Galway pirate station
Atlantic Sound
Atlantic is Sound for Galway
Atlantic Sound was an ’80s Galway-based pirate radio station based in Forster Street. It was started with local backing by Alan Russell, who had been involved with Capitol Radio in Dublin.
There were test transmissions on Atlantic Sound for a few weeks and then Alan was heard on-air introducing songs and weather updates.
The station has two distinct histories. From launch it played a variety of music and had a specialist schedule during night hours.
In late summer 1984 Don Stevens, Keith York, Steve Marshall and a couple of more guys arrived from a station in Cork. At this point Al Russell resigned and the station transformed to a hot hits format.
Atlantic Sound lasted just a few more months, closing abruptly in June 1985.
Atlantic Sound Gallery - Seán Costello - August 14th 1984
The above posters reflect the station’s original format under the stewardship of Al Russell, in particular the two distinct services that operated during daytime and nighttime hours.
Photos from The Anoraks Ireland Collection
Images with thanks to Al Russell
Can you add to this entry?
Is there anything you can add to the information above, or do you know of a station not listed in the database? Please send updates, from the seemingly trivial to full station histories, to this email address. Images can also be sent to john@radiowavesfm.com.