Barry Owler Archives - Irish Pirate Radio Audio Archive

Border series: Afternoon favourites on WABC Gold — 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 6^th 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.

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Border series: closedown of WABC in December 1988 — WABC car sticker from Anoraks Ireland Collection

Donegal pirate WABC closed at 4pm on 30^th December 1988 despite announcing previously that it would carry on and for a time over that weekend it looked as if the station would make a speedy return. This recording is of the final 90 minutes of WABC from 1430 on that day. It begins with Barry Owler who shares good wishes to those involved from local advertisers and listeners. There is a promo about the pirate closedowns that day and reference to the new radio legislation, including WABC’s intention to apply for a licence at a later stage. Barry is followed by station operator Paul Bentley (Paul Barnett, RIP) from 1500 for the final hour.

Following closedown at 1600, a loop tape was broadcast on WABC’s frequencies later that evening claiming erroneously that Radio Dublin owner Eamonn Cooke had won his appeal against the new radio legislation, that it appeared that the new laws were on ice and that WABC may be able to return to the airwaves. The court had in fact dismissed Cooke’s attempt to gain an injunction preventing the new laws from coming into effect but had granted him leave to challenge the constitutionality of certain sections of the broadcasting acts. Although WABC did not return in the short term, it would not be too long until it was heard again on the airwaves in the northwest. The recording was made from 101.7 FM by Rodney Neill and is courtesy of DX Archive.