THE FRC IRELAND SECTION: Intro - FRC Newsletter - FRC Sounds Alternative - 1978 in radio - Print era ends - FRC on the radio

The Free Radio Campaign Ireland by Kieran Murray

But What About ‘The FRC Ireland Show’ On Radio?

August 1977: I was helping out in Radio Dublin, answering the phone line and taking requests. After a few months, I approached Eamon Cooke and suggested that I would like to present a show. Not just records and requests, but a show that promoted pirate radio in general, gave news about radio developments and promoted ‘The Free Radio Campaign – Ireland’. Eamon thought it was a good idea and he suggested a Sunday morning slot, because I guess, all the Disco DJs were still in bed, getting their beauty sleep from the night before!.

So, the first ‘FRC Ireland Show’ was broadcast on Radio Dublin on Sunday, 6th November 1977 between 11:00 and 12:00 and presented by me, Kieran Murray. The show continued to be broadcast from then on, every Sunday from 11:00 to 12:00.

January 1978: Radio Dublin starts 24-hour broadcasting. Up to now, all commercials were read live by the DJ, using an instrumental backing track. ‘The FRC Ireland Show’ was first to use a pre-recorded commercial, on cassette. The commercial was voiced by my brother Kevin and promoted ‘The Free Radio Campaign Ireland’, plus the publication ‘Sounds Alternative’. Listen to the ads here

Also in 1978 ‘The FRC Ireland Show’ was being relayed on shortwave – 6210KHz and also on 6240KHz, so this took the programme out to Europe on two different frequencies!

Sunday 9th April 1978: the entire Radio Dublin staff walked out in protest because of an allegation involving the station owner and an under-age girl who claimed that she had been sexually abused at the station. (Sadly, in later years, these and many, many other allegations were proved to be true and resulted in Eamon Cooke going to jail)

Anyway, I was asked at the time by DJs James Dillon and Gerry Campbell if I wanted to join the new station that was being formed after the walkout – and I agreed, after receiving a guarantee that I could continue with ‘The FRC Ireland Show’ (radio was the only thing on my mind here, not the allegations).

Sunday 16th April 1978: The first ‘FRC Ireland Show’ is aired on Big D Radio.

I only got to present around 5 ‘FRC Ireland Show’ on Big D, because by May 1978, I had agreed to move to Dundalk and work full time on Radio Carousel.

Sunday 21st May 1978: I handed over the presentation of ‘The FRC Ireland Show’ to my brother Kevin, who was later joined by Bernard Lyons. It continued to broadcast each Sunday morning through May, June and July 1978.

Sunday 30th July 1978: ‘The FRC Ireland Show’ was taken off the air by Davitt Kelly (RIP). Unknown to me, the owners of Big D Radio had decided to split the output of the station into Big D Weekday and Big D Weekend. As the name suggests, one person looked after the output Monday to Friday; and the other person had responsibility for Saturdays and Sundays. Kelly was appointed the person with responsibility for Big D Weekend and is quoted at the time as having told the staff: “There is no need for the FRC Show”

The show eventually returned to Big D Radio in September 1979. I can’t recall why they had a change of mind, but this time it was presented by Bernard Lyons and the show was extended to two hours, beginning at 10:00 every Sunday morning. It was still being relayed on shortwave by Radio Condor on 6243kHz and also by Westside Radio on 6280kHz (In the 48 metre band).

1979 ‘The FRC Ireland Show’ – Two Shows For The Price Of One!

There were two different ‘FRC Ireland Shows’ being broadcast for a period of time: Big D Radio continued with Bernard Lyons and, later in 1979, the newly formed Southside Radio, located in Bray, Co. Wicklow (at that time) produced an ‘FRC Ireland Show’ presented by Mark Boland. This was a three-hour show!

Over time, the show on Southside ended and by Autumn 1981, there was just the one show every Sunday morning – and that was on Big D Radio.

* Moved to Big D Radio in 1978.

* Then split into two shows on Big D Radio and Southside Radio in 1979.

* Continued just on Big D Radio in 1981, until the station closed.

* All that time, the shows were being relayed on FM by Community Radio Foxrock and on shortwave by Westside Radio and Radio Condor.

* The presenters were: myself Kieran Murray, then Kevin Murray, then Bernard Lyons with the addition of Mark Boland (additional show)

* Bernard Lyons was the last presenter of The FRC Ireland Show And that was the end of the Free Radio Show...or was it? Stay tuned! Huge thanks to Kieran Murray for this contribution.

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