CBC, ABC, CCLR & Capital Radio
While pirate radio stations existed in the Cork city area in the 1960s and 1970s eg Radio Juliette, Radio Cobweb, the first full time stations began in early 1978 with CBC on 230 metres and CCR on 216 metres. From the summer of 1978 these two stations were joined by ABC Radio on 233 metres from Montenotte.
In early 1979 ABC closed down and was replaced by Capital Radio Cork, also on 233 metres, operating from a premises in Tuckey Street.
CCR changed its name to CCLR, installed a more powerful medium wave transmitter (200W approx) and moved frequency to 1143 kHz(v) announced as 261 metres. CCLR was based for most of its existence at French Church Street in the city centre. It remained the most powerful medium wave pirate radio station until the advent of South Coast Radio and ERI in the early 1980s.
All these stations were staffed by local DJs and focused primarily on disco and other popular music styles of the era.The stations aired a limited amount of advertising from local businesses. There was little by way of news or other features but CBC and Capital aired some programmes in Irish and Irish music eg Gaelic Corner on CBC. CCLR did a big band Jazz programme on Saturday mornings and also did a number of 1950s and 1960s style music shows appealing to slightly older listeners.
In September 1979 CBC ceased broadcasting which left CCLR and Capital Radio as the only two stations in the city. The youth oriented, legal, professional national, Semi-State operated RTE Radio 2 had launched in May 1979 and, while it could be heard well on FM in suburban Cork and less well from Athlone on 612 kHz, 490 metres 100 kW, it had yet to launch a local medium wave transmitter (Autumn 1982, a 10 kW on 1278 kHz, 235 metres) so CCLR and Capital remained popular with younger listeners in city areas with AM radio still in use by most listeners.
Radio City Cork and the introduction of FM
On 31/08/1980, a new station Radio City came on air from Parnell Place in the city centre on 1512 kHz (v), announced 199 metres. After a few months FM was added in parallel on 95.7 MHz(v), notable as the first station to use FM in the Cork City area. Later due to interference between City and Youghal based CRY, Radio City moved from 1512 kHz to 1251 kHz (v) announced 240metres.
Capital Radio briefly experimented with FM in early 1981.
Around this time Big Brother Radio operated for a few months, part-time from the Sunday's Well area of Cork City on 88FM.
These stations were joined for a short period by a new version of ABC Radio on 235 metres.
In May 1981, Radio Caroline Cork launched on 98.8 MHz (v) FM on a part-time basis. See section below for further details.
Radio City introduced news, specialist music shows and community features while primarily continuing to focus the bulk of its output on chart and older popular music.
Leeside Community Radio
Leeside Community Radio commenced broadcasting on New Year's Eve 1981 on 102 MHz FM from a premises on Grand Parade in the city centre. While low power the station was notable for its format focusing on alternative pop, rock, soul with specialist shows featuring Jazz, New Wave, Arts News and feminist issues. Due to TV interference, the station moved to 98 MHz FM in early summer 1982.
Closure and Renewal 1982
The summer and autumn of 1982 brought big changes. Following the launch of South Coast Radio (see below) in March 1982 the older, smaller stations struggled to make an impact. The first to close was Capital Radio Cork which shut down in June 1982 and briefly merged with Leeside Community Radio. Leeside closed down shortly after on 31 July 1982. Radio City Cork closed in September 1982.
CCLR and the hobby oriented Radio Caroline were the last of the old stations on air. CCLR purchased City's FM transmitter allowing it to operate on FM for the first time (95.5 MHz FM), Caroline began medium wave transmissions and ERI arrived in Cork (see below) bringing about major change.
CCLR Expansion
CCLR, under new management, embarked on a significant expansion in 1983, installed a more powerful medium wave transmitter (257 metres) in Glounthaune linked to its French Church Street studio via a transmitter on 98FM based at the studio, brought in new staff and new, professionally made jingles. It introduced a tighter music format and for the first time invested resources in news and current affairs. Despite the upgrades the station closed just before Christmas 1983. Competition from the much larger South Coast Radio and ERI (see below) resulted in dwindling audiences and resources despite the best efforts of management and staff.
South Coast Radio On March 3, 1982, South Coast Radio began broadcasting on 103.2(v) FM stereo (announced 104) from a suite in the Metropole Hotel in McCurtain Street. A relatively high power (600W) professional medium wave transmitter was added within a couple of weeks, based at a site near Cork Airport. A 150 ft lattice tower was used giving the station large coverage and the use of professional processing gave the station superior audio compared with the older stations. The station had professional studio and production equipment and had custom made jingles. Presentation was professional and the team consisted of local, Dublin and UK DJs and newsreaders, many who had radio experience previously in the offshore and Dublin superpirate scene.
The station later moved to St Lukes where it operated from a premises over a bar.
In 1983 a 10 kW medium wave transmitter was installed near Dublin Hill, replacing the Airport Hill transmitter on 1557/1566 kHz. This gave the station greatly extended coverage but a fire put the transmitter out of action some months later and South Coast reverted to using the smaller Airport Hill based transmitter.
