Longford Pirate Radio post 1988

 

What was described as a golden era of Irish pirate radio came to an end on December 31^st 1988. Longford had seen its fair share of pirate radio activity throughout the 1980’s but the introduction of the 1988 Wireless Telegraphy Act did not silence pirate radio activity in the county of Longford. From 2000 onwards until increased Comreg activity in the area, there was increased illegal broadcasting activity. A number of stations battled on the pages of the Longford Leader rather than over the airwaves. One in particular Big LCR, the brainchild of Paddy Farrell, is covered here on the pirate archive website radiowaves.fm, including his court appearance following a ComReg/Garda raid on his station.

(c) Longford Leader 2002

In 2000, a number of stations claimed that they were broadcasting in Longford including Tilt FM, Sham FM and the aforementioned Big LCR.

The increased activity in the Longford area brought unwanted attention on some of the Catholic churches in the county who were broadcasting on FM.

But by illegal parish broadcasts did return to the airwaves including Ardagh on 108mhz FM.

(c) Longford Leader 2020

Sources:

The Longford Leader Newspaper

The Longford News 

www.radiowaves.fm

The Irish Pirate Radio Archive

The DX Archive