TIPPERARY COMMUNITY
RADIO (1981- 1988)
999kHz - 1309kHz - 1327kHz - 3927h
99.9MHz - 102.3MHz
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IRISH
PIRATES A / Z
1981
VISIT TO TIPPERARY
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A weak signal from TCR was heard signing off in the evening on Monday
17th August 1981 when we were staying in Youghal. The frequency was
around 1327kHz / 227m. We didn't know the station existed, and early
on Monday morning made a dash to Tipperary to see it, before visiting
Community Radio Youghal which were due on the air at 11:30am, but only
for two hours. These
photos are the only record of this 'adventure'. (Above Left) Travelling from Youghal
on 18th August 1981, the
view from the mountain pass, on the Knockmealdown mountains, heading
towards Tipperary. (Above Middle) The door we travelled so many miles to photograph!!
Simon had been inside, and "found" another door with a TCR
sticker on!! (Above Right) One of Ken's famous angled shots to try and
get the whole mast in!!! It worked. The station was off air when we arrived as it apparently
only broadcast a few hours per day, and thus there
was no one around. So we headed off back to Youghal, a very long round
trip for two photos, but it was an adventure and a new station had
been found, so we were very happy. |
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The only reference to those
1981 broadcasts on 228m is on the above 4 page leaflet.
By late 1982, Tipperary Community Radio
had moved to 999kHz / 300m, where it stayed until forced to close due to legislation in December 1988.
It was also reported on FM in
later years, initially 102.3MHz and then 99.9MHz.
Below are two
items relating to the station. Firstly from 1982 is an 8 page Tipperary Community Council report of 16th March 1982, and then
from an unknown date, a 4 page ratecard.
This ratecard has a reference to 100MHz FM, so may be post 1985. These three documents form part of the Anoraks Ireland Digitization Project.
(Click images for full size documents in pdf format.) |
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 The TCR 'on-air' studio |
 The FM transmitter (99.9MHz or 102.3MHz) |
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These photos were taken during a visit to Tipperary Community Radio in 1986 and
by kind courtesy of Steve West. (Click each image for full size) |
 The aerial systems for both AM and FM was located on the roof of the studio building. The feed to the AM aerial can be seen. |
 The 999kHz AM transmitter. According to the plate on the tx door, it was manufactured in Bray and 250 watts in power. |
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During the visit in 1986, the leaflet above was obtained. (Click image for a pdf full size copy of all 4 pages - 26.7MB) |
A TCR flyer from its later days on 300m. (Click image for a full size image - 1.5MB) |
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 A TCR sign outside the building |
 The 'On-Air' studio |
 The 'Production' / 'Interview' studio |
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Steve West made a return visit to Tipperary Community Radio in 1987 and these are his photos. (Click each image for full size) |
 Another view of the main 'On-Air' Studio |
 The AM / FM mast in 1987 |
 A closeup of the AM transmitter information plate |
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Once legislation was looming in 1988, TCR produced a proposal for a licensed community radio station which would serve the area it currently covered. (Click image for a pdf full size copy of the leaflet - 9MB) |
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| 1984_10_29_mon_tipperary_999am_1125-1225_helenmorrisey_seamushoolahan-gh536.mp3 New Oct 2025 | Surpringly for a station that was on the air for 7 years, this is our only recording of Tipperary Community Radio. It was recorded from 999kHz / 300m on Bank Holiday Monday, 29th October 1984 and features Helen Morrisey up to mid-day, followed by Seamus Hoolahan. The recording was made whilst driving through Tipperary Town. Helen gives a nice rundown of the day's programming. |
54MB 59mins |
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Below was the
history text extracted from the 5th Birthday booklet.
It was
originally produced in the days of modems, when document images were too large to download.
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Tipperary Community Radio
Tipperary Community Radio began broadcasting on the 29th of May 1981. At times it's hard to believe how time has moved on and how the station has developed, since Tim Ryan began broadcasting at 12 noon on that spring holiday weekend. One of the presenters on that first day was Tom Fitzgerald, who remembers just how brave were some of Tipperary's pioneers of broadcasting. 'People were shaking at the start and perspiration used to literally flow from them'. However, he remembers that there were some natural presenters who seemed to take it in their stride. They were the born performers who had no difficulty with the medium. THE IDEA
The station began after a meeting with the Chamber of Commerce and
other interested parties. Incredibly Tipperary Town had two small
private stations operating and the Community Council was asked to
bring all parties together to work out a solution to the problem.
Obviously a town of Tipperary's size couldn't support both stations.
It was decided at that fateful meeting that the Community Council
as a body, would establish its' own radio station. The existing stations
agreed to close down once T.C.R. began broadcasting.
It was a big step from that original decision to actually going on air. Kilkenny Community Radio gave the fledgling T.C.R. a VHF transmitter. That was all right, but to set up a more popular Medium Wave transmitter caused trouble and frustration. Simply, there was nobody qualified to give expert advice. The station persevered with a series of transmitters known as the 'terrible contraptions' until early 1982, when the late William Stapleton of Silverpine Studios in Bray was contacted for advice. He was a reliable expert who built a proper radio transmitter for about £3,000. Five years later it's still broadcasting. In the early days there was no testing of presenters for suitability. The new broadcasters improved through experience and developed an individualistic approach to their own production. It was difficult to get qualified people to give training courses, as R.T.E. wouldn't allow any of its' personnel to become involved In fact, when one of T.C.R.'s presenters attended an R.T.E. run course, she was asked to leave. Despite this, the interest in the station has always been there and attracting people to become involved has never been a problem.
PROGRAMMING
As a prototype for community broadcasting in the country, T.C.R. had the extra responsibility of achieving the proper programme balance. Cost wise and work wise it would have been easy to play music all day, but from the very beginning emphasis was put on magazine and chat programmes. On the very first day, there were current affairs and sports programmes. By the end of the first year, the presenters were called together to elect a programming committee which was to review and plan programmes on a weekly basis. That committee and subsequent ones have developed many innovative programmes, including the series of Rural Roundabouts, where rural communities get the opportunity of having their own specialised programme. Also from the beginning T.C.R. has refused to pirate news from the national station. The daily bulletin concentrates on news from within our community.
Are there no problems you might inquire? Well indeed there are. One concerns the raising of standards and of presentation, as our presenters are not involved in a full-time capacity. Another is to maintain commercial viability because of rising costs. Equipment which has served us well since 1981 now needs to be replaced. For example, we would like to do more outside broadcasting. But it costs money. A considerable amount was done in the early days but it had to be discontinued because of the lack of suitable equipment. Quite honestly, other sources of income outside advertising will have to be found. This area is being explored at present.
TODAY
These problems and bigger ones have been tackled and surmounted in the past. T.C.R. has grown significantly in it's five years. It now employs three full-time and three part-time people. Over seventy-five voluntary presenters are involved and our record collection stands at around 1,500 singles and 600 LP's. More importantly, people have got enjoyment and service from the station, whether through broadcasting or listening. It has taken the mystique out of broadcasting. It has disproved R.T.E.'s claim that community stations would not last a year. It has proved that community broadcasting is here to stay. A point accepted by the Government and the E.E.C.
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IRISH
PIRATES A / Z