The fire at the 10 kW rig, a sustained jamming campaign by an individual and competition from ERI (see below) put the station under financial pressure and eventually off air in July 1984.
ERI
In late May 1982, Eastside Radio began operating from a period house in the seaside village of Ballycotton about 25 miles east of Cork City. It used a 200W Medium Wave transmitter on 1305 kHz and a small FM transmitter on 102 MHz. It was operated in a semi professional manner throughout the summer of 1982.
In September 1982, the station embarked on a major expansion. It was renamed ERI, a large 5 kW medium wave transmitter was installed on the very clear frequency of 1305 kHz (announced 225 metres) at Whites Cross, a short distance north of Cork city and in November 1982 the studios and FM transmitter were transferred to their new base at Whites Cross. Like South Coast Radio ERI employed a team of professional, experienced local and foreign broadcasters and used professional grade equipment including sophisticated audio processing. American made jingles were introduced and the station went from strength to strength adding a high power FM stereo signal in early 1983 (initially 102, then 99/106/96.7/96.9 and finally 97.7 MHz) and its huge reach gave the station a big advantage over its competitors. It built new customised studios in 1986 at Whites Cross, had offices in St Patrick St and later South Mall.
Similar to South Coast Radio, ERI suffered from various set backs including jamming, the unauthorised felling of its transmitter mast over Christmas 1983. In 1986, following a court order, its transmission facilities had to be relocated including the large transmitter tower to Hollyhill, just beyond the city's perimeter. The studios remained at Whites Cross linked to the transmitters via a microwave link. A little later it had to cease FM transmissions following complaints from the national broadcaster. It continued on 1305 kHz AM during this time. It returned to FM after approximately one month on a new frequency 97.7 MHz.
Despite these setbacks, ERI remained on air until 30/12/1988 and was highly successful. Many of its staff went on to work in local and national radio and television. ERI unsuccessfully applied for a commercial licence for Cork city and county in 1989 under the name Sound of the South. Subsequently, its studio and transmission facilities were leased to a new licensed station, Radio South, in 1989, allowing this new station to be operational relatively quickly. Radio South was relaunched in July 1990 as 96FM and eventually bought out by County Sound in February 1991, with the original four shareholders selling all their shares to the Mallow-based station.
Other versions of South Coast Radio South Coast Radio 102.3 MHz FM (mono). Operated from North Main Street from mid 1985 to mid 1986 approx.
South Coast Radio 102.3/104 MHz FM Stereo Marlboro Street Mid 1986 -late 1986.
South Coast Radio 98.5 MHz FM Stereo (evolved from WBEN Cork (see below)) 1988.
Sunshine Radio (Cork)
Sunshine Radio (also Radio Sunshine) began in the late summer, autumn of 1985. It was based at the former Cameo Cinema premises at Military Hill. It operated on an announced 243 metres medium wave and 95.8 FM (mono). The medium wave transmitter was a few hundred watts and of good quality.
The owner initially intended running the station on a quasi commercial basis and opted for a mixed pop oldies, country and Irish format. However the medium wave transmitter failed after a couple of months after an attempt to upgrade the antenna. The station abandoned its attempts to attract advertising and continued using its modest power FM transmitter.
Most of its presenters left for other stations and the station operated with limited hours with a specific focus on Country and Irish.
Later it began broadcasting around the clock using taped programmes preprepared by a small number of volunteer presenters, featuring, in the main, popular music + daily mid morning live country and Irish programmes.
The station remained on air until the new legislation came into force at the end of 1988.
Sunshine Radio returned later in the mid 1990s on a part-time basis to FM (see below), exclusively adopting a country and Irish format.
WBEN (Cork) WBEN (Cork) began broadcasting on 98FM from Cook Street, Cork over the Jazz weekend, October 1985. Initially it specialised in nonstop music from the American Billboard charts. It carried a limited amount of local advertising.
In early summer 1986, the format was relaxed to include popular music from the UK in addition to American releases, presenters were introduced and the station began broadcasting on medium wave (1386 kHz) in parallel to FM. FM coverage was expanded during this time.
In late 1986 further changes were made. Most of the original line up departed and others came on board along with a further watering down of the American format and the introduction of a late-night phone-in show. The station ceased broadcasting on medium wave.
Later, a more powerful FM transmitter was installed, and the station changed its name to South Coast Radio.
WBEN moved to Washington Street and eventually Togher.
It continued as South Coast Radio until it closed on 31/12/1988.
Centre Radio (Cork)
Centre Radio began life as Leeside Sound with transmissions beginning in late 1985 on 101.5 MHz FM from a premises on the North Mall, in the city centre. The station broadcast a mixture of popular chart, Irish, Country and big band Jazz. The station used a stereo CTE 250W transmitter located at the same premises as the studio.
By mid 1986, the station was struggling to sell advertising. The owners decided to move the station to higher ground at Shandon Street, change the frequency slightly to 101 MHz and relaunch as Centre Radio with a UK jingle package cut for local purposes. Most of the Irish and other specialist shows were dropped and a tighter top 40 format was introduced.
With improved coverage, more professional presenters and the new format advertising began to flow into the station.
However, by Christmas 1987, the station ran into further difficulties and closed.