Chris Barry Archives - Irish Pirate Radio Audio Archive

26th June 202623rd June 2026

Morning Magic on Magic 103

This recording features programming from Magic 103, the short-lived easy-listening and talk-based experiment launched by Radio Nova in April 1985. Up first is Chris Barry and George Long (Henry O’Donovan, RIP) with the end of the breakfast show, who is followed by Bob Gallico (RIP) and Peter Madison (RIP) with Morning Magic. There is a television preview, racing results, a competition, news snippets, a nostalgia spot and an interview with an American singer living in Dublin. The music ranges from country and Irish to classical, underlining the lack of clarity about what Magic 103 was supposed to offer listeners. Peter refers to Magic as ‘Europe’s newest easy-listening station’ but the lack of adverts pointed to its growing financial woes.

The recording was made from 103.5 FM on Thursday 23^rd July 1985 between 0950-1122 and is from the Anoraks Ireland Collection.

6th May 20263rd May 2026

Chris Cary on KISS FM

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KISS FM (1982-1984) was one of several offshoots of the large Dublin pirate radio Nova. In this recording, Nova founder and boss Chris Cary is on air using the name Harry Cary. He is followed by Chris Barry with a late-night programme. The final part of the recording switches from KISS FM to Nova itself for a few minutes. ‘Independent Radio News from Ireland’ on both services is read by Ken Hammond, who would go on to have a career in RTÉ.

The recording was made from from 102.7 FM and then 88.2 FM on Sunday 10^th April 1983 between 2040-2114. It is from the Anoraks Ireland Collection.

15th November 202315th November 2023

Radio Nova as heard in English midlands

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By the summer of 1984, Radio Nova was riding the crest of a wave. Having endured the storm of the RTÉ jamming, the station was now broadcasting a massive 50kW of power on AM, allowing it greater penetration of the northwest of Britain. After using various FM and AM frequencies to avoid the jamming, in May 1984 Nova switched to 738 kHz and 102.7 FM only, opened an advertising office in Liverpool and began including references to England in news, weather and traffic reports.

This recording was made in the English midlands near Birmingham, south of the area being targetted by Nova in the northwest of England, southern Scotland and the Isle of Man. There is plenty of co-channel interference from the Spanish broadcaster on the same frequency of 738 kHz and deep fading consistent with night-time propagation. Transmitter power would also have been turned down to 10kW at night to minimise interference. On air is Chris Barry, a well-known DJ from the pirate era and later licensed independent radio. News on the hour is read by another familiar Nova voice, Sybil Fennell.

The recording was made on 6^th July 1984 from 2137 to 2307 and is from the Leon Tipler Tapes Collection, donated to us by Steve England.

12th April 202322nd September 2024

Final Q102 breakfast show with Chris and George

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This recording is of the final breakfast show presented by duo Chris Barry and George Long (Henry O’Donovan, RIP (2024)) on new Dublin super-pirate Q102 in 1985. There’s the usual chat between the hosts including a birthday file and review of the morning papers. News is read by George at the top of the hour and at 0820. The agency adverts reflect Q102’s growing impact on the radio advertising market in Dublin.

The tape was made from 102 FM on Friday 12^th April 1985 from 0738-0826. It is from the Anoraks Ireland Tapes Collection, donated to us by Paul Davidson.

6th April 20231st April 2026

Q102 prepares for Easter weekend 1985

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By Easter 1985, new Dublin station Q102 was just over two months on air and already making waves as a professional and slick choice for listeners in the capital. In this recording from Holy Thursday that year, Chris Barry presents the Good Morning Dublin show including news, weather, sports, a birthday file, the papers and Hollywood gossip. News is read by George Long (Henry O’Donovan, RIP) and there’s a promo for a £10 giveaway for drivers stuck in traffic who are listening to Q102. Chris Barry was a familiar voice on many Dublin pirates and subsequently had a long career in licensed radio. Henry O’Donovan worked in radio in Australia.

This recording was made from 102 FM on Thursday 4^th April 1985 from 0640-0728. It is from the Anoraks Ireland Tapes Collection, donated to us by Paul Davidson.