Henry Owens on Q102

Henry Owens on Q102
Promo for the news service from 1985 (courtesy Andy Carter).

Henry Owens (real name Henry Condon) was heard on various pirate stations in the 1980s, including Q102, Radio Nova and South Coast Radio in Cork, where he was known as Alan Reid. In this recording from 1986, he presents an afternoon show on Dublin super-pirate Q102. Along with plenty of agency adverts, there’s also a competition to win a trip across the skies of Dublin in the Eye in the Sky helicopter, from which Q102 delivered its traffic reports each morning. News is read by Anne Cassin at two minutes to the hour, an innovation allowing the station to claim that it was first to bring the news to Dublin listeners.

Henry Owens on Q102
Original label from Anoraks Ireland Collection

Henry went on to enjoy a long career on licensed radio in Ireland and UK up to his untimely death in 2013. Anne Cassin is now a presenter of Nationwide on RTÉ. This tape was recorded on Tuesday 11th March 1986 from 102.1 FM. Part 1 above runs from 1519 and Part 2 below from 1618.

Part 2.

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

Gerry Stevens on Q102

Gerry Stevens on Q102
Q102 studio shot from 1985 (Anoraks Ireland Collection).

The Dublin super-pirate Q102 ended 1985 on a high after a successful first year of broadcasting. The station prided itself on being Irish-owned in contrast with the city’s other two big pirates, Radio Nova and Sunshine Radio. This recording is of Gerry Stevens on his drivetime show in November 1985. News on the hour is read by Anne Cassin. Gerry Stevens worked subsequently in the licensed Dublin station Q102, which was launched as Lite FM in 2000. Anne Cassin is a television presenter with RTÉ.

Gerry Stevens on Q102
Q102 logo in the studio in 1985 (Anoraks Ireland Collection).

Our tape was made from 102.1 FM from 1635-1708 on 27th November 1985. There is some wobble due to the age of the cassette. It is from the Anoraks Ireland Tapes Collection, donated to us by Paul Davidson.

Jason Maine and Anne Cassin on Q102

Jason Maine and Anne Cassin on Q102
Early Q102 car sticker from 1985 (Anoraks Ireland Collection).

This is a recording of Jason Maine on his afternoon show on Q102 in 1985, about 10 months after the successful Dublin station went on air. There are plenty of adverts in the run-up to Christmas, a competition to win a Fiat Uno car and a £10 giveaway to listeners on the streets who said they listened to Q102. Jason Maine had worked previously with other Dublin pirates including Radio Nova.

Jason Maine and Anne Cassin on Q102
Clipping about Jason Maine in Sunday World, 1986 (Anoraks Ireland Collection).

News is read by Anne Cassin, who went on to become a journalist with RTÉ and is now a presenter of Nationwide.

Jason Maine and Anne Cassin on Q102
Original cassette label from Anoraks Ireland Collection.

This recording was made from 102.1 FM on Wednesday, 27th November 1985. Part 1 above runs from 1321 and Part 2 below from 1411.

Part 2 from 1411.

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