1989 Archives - Irish Pirate Radio Audio Archive

9th April 20259th April 2025

Border series: test transmission by Gospel 98 FM

Gospel 98 FM was a short-lived offshoot of Donegal station Radio North and an example of the long-standing religious programming on the station itself or on related services. It began broadcasting on 11^th December 1989 from Shrove Head outside Greencastle on the Inishowen Peninsula. A promotional poster described the new station’s aim as promoting ‘vibrant, joyful, biblical Christianity’ over the airwaves. Gospel 98 was to be controlled and staffed by committed Christians who aimed to produce short bible studies, youth programmes and programmes for older people. The station’s ethos was described as non-denominational but also Evangelical Christian and it was envisaged that programmes would be sponsored.

This short recording is of a test transmission the day before Gospel 98 went on air and features music interspersed with recorded messages. The station was to broadcast from Monday to Saturday from 1500-1900 and promised gospel music and ‘lively content’. The tape was made in Lancashire on Sunday 10th December 1989 from 97.8 FM during an FM lift and is courtesy of Gary Hogg. Thanks to Ian Biggar for the image. Audio quality is fair and characterised by fading as to be expected some distance from the transmitter.

On 2^nd March 1990, the Donegal Democrat reported that Gospel 98 had been put off the air by a storm the previous weekend. The station seems to have vanished after that and there does not appear to be a direct link with Gospel 846, an AM religious service linked to Radio North that was set up in 1999 when the main station moved to FM only.

19th March 202521st March 2025

Border series: More of Donegal station Northside Radio

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This is another recording of Northside Radio, to which Radio North changed its name after some of those involved stepped back from the pirate station in 1989 to apply for a licence for the north Donegal franchise. On air at lunchtime is station manager Francis Callaghan with country and Irish music and plenty of requests from both sides of the border. Francis also reads out community notices and presents the daily Helpline slot. Most but not all adverts are from the North and there is a promo for a Northside Radio roadshow in Co. Derry. The station reverted to Radio North a few weeks later after the licence application was unsuccessful.

This recording of Northside Radio was made from 846 kHz AM on Wednesday 23^rd August 1989 between 1309-1440 from 846 kHz AM (the station also broadcast on 98 FM at the time). Reception is fair and consistent with daytime groundwave reception as this tape was recorded in Scotland. Thanks to Ian Biggar for the donation.

12th March 202511th March 2025

Border series: Radio North relaunches as Northside Radio

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On 16^th January 1989, Radio North was relaunched as Northside Radio complete with new jingles, promos and studios and a move to Redcastle on the banks of Lough Foyle. The Donegal Democrat of 20^th January reported that a split in the Radio North camp led to the new name, with the original owner Paddy Simpson deciding to apply for the north Donegal licence. At this time, Anoraks UK reported that Northside Radio’s listenership was obviously strong, due to a large number of requests and regular promos for public appearances of DJs on both sides of the border. In March there were rumours that the station was raided and the FM transmitter confiscated but these were not confirmed.

The Donegal News of 15^th April 1989 carried a report about a hearing of the Independent Radio and Television Commission (IRTC) with applicants for the Donegal radio licences (the county was divided into north and south for the purposes of the new legislation). Among the applicants for the northern licence, the consortium linked to Radio North was called North Donegal Community Broadcasting Services Ltd. and Paddy Simpson was among its directors. IRTC chairperson Séamus Henchy took some interest in the pirate background of applicants and asked about the consortium’s links to Radio North/Northside Radio. Paddy Simpson said that he was aware that Radio North had continued to broadcast after the 1989 deadline but denied that he was in any way connected with either it or Northside Radio. The consortium promised a musical policy of middle-of-the-road, country and traditional, very much in the same style as Radio North. Another high-profile pirate name, Tony Allan (RIP) was to be appointed programme director.

On 4^th August 1989, the Donegal Democrat reported that Highland Radio had been awarded the licence for North Donegal, the only applicant that was not linked to a former pirate. On September 4^th, the name of Northside Radio reverted to Radio North once again when Paddy Simpson took back control, according to Anoraks UK. The Donegal Democrat of 8^th September reported that Radio North made no secret of the fact that it would continue to broadcast without a licence.

This recording of Northside Radio was made towards the end of its existence and features a mixture of country and Irish music, with some classics, oldies and pop thrown in. Rockin’ Raymond presents the Hits and Memories show, which includes a listeners’ competition. Adverts include new releases by Irish country music stars and promotions for gigs, an important function served by stations such as Northside/Radio North. Most adverts are from businesses in the North, reflecting the stricter new broadcasting laws in place in the Republic. Of interest is one for boat trips to Rathlin Island off the Antrim coast.

The recording was made from 846 kHz AM on Tuesday 15^th August between 1038-1210 and is courtesy of Ian Biggar. There is some electrical interference as the tape was made in Scotland.

5th March 202520th February 2025

Border series: Radio North returns to the air in 1989

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Radio North from Co. Donegal is one of Ireland’s longest-running pirate stations, operating under various guises more or less continuously from 1986 to the current day. It began broadcasting from Carndonagh on the Inishowen peninsula on 18^th November 1986 on 1386 kHz, later moving to 1404. By mid-1987, it had moved to the clearer channel of 846 kHz, which gave it better coverage over a wider area.

Radio North closed down along with the vast majority of the other pirate stations on 31^st December 1988 but its frequencies were not silent for long. The station was among a handful of pirates to defy the new broadcasting laws and continue broadcasting in 1989. Radio North returned on tape on 5^th January 1989 and resumed live programmes the following day on 97.9 FM and 846 kHz AM putting out its usually good signal into Britain, according to the Anoraks UK Weekly Report. Promos were aired to raise funds for the station’s court case against the 1988 legislation with £30,000 required, £10,000 of which would be provided by Radio North. Adverts from both sides of the border were plentiful but an address in Ballymoney in Co. Antrim was used for advertising in order to circumvent the provisions of the new laws banning advertising on pirate radio in the Republic.

This recording was made from 1005-1155 on Sunday 8^th January 1989, just three days after Radio North returned to the air. DJ James plays a mixture of country, oldies and pop and there are requests and adverts from both sides of the border along with an appeal for donations to help the station fight the new broadcasting legislation in the High Court. The recording was made in Scotland and reception is fair with some electrical interference as would be expected given the distance from the broadcast site. We thank Ian Biggar for the donation.

19th February 202520th February 2025

Border series: Late-night music on FM 100

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FM 100 was one of many border pirates to ignore the new broadcasting legislation that came into effect in the Republic of Ireland at the start of 1989. It used the studios and transmitters of previous pirate KITS in Monaghan Town, that had closed at the end of 1988, and beamed its signal across Northern Ireland. FM 100 launched on 26^th July 1989, with the first live show presented by John Friday (Lawrence John), who also programmed the station. Complaining about the lack of an all-music station in the North, FM 100 launched the ‘Campaign for Music Radio in Ulster’ but despite claiming ‘province-wide’ coverage with the support of advertising campaigns and fund-raising events, the station fizzled out after a few months in late 1989.

This recording of FM 100 from autumn 1989 is of a late-night show featuring pop and chart music. Adverts are heard for businesses in Armagh and Down and an advertising promo gives a Craigavon contact number, reflecting new restrictions on pirates taking advertising in the Republic. The strapline ‘Province-wide: Ulster’s newest, Ulster’s best’ is used by DJ Noel McStay and there are professional jingles and liners. The recording is from the Anoraks Ireland Collection and was made from 100 FM on Tuesday 5^th September 1989 from 2200-2242. FM 100 also broadcast on 103.25 FM in Newry and South Down.