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PIRATE RADIO STATIONS caused quite the stir in 1984, creating a headache for both the RTÉ and the Government.
Unlicensed, pirate radio stations flourished in Ireland in the early 1980s — providing younger listeners an alternative to the state broadcaster.
Amongst them, were the Dublin stations of Sunshine Radio and Nova — which employed a full roster of presenters.
Jamming signals
Due to pirate radio stations setting up shop on frequencies with no licence, the Government moved to impose further regulations on them. Meanwhile, RTÉ also attempted to put a stop to stations using illegal frequencies by putting out jamming signals.
There was cause for concern as the frequencies being used and the jamming signals impacted on phone lines, as well as frequencies used by hospitals and airports.
In state files released under the 30 year rule, a letter from Dublin City Council to the Government said they “deplored” the situation with pirate radio stations and was becoming a public safety matter as people could not reach doctors when the phones were out of use:
The Taoiseach at the time, the late Garret Fitzgerald, received a number of letters from members of the public, particularly young people, asking for the Government to intervene and begin granting more broadcasting licences.
One letter came from an 8-year-old girl, who said that “RTÉ were being mean”, while a 19-year-old from Dublin said the new Bill before Government was “designed to kill pirate broadcasting”.
She asked the Taoiseach why they refused to grant them licences.
She said that she was unemployed and spent her days listening to music while she sent out numerous of job applications to companies she saw in the Golden pages.
Replying to the letter, Taoiseach Garret Fitzgerald wrote that the Government were not trying to be “spoil-sports” and explained his reasoning.
The sender had requested that the Taoiseach write back in his own hand-writing, however, a note from Fitzgerald at the end of the letter apologises to her for not doing so, while also throwing her a compliment about her own hand-writing being very nice, and saying he is a little ashamed of his own.
Can’t see the image, click here.
Can’t see the image click here.
Pirate radio stations, such as Sunshine FM, were also fighting back and getting in touch with the Taoiseach asking him to intervene.
Can’t see the letter, click here.
Can’t see the letter, click here.
The public made the point that jobs were being lost with the radio station closures and there were petitions from those that worked at the likes of Sunshine FM being handed in to the Government.
It got to a point where the Government felt they had no choice but to get involved, with an internal briefing note stating that the Minister for Communications at the time would take up the matter with RTÉ.
In a politely worded letter to the Chairman of RTÉ, Fred O’Donovan, the Taoiseach Garret Fitzgerald said that the Government would be taking action against them if the continued to cause disruption with the jamming signals.
Can’t view this letter, click here.
The RTÉ Chairman replied and said that situation with pirate radio stations had become “extremely serious” and he urged the legislation to be moved up the timetable.
Can’t view this letter, click here.
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Probably just go with the flow at this stage. Great idea lads. Good use of resources. Well done. Can’t see these being wrecked at all. 10m to install, ex vat, the add on extra for added costs rising so that’s 100m, then 400m to remove them when they’re wrecked in 6 months.
@Rafa C: this is a DCC project, many of us would avail of them as we don’t have space indoors or safe places to lock bikes outside. it isn’t going to affect you out past leixlip or wherever you said you lived the other day so don’t fret too much.
@Rafa C: The ones near me in Stoneybatter have been in several years and work great. But don’t let that stop you having a good aul moan.
@eoin fitzpatrick: I never said they wouldn’t be availed of, and I never said you don’t have space for storing bikes.
Does it affect me? And others? Yes. I think it does.
Let’s just wait and see the final cost for this project, and the inevitable removal of these due to thievery, vandalism, anti-social behaviour and probably a few other things.
They won’t last long.
Out where I live, they put a cycle pump and bike repair kit at the entrance to the canal – it was only put in 2 weeks ago and it’s already wrecked and unusable.
@Sal Paradise: Great to hear Sal, but with many others being put in the risk rises for thievery, vandalism and other anti-social situations.
I’m delighted it works for you in your area. But there’s a bigger picture, additional costs, and inevitable removal due to issues.
@Rafa C: in case you dont realise it Rafa , most citizens of our fair city dont go around wrecking facilities provided by city council Fingal, Dun Laoghaire Rathdown or SDCC. In fact most of the great public facilities of our country are in Dublin
@Peter Byrne: We clearly have not experienced the same Dublin. Time will tell.
