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Summer breakfast on South Coast Radio

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Summer breakfast on South Coast Radio
Don Stevens in the South Coast studio in February 1983 (courtesy Lillian O’Donoghue).

This recording of successful Cork pirate South Coast Radio features Don Stevens on the Sunrise Special breakfast show on a warm summer morning in 1983. Don worked previously on offshore stations such as Radio Caroline and the Voice of Peace before coming to Ireland where he joined South Coast Radio. He later went on to Galway pirates Atlantic Sound and WLS Music Radio.

Summer breakfast on South Coast Radio
Jim Lockhart (aka Neil Prendeville) in February 1983 in the newsroom (courtesy Lillian O’Donoghue).

News on the hour is read by Jim Lockhart, who also presents a review of the morning papers. Jim began in radio in 1978 at the age of 16 and worked on Cork stations such as Radio Shandon, Cork City Radio, CBC, CCLR and Radio City before joining South Coast in October 1982. Under his real name Neil Prendeville, he has long been a well-known presenter on licensed radio in Cork.

Summer breakfast on South Coast Radio
Original label from the Anoraks Ireland Collection.

The tape was made from 103.5 FM from 0746-0821 and 0830-0904 on Monday 15th August 1983. There has been some degradation of the cassette, particularly in the second part. The recording is from the Anoraks Ireland Tapes Collection, donated to us by Paul Davidson.

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Sunday shows on South Coast Radio

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Sunday shows on South Coast Radio
Pete O’Neill in the South Coast studio in 1982 (courtesy Lillian O’Donoghue).

This recording of South Coast Radio was made on a sunny Sunday afternoon in Cork in 1983. It begins with Pete O’Neill presenting the South Coast Countdown and he is followed by Don Stevens. Station idents are voiced by the legendary Tony Allan, who is also heard on some adverts.

Sunday shows on South Coast Radio
Original cassette label from the Anoraks Ireland Collection.

The recording was made from 103.7 FM, announced as 104 MHz, on 6th March 1983. South Coast Radio also broadcast on 1557 kHz or 194 metres. Sound quality is fair, possibly due to degradation of the tape. First up is Pete O’Neill from 1430-1515 and then Don Stevens from 1115-1200. The recording is from the Anoraks Ireland Tapes Collection, donated to us by Paul Davidson.

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Breakfast on WLS with Don Stevens

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Breakfast on WLS with Don Stevens
Close-up of WLS letterhead, 1986 (courtesy Ian Biggar).

This recording of Galway pirate WLS Music Radio features one of the station founders, Don Stevens, on the breakfast programme. Made on a frosty morning in Galway a month before Christmas, it begins with the ‘coffee break’ easy listening segment aimed at ‘housewives’. The musical choice includes some country and Christmas songs. There’s also a promo for a local charity event.

Breakfast on WLS with Don Stevens
Cassette label from Anoraks Ireland Collection.

This recording was made on 26th November 1985 from 0906-0953. It is from the Anoraks Ireland Tapes Collection, donated to us by Paul Davidson.

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Don Stevens and Pamela Wilson on WLS

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Don Stevens and Pamela Wilson on WLS
A shot of the WLS mast at Prospect Hill, Galway (Anoraks Ireland Collection).

This recording of Galway pirate WLS Music Radio was made in November 1985. It begins with the final half-hour of the Sunshine Special breakfast show presented by Don Stevens, one of the station’s founders. He is followed at 1000 by Pamela Wilson, formerly of ERI in Cork. News is read by Chris Ashford and there are many adverts for local Galway businesses.

Don Stevens and Pamela Wilson on WLS
Cassette label from Anoraks Ireland Collection.

Made on 13th November 1985 from 102.7 FM, part 1 above runs from 0933-1019 and part 2 below from 1020-1106.

Part 2 from 1020.

This recording is from the Anoraks Ireland Tapes Collection, donated to us by Paul Davidson.

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Jingles: WLS Music Radio (Galway)

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Jingles: WLS Music Radio (Galway)
WLS compliments slip (courtesy of Ian Biggar/DX Archive).

This is a jingles package from WLS Music Radio which broadcast from Galway from 1985-1987. WLS was one of the larger commercial stations in Galway during the pirate era. These re-cuts were based on a set from the Chicago station of the same name, which has been on air since the 1920s and continues to broadcast today. The voice of one of the station owners, Don Stevens, is heard before each jingle. We thank Brendan Mee for this donation.

You can read more about WLS and listen to full recordings here.