Border Archives - Page 2 of 21 - Irish Pirate Radio Audio Archive

15th September 202514th September 2025

Border series: More oldies on Radio North

This is another recording of former Radio North manager the late Paul Barnett’s popular morning oldies show on Donegal pirate Radio North. On a sunny autumnal morning, Paul has an electic mix of oldies from across the decades and a quiz with a cash prize up for grabs. Reflecting changing technology, listeners can phone in their answers or send a text. The first correct answer comes from Islay in Scotland, underlining the wide coverage area achieved by Radio North on AM. There are the usual adverts for small businesses in Counties Derry and Antrim, also voiced by Paul.

The recording was made in Scotland on 30^th October 2006 from 846 kHz AM between 0955-1040 and is courtesy of Ian Biggar.

8th September 20254th September 2025

Border series: Paul Barnett plays oldies on Radio North

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This recording of Donegal pirate Radio North features former station manager Paul Burbank (Paul Barnett, RIP) with an edition of his popular daily oldies show from 2005. Copious adverts for small businesses in Counties Antrim and Derry are voiced by Paul who also reads news at the top of the hour.

The tape was made from 1050-1135 on Tuesday 15^th February 2005 from 846 kHz AM and is donated by Ian Biggar.

25th August 202519th August 2025

Border series: Oldies show on Radio North

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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 31^st 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.

26th July 202521st July 2025

Border series: ‘the new Radio North’ from 1999

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After the shortlived change to Radio North 2000 in 1998, the Donegal pirate dumped the reference to the millennium and relaunched itself as ‘the new Radio North’ in 1999. Owner Paul Barnett (RIP) maintained the focus on American country music and the station developed a more polished sound and concentrated on FM (103.9 and 104.4), while running a parallel AM service for religious music and programming, Gospel 846.

This recording from summer 1999 gives a flavour of the new Radio North, complete with a slick advertising promo and a huge number of adverts from both sides of the border, many of them voiced by Paul Barnett. The DJ is Steve Marshall, who had been involved in previous Irish pirate stations in the 1980s. Among the straplines used are ‘the northwest’s fasting growing station’ and ‘the only station that’s increasing its audience’. There’s also a syndicated news service from IRN at the top of the hour.

The tape is courtesy of Ian Biggar and was made on Tuesday June 1^st 1999 between 1405-1535 from 103.9 FM.

16th July 202514th July 2025

Border series: Radio North rebranded as Radio North 2000

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Radio North 2000 was a shortlived rebranding of the Donegal pirate Radio North as it approached the millennium. The name change was implemented after the station was taken over by Paul Barnett (RIP), who previously ran another Donegal pirate WABC, and American Mike Dobbins (RIP). The format moved away from the previous Irish country music diet and was replaced by American country, oldies and some contemporary. One DJ, Steven Lynch, recalls being unhappy with the new name as it was not clear what the station would be called once the year 2000 arrived. It later reverted to the original Radio North after the departure of Mike Dobbins.

This recording of Radio North 2000 features an unidentified DJ signing off at the end of her evening show, followed by continuous music interspersed with plenty of station liners and adverts, some of which are voiced by Paul Barnett. The music consists of pop and chart hits with some oldies.

The tape was made in Scotland by Ken Baird from 846 kHz AM on 16^th May 1998 from 1942-2112 and is courtesy of Ian Biggar. Thanks to Steven Lynch for background information.