Radio North car sticker from c. 1990 (courtesy DX Archive).
This recording of Donegal station Radio North is of a Saturday evening show from the autumn of 1990. DJ Neil Sweeney has plenty of inane chatter and plays pop/chart music and oldies for the first half-hour, followed by a tribute to American country singer Marty Robbins. The feature includes recordings of WIL FM in Nashville. There are plenty of adverts from Donegal, Derry and Antrim and an advertising promo claims that Radio North has coverage of 5 counties. Syndicated news headlines from ITN in London are broadcast at 1730 and 1800 and a PO box number in Ballymoney, Co. Antrim, is given out as the station address.
There was cut-throat competition between the Donegal pirates at this time, and Radio North was no doubt feeling the pressure from loss of advertising revenue to rival station North Atlantic Radio, set up by former Radio North DJs in November 1989. This recording was made from 98.8 FM on 22nd September 1990 between 1729-1850 and is from the Anoraks Ireland Collection.
North Atlantic Radio 1st birthday poster in 1990 (courtesy DX Archive)
There were many splits in the Radio North camp during its long existence since 1986. One such offshoot station was North Atlantic Radio that began broadcasting around the beginning of November 1989 from Carndonagh, also on the Inishowen peninsula where Radio North was based. It was run by Tommy Cunningham and specialised in classic gold and country hits. A report in the Donegal Democrat on 2nd March 1990 listed North Atlantic as one of five pirate stations operating in Inishowen alone, taking advantage of the proximity to the border and listeners in Derry and beyond. In a letter to Ian Biggar on 6th March 1990, Francis Callaghan of Radio North said that North Atlantic was set up by former DJs who took over the station’s previous premises and telephone number. On 18th January 1991, the Donegal Democrat reported that North Atlantic Radio was proposing the establishment of a community broadcast co-operative to seek a licence for the Inishowen peninsula, claiming that the new licensed station Highland Radio had fallen short of providing public information and entertainment. Tommy Cunningham was quoted as saying that North Atlantic Radio would act as sponsors for such a co-op and called for the support of listeners, advertisers, community organisations and individuals.
The plethora of pirate stations in one small area of Donegal was clearly untenable, and Radio North closed down sometime near the end of 1991. On 16th February 1992, North Atlantic Radio was logged by Ken Baird of DX Archive on the old Radio North frequency of 846 kHz. Although there were brief appearances by Radio North in 1992 and 1993, on 13th January 1994, the Donegal Democrat reported that North Atlantic Radio was the only pirate left on air in the county. A short time later on 31st January 1994, North Atlantic reverted to the original Radio North name.
This recording of North Atlantic Radio features Mickey Bradley and DJ Heather with lunchtime shows. There are plenty of requests from both sides of the border and adverts from Donegal, Derry and Antrim, some voiced by Paul and Krissi from other pirate station WABC. The tape was made from 1125 kHz between 1217-1353 on 1st August 1990 and is courtesy of Ian Biggar.
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.
