WLS Archives - Page 2 of 5 - Irish Pirate Radio Audio Archive

28th August 202226th August 2022

Richie O’Shea on WLS Music Radio

By mid-1986, WLS was well-established as the leading pirate in Galway city. Professional on-air standards led to strong advertising revenue, as this recording from May of that year indicates. Commercial breaks feature local businesses including a private bus company and there are agency adverts for national brands. A station newsletter from late 1986/early 1987 claimed a market share of at least 54 percent of listeners in the city and included testimonials from a range of advertisers.

In this recording, Richie O’Shea takes over from Steve Marshall for his early evening show which includes an interview with Galway band Manic Depression. A top-of-the-hour promo for WLS mentions both AM and FM and describes it as the ‘West’s local station’.

Part 1 above is from 7th May 1986 from 1757-1842 and part 2 below from 1843-1928.

Part 2 from 1843.

Both were made from 102.7 FM and are from the Anoraks Ireland Tapes Collection, donated to us by Paul Davidson.

26th August 202217th August 2022

Summer shows on WLS Music Radio

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These recordings of Galway station WLS Music Radio were made in the summer of 1986, when the station was well established as the leading pirate in Galway. Part 1 above was made on 1^st May 1986 from 2143-2228 and features Barry Williams with a requests show. Among the adverts is one for Supermac’s, now a highly successful fast-food company.

Part 2 below was made from 1559-1644 on 2nd May 1986 and features news with an unidentified presenter followed by Steve Marshall, one of the station’s founders.

Recording from 2nd May 1986.

Both recordings were made from 102.7 FM and are from the Anoraks Ireland Collection, donated to us by Paul Davidson.

19th August 202219th August 2022

Overnight on WLS Music Radio

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Automated overnight radio is the norm these days, but many pirate stations broadcast live programmes around the clock. In this recording of Galway station WLS from winter 1985, Mike Hosty finishes his late night show before handing over to JJ (Jeremy James, formerly of the Voice of Peace) from midnight to 0600. The voice of the late Tony Allan is heard on adverts and the station’s AM frequency of 846 kHz is also announced.

This recording was made on 28^th and 29^th November 1985 from 2340-0025. It is from the Anoraks Ireland Tapes Collection, donated to us by Paul Davidson.

17th August 20221st August 2022

Breakfast on WLS with Don Stevens

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This recording of Galway pirate WLS Music Radio features one of the station founders, Don Stevens, on the breakfast programme. Made on a frosty morning in Galway a month before Christmas, it begins with the ‘coffee break’ easy listening segment aimed at ‘housewives’. The musical choice includes some country and Christmas songs. There’s also a promo for a local charity event.

This recording was made on 26^th November 1985 from 0906-0953. It is from the Anoraks Ireland Tapes Collection, donated to us by Paul Davidson.

15th August 20221st August 2022

Don Stevens and Pamela Wilson on WLS

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This recording of Galway pirate WLS Music Radio was made in November 1985. It begins with the final half-hour of the Sunshine Special breakfast show presented by Don Stevens, one of the station’s founders. He is followed at 1000 by Pamela Wilson, formerly of ERI in Cork. News is read by Chris Ashford and there are many adverts for local Galway businesses.

Made on 13^th November 1985 from 102.7 FM, part 1 above runs from 0933-1019 and part 2 below from 1020-1106.

Part 2 from 1020.

This recording is from the Anoraks Ireland Tapes Collection, donated to us by Paul Davidson.