Pat O’Rourke with Lilian McCarthy in Radio City in 1981 (photo courtesy of Lilian)
This recording of Radio City gives a flavour of the variety of shows on the Cork station as it began to find its feet in the autumn of 1980. First up is Pat O’Rourke (Smurf) with Sounds around Midnight, which includes mention of the upcoming Cork Jazz Festival. This is followed by Tony Allen (Walsh) with his new daily show, Mid-Morning Madness. Adverts are heard for businesses around Cork as Radio City was beginning to generate income in its second month on air. There’s also a request by letter from number one fan Lilian McCarthy (O’Donoghue). News at 1200 is read by Pete Andrews (O’Neill), who takes over with his lunchtime show at 1230.
The recording was made from 1512 kHz, announcing 199 metres, between 20th and 27th October 1980 although exact dates are unclear. Audio quality is poor for the first half-hour due to rudimentary recording equipment but improves later despite cassette degradation. Thanks to Lilian O’Donoghue for the donation.
Radio North flyer from 2001 including Paul’s oldies show (courtesy Ian Biggar).
This recording of Donegal pirate Radio North features an oldies show rather than the usual conutry and Irish music long associated with the station. Former station manager Paul Barnett (RIP) is at the helm on a bright but chilly New Year’s Eve, and the professional presentation is reminiscent of his early 1990s station WABC Gold, also based on the Inishowen peninsula. Adverts for Northern businesses only are voiced by Paul and the absence of advertising from Donegal is likely due to a clampdown in the Republic at the time on the pirates and on businesses buying commercials on them.
The recording was made in Ayrshire on 31st December 2001 from 846 kHz AM between 1000-1130 and is kindly donated by Ian Biggar. Audio quality is generally good with some interference, as would be expected during daytime DX reception at the time of year.
Paul Cassidy at Radio City in September 1980 (courtesy Lilian O’Donoghue).
This is another recording of Cork pirate Radio City in the early months of its existence in autumn 1980. Most of the recording consists of Monday evening shows: Paul Cassidy with Travelling Through the 70s including a listeners’ quiz and Tony Allen (Walsh) with Jukebox Jive. These are followed by short snippets of daytime programmes: Pete Andrews (O’Neill) at lunchtime, Carl Johnson (Dan Noonan) with Afternoon Delights and Noel Evans (Welch) with Home Run.
The tape of Radio City was made on 6th and 7th October 1980 from 1512 kHz, announcing 199 metres. Audio quality is poor throughout due to rudimentary recording equipment. Thanks to Lilian O’Donoghue for the donation.
QSL for Gospel 846/AWR from 2001 (courtesy Ian Biggar).
During its almost 40 years on air, Donegal pirate Radio North has broadcast religious programming at various times, either as a part of its main output or as separate services broadcasting on AM or FM only. In 1989, it had ambitious plans for an FM station called Gospel 98 but after only a few months, this offshoot closed following a storm in March 1990. Around the turn of the millennium, another religious service called Gospel 846 was launched, using the original AM frequency while the main country music service continued on FM. The change was introduced by Paul Barnett (RIP), who took over Radio North in 1998 along with the American Mike Dobbins (RIP), ushering in a more tightly formatted diet of American country music on FM along with opt-out religious programming at certain times of the day on AM.
A poster from 2001 for Radio North, highlighting religious shows. The Gospel 846 name had been dropped by that time (courtesy Ian Biggar).
Gospel 846 was reported by the British DX Club in 2000 as a subsidiary of Radio North broadcasting religious material. There are references to Gospel 846 on various websites up to the late 2010s but it appears that a distinct separate service ceased in 2001, when Paul Barnett decided to put his original Donegal pirate WABC back on the air on FM frequencies then being used by Radio North (103.9 and 104.4). Paul had previously run WABC from 1987-1991, apart from a 6-month break following the introduction of new broadcasting legislation in 1989. After the revival of WABC, religious programming became a more integral part of Radio North itself as all the output was then on AM only. The station did not return to FM due to raids by the Department of Communications on pirates in the northwest at that time. Details of the religious shows can be seen in the flyer above from 2001.
A letter and QSL of Gospel 846 (see above) received by Ian Biggar in 2001 were issued by Adventist World Radio, an international Christian broadcaster that was paying Radio North for the output. Although there are no separate religious services today, both Radio North and fellow AM pirate Radio Star Country in Monaghan rely heavily on religious programming for income.
This recording of Gospel 846 was made between 1117-1217 on 4th November 1999 and features part of a gospel music programme presented by Mark Fleming. Unlike Radio North itself, there are no adverts but the show is sponsored by a business in Derry and a PO Box number in Limavady is given as an address for requests and dedications. The tape was made by Ken Baird in Ayrshire in Scotland and is courtesy of Ian Biggar.
Sunshine 101 sticker from the later period (Anoraks Ireland Collection).
Bee Bop Gold was a hugely popular oldies show on Dublin pirate Sunshine Radio in its last few years on air. Sponsored by video rental company Xtravision, it was presented by Nails Mahoney, who would go on to a successful media career in Ireland and abroad. Relaunched as ‘Sunshine Hot Hits 101’ at this time, the Portmarnock station was the radio leader in Dublin and market research showed that Bee Bop Gold was the capital’s most listened to programme on Sundays.
This recording of Bee Bop Gold highlights how tightly-formatted the programme was, with very short links and continuous oldies. There are the usual high-level agency adverts for larger businesses and brands, some voiced by Sunshine boss, Robbie Robinson (RIP). The tape was made on Sunday 16th August 1987 from 101.5 FM between 1317-1447 and is from the Anoraks Ireland Collection.
