This is another recording of Northside Radio, to which Radio North changed its name after some of those involved stepped back from the pirate station in 1989 to apply for a licence for the north Donegal franchise. On air at lunchtime is station manager Francis Callaghan with country and Irish music and plenty of requests from both sides of the border. Francis also reads out community notices and presents the daily Helpline slot. Most but not all adverts are from the North and there is a promo for a Northside Radio roadshow in Co. Derry. The station reverted to Radio North a few weeks later after the licence application was unsuccessful.
This recording of Northside Radio was made from 846 kHz AM on Wednesday 23rd August 1989 between 1309-1440 from 846 kHz AM (the station also broadcast on 98 FM at the time). Reception is fair and consistent with daytime groundwave reception as this tape was recorded in Scotland. Thanks to Ian Biggar for the donation.
Don Allen at ERI in 1983 (courtesy Svenn Martinsen).
The Canadian radio presenter Don Allen (RIP) was a familiar voice on Irish pirate radio in the 1980s and 1990s, where he shared his love of country music with appreciative audiences in various parts of the country stretching from Monaghan to Cork. After leaving Canada, Don worked on the offshore station Radio Caroline from 1965-1968 and later with Manx Radio and the BBC, before coming to Ireland and its growing pirate scene. He continued to broadcast on licensed station Midlands Radio 3 until his untimely death in 1995.
This recording of Don’s trademark country show on Cork station ERI in 1983 underlines his natural genius as a presenter. It was made during an outside broadcast from Kinsale before an event later that evening featuring ERI DJs. Reflecting the station’s growing popularity after its expansion earlier that year, several adverts are heard from businesses in the city and all around the county. The airchecked tape was made by Kieran Murray on Sunday 17th July 1983 from 105.8 FM between 1713-1800 and is from the Anoraks Ireland Collection. ERI also broadcast on 1305 kHz AM, announcing 225 metres.
Northside Radio rate card from 1989 (courtesy Ian Biggar).
On 16th January 1989, Radio North was relaunched as Northside Radio complete with new jingles, promos and studios and a move to Redcastle on the banks of Lough Foyle. The Donegal Democrat of 20th January reported that a split in the Radio North camp led to the new name, with the original owner Paddy Simpson deciding to apply for the north Donegal licence. At this time, Anoraks UK reported that Northside Radio’s listenership was obviously strong, due to a large number of requests and regular promos for public appearances of DJs on both sides of the border. In March there were rumours that the station was raided and the FM transmitter confiscated but these were not confirmed.
The Donegal News of 15th April 1989 carried a report about a hearing of the Independent Radio and Television Commission (IRTC) with applicants for the Donegal radio licences (the county was divided into north and south for the purposes of the new legislation). Among the applicants for the northern licence, the consortium linked to Radio North was called North Donegal Community Broadcasting Services Ltd. and Paddy Simpson was among its directors. IRTC chairperson Séamus Henchy took some interest in the pirate background of applicants and asked about the consortium’s links to Radio North/Northside Radio. Paddy Simpson said that he was aware that Radio North had continued to broadcast after the 1989 deadline but denied that he was in any way connected with either it or Northside Radio. The consortium promised a musical policy of middle-of-the-road, country and traditional, very much in the same style as Radio North. Another high-profile pirate name, Tony Allan (RIP) was to be appointed programme director.
On 4th August 1989, the Donegal Democrat reported that Highland Radio had been awarded the licence for North Donegal, the only applicant that was not linked to a former pirate. On September 4th, the name of Northside Radio reverted to Radio North once again when Paddy Simpson took back control, according to Anoraks UK. The Donegal Democrat of 8th September reported that Radio North made no secret of the fact that it would continue to broadcast without a licence.
This recording of Northside Radio was made towards the end of its existence and features a mixture of country and Irish music, with some classics, oldies and pop thrown in. Rockin’ Raymond presents the Hits and Memories show, which includes a listeners’ competition. Adverts include new releases by Irish country music stars and promotions for gigs, an important function served by stations such as Northside/Radio North. Most adverts are from businesses in the North, reflecting the stricter new broadcasting laws in place in the Republic. Of interest is one for boat trips to Rathlin Island off the Antrim coast.
The recording was made from 846 kHz AM on Tuesday 15th August between 1038-1210 and is courtesy of Ian Biggar. There is some electrical interference as the tape was made in Scotland.
Radio North from Co. Donegal is one of Ireland’s longest-running pirate stations, operating under various guises more or less continuously from 1986 to the current day. It began broadcasting from Carndonagh on the Inishowen peninsula on 18th November 1986 on 1386 kHz, later moving to 1404. By mid-1987, it had moved to the clearer channel of 846 kHz, which gave it better coverage over a wider area.
Radio North closed down along with the vast majority of the other pirate stations on 31st December 1988 but its frequencies were not silent for long. The station was among a handful of pirates to defy the new broadcasting laws and continue broadcasting in 1989. Radio North returned on tape on 5th January 1989 and resumed live programmes the following day on 97.9 FM and 846 kHz AM putting out its usually good signal into Britain, according to the Anoraks UK Weekly Report. Promos were aired to raise funds for the station’s court case against the 1988 legislation with £30,000 required, £10,000 of which would be provided by Radio North. Adverts from both sides of the border were plentiful but an address in Ballymoney in Co. Antrim was used for advertising in order to circumvent the provisions of the new laws banning advertising on pirate radio in the Republic.
This recording was made from 1005-1155 on Sunday 8th January 1989, just three days after Radio North returned to the air. DJ James plays a mixture of country, oldies and pop and there are requests and adverts from both sides of the border along with an appeal for donations to help the station fight the new broadcasting legislation in the High Court. The recording was made in Scotland and reception is fair with some electrical interference as would be expected given the distance from the broadcast site. We thank Ian Biggar for the donation.
Along with the vast majority of the other pirates, the Donegal station Radio North closed down at the end of 1988 in compliance with new broadcasting legislation. This recording of the final hour of Radio North on New Year’s Eve is presented by Mickey Henry who shares many requests from loyal listeners on both sides of the border, including one who has recorded most of the shows for posterity. Other presenters join Mickey in studio and there is a supportive phone call from neighbouring pirate Donegal Community Radio (DCR).
Cutting from the Donegal Democrat in early 1989 featuring the county’s pirates.
The closedown speech just before midnight is read by station manager Francis Callaghan, who thanks everyone involved over the previous two years. Although the transmitter is about to be switched off, he hints that more is to come when he says that Radio North will be bigger and better than ever in 1989.
The recording was made by Rodney Neill from 98 FM between 2302-0000 on December 31st 1988 and is courtesy of DX Archive. Within days, Radio North would return to the airwaves.
