show in Sydney. The show is on relay around Australia,Tasmania and New Zealand. Thanks to the web, my family in Ireland tune in to enjoy.Radio Dublin than you for the many tears of enjoyment you gave the people of Dublin, And thanks for all the spin off.
Declan O’Callaghan Sydney…
15.
Declan O'Callaghan | January 23, 2009 at 12:55 am
Many years ago and more than I care to remember. I knocked on the front door of Radio Dublin “1974″. This started a life time love of radio and music. A love affair which has stayed with me to this day. I produce and present a three hour radio show in Sydney. The show is on relay around Australia,Tasmania and New Zealand. Thanks to the web, my family in Ireland tune in to enjoy.Radio Dublin thank you for the many years of enjoyment you gave the people of Dublin, And thanks for all the spin off.
Declan O’Callaghan Sydney…
16.
aidan cooney | February 26, 2009 at 6:36 pm
Great memories, I was on the Radio Dublin Capel Miami holiday trip with john everest, shay byrne, barry lang and shay west – oh and mike eastwood. A great idea and well ahead of its time.
Over 100 listerners came on the trip while Cookie and Co stayed at home. Would love to know what happed to John Everest ? He presented the mid morning show after my breakfast show during that summer when 2fm came on…..
17.
Sean Brophy | March 24, 2012 at 8:25 pm
Mike Eastwood was recently telling stories re the Miami trip. Very exotic for that era as very few Irish would have gone to Florida then
18.
Shay Byrne | May 7, 2012 at 7:15 pm
I remember it well Aidan, Barry, me (Shay) Mike and Declan or John as he was known, and James Martin, (Murphy) we had some fantastic times back then I was only a youngster as was Barry and Aidan great to see Mr Cooney doing well, and Barry is now a Pilot. me I’m back in college like Adrain st James. and i still pop up every now and then on radio, Once its in your blood it’s addictive now that sounds like a tag.!! “whatever happened to the No1 Dj in Dublin at the time the popular Kevin Barrett” Thanks for the memories….
.
19.
Adrian St. James | April 7, 2009 at 12:03 pm
Hi there I am Adrian St. James and I was on Radio Dublin for over 8 years.For all of that time I presented sunday morning 10 am to 12 noon,it was called Morningh Call International.
I also did a stint on drivetime , I think it was 1981.
I have many cassette tapes of these shows. It was a truly magic time ! My life path took me in other directions for many years, but I never lost the passion for radio so much so that I have just completed the first year of a two year course in Radio Broadcasting. I hope soon to be involved with radio again.
20.
niall o horain | May 12, 2012 at 8:31 am
hi adrian (gosh its been a long time) i used to answer the phones for you on a sunday morning .i also used to help you with that very long wooden box full of singles. i do remember one raid by the h-block- bobby sands protesters . i went on to present a sunday evening programme after angie and just before the gorgerous kevin barrett regards to all niall hayes (neil)
21.
Adrian Nolan | May 13, 2012 at 2:45 pm
Hi Niall,
Now there’s a blast from the past! Was thinking of you recently when I came across the running order for ‘The Story of Radio Caroline’ that we did together. Do you remember sitting in the corner of the studio cueing up the cassettes with the next segment for the show?
Hope you are well and are you still involved wuth radio?
ASJ The Big Bopper,
Morning Call International,, wherever you are, we are.
22.
niall o horain | May 15, 2012 at 6:57 am
loads of great memories not doing radio anymore last heard on capitol 95.8 would jump at the chance again. i know eamon’s in jail whatever happend with angie ?? i remember she was pregnant at that time . all those sundays ago i used to jump on a bus to fleet street where the lads shay byrne etc would go to sloopys. i was too young . anyway i’m too old now ha ha regards to all niall hayes (neil)
23.
Shay Byrne | May 18, 2012 at 6:30 pm
Niall twas!.A different kind of radio then it was fun now it’s a business. and i must say great to read this and remember when it was records 12″ and 7″ had Arms. and Grooves and “that was just me.”.lol The Kids TODAY!! Dont know they are born with Myriad Adobe and the likes just listening to Garreth in the afternoon.. TONY GARRETH REMEMBER HIM. was talking to Jimmy Murphy a while ago about Nicky Kiely, Kevin Barret Pat Gill, Pat James Cyril Walsh, The main man Jim Kenny, Mike Eastwood, Eugene Elliot, Shay West,The Big Bopper ASJ, Tom Byrne,Dj Lee John O’Hara John Everest And all the backround staff, people who worked the phones sales teams that kept it going It was very enjoyable and the people who passed the doors Jimmy Savell Lady Valerie Goulding, U2 More than once Stepaside and all around a piano stool and a set of Decks and if you where lucky 2 Mics LoL.. “thanks smiling as i write” lol.