Jun 8, 2026 · 33 min · 12 segments
As the 1980s dawn, a new breed of super pirate radio stations arrive to rewrite the Irish rulebook, leaving authorities scrambling to respond. But as the decade progresses, Eamon Cooke’s dark, hidden…
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Sean MeaneyGuestGeorgeGuestSiobhanGuestMaryGuestThank you very much indeed, Brendan, and welcome to the first show on Radio 2.
If Eamonn Cooke and Radio Dublin had led the Irish pirate scene in the late '70s, their success with the younger audiences spurred others into action, including the national broadcaster.
RTE Radio 2.
Stereo sound on the AM band.
Yeah, well, we've been waiting for, oh, an all-day nationwide music station for a long time.
Now, we have it.
An Irish group could top the British charts.
Yes, indeed, the Boomtown Rats.
And a new breed of super pirate radio stations were about to rewrite the rule book.
The best music on Radio Nova.
Radio Dublin was still broadcasting around the clock on its AM frequency, and Eamonn Cooke continued his weekly news show.
I was looking there through the papers, uh, just a short while before the news, uh, to see what matches there are, but I got a quick couple of glances at it.
But when the super pirate stations embraced FM, well, it's like the radio waves of Ireland turned from black and white to technicolor.
Super stereo.
This is the FM leader, Sunshine 101.
Thank you very much indeed, Brendan, and welcome to the first show on Radio 2.
If Eamonn Cooke and Radio Dublin had led the Irish pirate scene in the late '70s, their success with the younger audiences spurred others into action, including the national broadcaster.
RTE Radio 2.
Stereo sound on the AM band.
Yeah, well, we've been waiting for, oh, an all-day nationwide music station for a long time.
Now, we have it.
An Irish group could top the British charts.
Yes, indeed, the Boomtown Rats.
And a new breed of super pirate radio stations were about to rewrite the rule book.
The best music on Radio Nova.
Radio Dublin was still broadcasting around the clock on its AM frequency, and Eamonn Cooke continued his weekly news show.
I was looking there through the papers, uh, just a short while before the news, uh, to see what matches there are, but I got a quick couple of glances at it.
But when the super pirate stations embraced FM, well, it's like the radio waves of Ireland turned from black and white to technicolor.
Super stereo.
This is the FM leader, Sunshine 101.
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