May 25, 2026 · 33 min · 14 segments
In 1978, Radio Dublin made history as Ireland's first 24-hour station. But behind the scenes, a darker story was unfolding. Eamon Cooke, already a convicted criminal, was now in control of the pirate…
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Trish MaloneGuestDave MooreGuest[instrumental music] To understand exactly what Eamonn Cooke was up to with that broadcast, and what was at stake, we need to go back a little over three months before Cooke's infamous broadcast, to the start of 1978.
Okay, 15 minutes after the hour of 11 o'clock.
And, uh, don't forget, about 12 midnight, we will be bringing in the new year, Radio Dublin on 253.
That's, of course, the 1st of January, 1978.
In the late '70s, pirate radio in Dublin had completely taken over the airwaves.
And, of course, the Lord Mayor himself, uh, of Dublin, will be speaking to you, our Radio Dublin listeners.
Right now, more music.
[instrumental music]
But truth be told, as long as no one swore on air, he had little interest in what was broadcast.
[instrumental music] To understand exactly what Eamonn Cooke was up to with that broadcast, and what was at stake, we need to go back a little over three months before Cooke's infamous broadcast, to the start of 1978.
Okay, 15 minutes after the hour of 11 o'clock.
And, uh, don't forget, about 12 midnight, we will be bringing in the new year, Radio Dublin on 253.
That's, of course, the 1st of January, 1978.
In the late '70s, pirate radio in Dublin had completely taken over the airwaves.
And, of course, the Lord Mayor himself, uh, of Dublin, will be speaking to you, our Radio Dublin listeners.
Right now, more music.
[instrumental music]
But truth be told, as long as no one swore on air, he had little interest in what was broadcast.
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