@Rafa C: The same was said when Dublin Bikes was launched. Vandals will destroy them. It never happened and it turned out to be a great success.
@Rafa C: Ah, I don’t know Rafa. I see winter potential right there, bikes having been stolen the shed shell can then be covered in tarpaulin; sort of accommodation for ‘visitors’. Safe spaces, like…
@Rafa C: yes but please do think of the effect of the green stamp it will have for every person who’s on a bike for those 6 months who uses it. The reduction in emissions from not using vehicles for that limited time will have tremendous results. The air quality will be absolutely wonderful altogether there.
Great news. Addresses the problem of keeping a bike in a small or terraced house.
I use the one in Stoneybatter as I live in a third floor apartment, they have never been vandalised due to their solid structure.
@Áine G: C’mon now. Can’t be having that sort of positive reaction to a story.
Great news. I have friends who have been using these in a couple of locations and so it’s good that others will be able to avail of them.
We need more bike bunkers I am sure.
@Sean Money: Any place where bimes can be locked safely is good.
@Sean O’Dhubhghaill: we must protect the bimes
@Sean Money: 20,000 bikes reported stolen every year, the real figure is multiples of that probably. So yes, it’s a good idea
Be a shining beacon for anti-social types.
@AnthonyK: Haven’t been to date.
@Jack Hayes: save the lads putting up tents. Accommodation in Dublin for €100 a year . Great value
Anything for motorbikes on the horizon…
To many thefts
Love it when I hear councillors saying it will be great for the inner city. As when requests were made to get them installed in council flat complex’s in the inner city, they were ignored by DCC and the party of the councilors quoted!
I was there when the requests were made repeatedly!
And repeatedly ignored.
Like the idea but 33k per bunker is mad stuff
@David Griffin:
You could get a shipping container for that ,and put 100 or more in.
How does it cost in excess of 30,000 for each ex vat.?
@Mark Fox: no the €30k is for the brown envelope. The bunker only costs €1k in normal land.
@Mark Fox: 30,000 per individual bike holding section with absolutely tremendous benefits to the local community and all cabbage heads alike.
For crying out loud DCC it rains every other day and it pitch dark 6 months of the year! Who wants to cycle in Dublin. Tha vast majority of cyclists are school kids and delivery drivers! They don’t need bike bunkers your only keeping the thieves dry while there robbing the bikes in Dublins fair city!
It’s taken up a car park space
@Shane O Mac: That’s the hope!
@Shane O Mac: where will I park my 4wd range rover archorpanzer now?
@Shane O Mac: yes, one car space lost = 6 bike spaces gained. Win,win.
@Dermot Blaine: for €33,000 per bunker you could ditch your bicycle and actually finally be able to afford a car.
@Shane O Mac: takes up a car space but frees up several.
@Dermot Blaine: loss loss in winter time
They will be put in the same type of locations as the others. You will not see them in council estates or older persons accommodation.
Ugly things that take away from the areas they are in. Look like old watchmen’s huts.
@Gary Kearney: if that’s your take, you’ll be outraged when you see all the private cars stored on streets up and down the country.
Just everywhere, they are!
@Ciaran Foster: and they pay for the privilege with road tax insurance what do bikes pay sod all
@Paul Dennis: no such thing as “road tax” and plenty of taxpayers pay taxes
@Paul Dennis: They pay more than a car does. Residential parking permit in DCC is 65e for 12 months. One of those bunkers also takes 6 bikes. Assuming it fills, that is 600e for one spot rather than 65e for one car
@KL M: explain how there is no such thing as road tax?
I’m order to use any motorised vehicle one has to pay tax. It is a tax on the usage of a motor vehicle on a public road so it is, in affect, a road tax. One can own a motor vehicle & declare it off the road removing the need to pay tax.
Have to laugh at all the brainwashed NPC’s that believe they are saving the world by eliminating cars. Bigots the most of them that don’t understand they are being manipulated & the ones that realise it won’t admit it because of their ego (but like covid & vaccines
This is a real problem I know people who don’t cycle cause don’t have any place to keep a bike.
We need them also farther away from the city centre like 6/7km at least.
@MM: The Further the better!!!
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