Site of WABC FM transmitter in Greencastle, May 1990 (courtesy Ian Biggar)
WABC Gold was one of two stations operated by Paul Barnett (RIP) from Greencastle on the Donegal/Derry border in 1990. The other service was WABC Hot Hits and together both stations swept up advertising revenue from businesses in Northern Ireland despite new broadcasting laws in the Republic that were supposed to silence the pirates. This recording features the afternoon show presented by Barry Owler, who plays oldies and also reads news on the hour. An advertising promo refers to both stations in ‘the WABC radio network’, there are plenty of commercials from Counties Derry and Antrim and the show is sponsored by a wine bar and nightclub in Portstewart. Barry refers to the Italia 90 World Cup due to start that week and there is also a chance for listeners to win a weekend holiday break.
The tape was made between 1400-1530 on 6th June 1990 from 101.2 FM. Audio is generally good but there is some fading in places as it was recorded in Coleraine in Co. Derry. Thanks to Andy Craig for the original recording and to Ian Biggar for the donation.
A sticker for the WABC Gold service (courtesy DX Archive)
Continuing our series on Donegal border pirate WABC, we take up the story in mid-1990 by which time the station had expanded into two separate services. The following text is courtesy of Ian Biggar.
WABC continued pretty much unhindered for the remainder of 1989, but by my next visit in May 1990 significant change had happened. Two stations were now operating from the attic of Paul’s family home in Greencastle and both were running live programmes. The original 101.7 transmitter was operating as WABC Hot Hits with the second station being WABC Gold on 101.2 MHz. The transmitters were located fairly close to each other at Stroove. Both were aimed at Coleraine and beyond and were gaining a loyal following and a fairly healthy advertising log. However by August both transmitters were carrying the programmes of WABC Gold. In November 1990 Free Radio News from Ireland reported that WABC Gold had installed a new aerial system for the 101.2 MHz transmissions resulting in increased signal strength in the area of Coleraine. It also reported the resumption of transmissions from WABC Hot Hits on 101.7 MHz. Staff shortages was given as the reason for the delay in getting the Hot Hits station back on air.
This recording is of WABC Gold with a lunchtime show presented competently by Krissi Bentley (Carpenter), who was married to station founder Paul Bentley (Paul Barnett, RIP). There are plenty of adverts for businesses in Counties Derry and Antrim and the programme itself is sponsored by a carpet shop in Coleraine. Krissi reads news headlines at the top of the hour and the show also includes a laid-back Coffee Time slot and a Beg, Steal or Borrow section. There is also a listeners’ competition and promos for the two WABC stations. The recording was made between 1125-1300 from 101.2 FM on 6th June 1990 and is courtesy of Ian Biggar.
Radio Caroline flyer from 1992 (courtesy Brian Greene)
Radio Caroline Dublin was one of the longest-running pirates in the capital in the post-1989 period, when new legisation was supposed to silence the unlicensed operators. Based in Sutton in northeast Dublin, it broadcast on a part-time basis from 1989-1992 and then introduced a full schedule, operating every evening and all day at weekends. Reception was local at the start but eventually a transmitter site in the Dublin mountains gave good coverage of the city. The station did not take advertising but instead generated income from DJ subscriptions and occasional fundraisers. Radio Caroline Dublin was involved in an unsuccessful application for a community radio licence in 1996 and continued broadcasting until 2000.
In its first two years, Radio Caroline broadcast only on bank holiday Mondays, so about six times a year. The same people were also behind other occasional stations in the Dublin 13 area such as Suburban Radio and ARD. This recording is of Radio Caroline on the October bank holiday Monday 1990 and features one of the station founders Bobby Gibbson (aka Brian Greene of Pirate.ie). He comments on the forthcoming Irish presidential election, reminisces on the 1990 World Cup and laments the state of broadcasting in Ireland. The broadcast ends with the original ‘love and good music’ jingle of the offshore Radio Caroline and then the TX is switched off.
The recording is from the Pirate.ie collection and was made from 94 FM from 2203-2303 on 29th October 1990.
Pauline Reddin and Brian Greene of Radio Caroline Dublin in 1989
ARD (Alternative Radio Dublin) was one of the biggest stations in the early years of the pirate era, first broadcasting in 1976 on 217 metres. It was set up by Declan Meehan, Mark Story and Davitt Kelly (RIP). Following a split at Radio Dublin, the late Don Moore (Dr. Don) joined ARD in 1977 and it moved to 1161 kHz (announcing 257 metres), next to its old rival on 253 metres. Competition between Radio Dublin and ARD forced up standards and led to greater professionalism among the pirates and a shift from hobby to full-time broadcasters.
It is said that imitiation is the best form of flattery so we were interested to discover a recording of another Alternative Radio Dublin, based in the north Dublin suburb of Bayside in the second wave of pirates following the new laws that came into force in 1989. This ARD was one of the occasional hobby stations operated by the people behind Radio Caroline Dublin, a long-running pirate that broadcast from 1989 to 2000 from the same part of Dublin. Brian Greene of Pirate.ie was one of the founders. From the same stable, ARD played indie/alternative music on weekday evenings between 10pm and midnight. All shows were pre-recorded rather than live and power output was about 30 watts on FM through a half-wave dipole with no elevation, so coverage was very local. It is not clear how often ARD was on air but it was most likely heard on only a handful of occasions in 1989/1990. Another more regular hobby station run by the same people was Suburban Radio, broadcasting in the same late-night timeslot before Radio Caroline became a more full-time operation. This recording of ARD features Dave Walsh (aka Daragh O’Sullivan) on air and was made from 94 FM from 2208-2338 on 24th July 1990. It is from the Pirate.ie collection.
Radio Caroline Dublin and ARD/Suburban Radio had their origins in other local stations in northeast Dublin such as Centre Radio (1986-1988) and Big Beat Radio (1986). Radio Caroline broadcast on bank holiday Mondays in 1989 and on weekends in 1990/1991 before introducing a full-time schedule from 1992. It was one of the longest continuous pirates of the 1990s, a significant achievement given the new stricter legal regime in place.
Screenshot of Don from 1989 video about Radio Star Country by Miles Johnston (courtesy Rodney Neill).
Don Allen (RIP) was a familiar voice on the Irish pirate scene and did a stint at Monaghan station Radio Star Country in 1989 and the early 1990s. This recording of Radio Star Country features Don with his live afternoon American country music show, as received in Norway due to the magic of AM propagation. Don is also heard on promos and adverts, as is station founder and owner Gerry Byrne.
The recording was made from 1632-1645 on 17th January 1990 from 981 kHz in Solsvik on the western Norwegian coast using a Drake SPR-4 receiver with a 200-metre antenna facing the southwest and Ireland. Audio quality is poor with deep fading and the Algerian station also broadcasting on 981 kHz dominates for a time, all part of the fun of DXing. Thanks to Svenn Martinsen for the donation.
