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Final Christmas Eve on Heartbeat FM

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Final Christmas Eve on Heartbeat FM
Heartbeat sticker (courtesy DX Archive).

This is a recording of the final Christmas Eve on Dublin love song station Heartbeat FM from 1988. John Keogh is on air from an unnamed pub with plenty of festive music and requests. He reminds listeners that there are only six days left before Heartbeat closes down and the iconic ‘final countdown’ promo is aired. Adverts of interest include one for a course in computer keyboard skills and another for ‘Bros-look outfits’.

Heartbeat was launched in November 1986 and quickly gained a strong listenership due to its love song format. It changed its name to Cara 95 FM in 1987 but reverted back to Heartbeat due to popular demand. Heartbeat closed at the end of December 1988 in line with the new legislation.

Final Christmas Eve on Heartbeat FM
Original cassette label from Anoraks Ireland Collection.

The tape was recorded from 95.5 FM from 1417-1502 on 24th December 1988 and is partly airchecked. It is from the Anoraks Ireland Tapes Collection, donated to us by Paul Davidson.

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Various shows on South Coast Radio from 1982

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Various shows on South Coast Radio from 1982
L-R: Engineer Terri Vacani, Lillian McCarthy, Alan Reid and Nick Richards (undated, courtesy Lillian O’Donoghue).

These snippets of South Coast Radio in Cork were recorded in November 1982. The recording begins with Stevie Dunne who is filling in for Nick Richards on his Nightline show just after 11pm. He is followed by Steve Douglas, at the time South Coast’s youngest DJ who came from earlier Cork pirates Radio City and Capital Radio. Then another excerpt from the Nightline programme is heard followed by the late Alan Reid (aka Henry Condon, known as Henry Owens on later stations) with the breakfast show. South Coast’s number one fan Lillian McCarthy (O’Donoghue) is mentioned throughout the recording.

Various shows on South Coast Radio from 1982
Steve Douglas at Christmas 1982 (courtesy Lillian O’Donoghue).

The tape is dated 14th November 1982 but appears to cover more than one day. It was recorded from 104 FM and donated to us by Lillian O’Donoghue. Audio quality is fair with some distortion.

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Nick Richards marks 100 shows on South Coast Radio

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Nick Richards marks 100 shows on South Coast Radio
Nick Richards at South Coast Radio in December 1982 (courtesy Lillian O’Donoghue).

This is a recording of the 100th programme presented by popular South Coast Radio DJ Nick Richards in August 1982. At this stage of South Coast’s run, Nick’s Nightline show was heard on the Cork station in the late evening and early hours. Nick mentions August 14th 1967, when offshore pirate radio ships were closed down under new UK legislation, and plays music to make the occasion.  

This partially airchecked recording begins just after midnight on Friday 13th August 1982 and is from 104 FM. Thanks to Lillian O’Donoghue for the donation.

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Paul Vincent on Galway’s WLS

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Paul Vincent on Galway's WLS
Exterior of WLS studios in Prospect Hill Galway in 1986 (Anoraks Ireland Collection).

Paul Vincent (aka Brendan Mee) was a DJ on the Galway pirate WLS and later did stints on the border pirate Zee 103 and the offshore station the Voice of Peace. This airchecked recording is of him on an undated show from July 1986, which includes a detailed events guide for Galway for the late summer and autumn. The clip below is of Brendan reading the WLS midday news bulletin on Thursday 19th June 1986.

WLS news on 19.06.1986

Thanks for Brendan Mee for the donation.

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South Coast Top 40 with Siobhán Walls

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South Coast Top 40 with Siobhán Walls
South Coast compliments slip (courtesy Lillian O’Donoghue).

This is Siobhán Walls presenting the South Coast Top 40 on Saturday 9th October 1982. The recording begins at 1400 and is partially edited. It was recorded from 104 FM in mono and audio quality is fair with some distortion in places.

Siobhán’s radio career spanned both pirates and legal stations. She was involved in the early days of Sunshine Radio in Dublin, reading her first news bulletin on 25th November 1980. She was appointed Head of News in Sunshine in November 1981 and also did a late-night show at weekends. In August 1982, she moved to South Coast Radio and would later work in another big Cork station, ERI. In the licensed era, Siobhán presented a late night show on the doomed national independent station Century Radio (1989-1991) and worked in television production in the 1990s. She is now a celebrant with the Humanist Association of Ireland. Thanks to Lillian O’Donoghue for background information and the recording.