Donegal Archives - Irish Pirate Radio Audio Archive

1st April 202518th February 2025

Border series: Closedown of Donegal station WABC

On Easter Monday 1991, Donegal pirate WABC announced that it was closing down. The pioneering Inishowen station had been on air for 3-and-a-half years, with the exception of 6 months in the first half of 1989 due to the new legislation. At one stage it ran two parallel services specialising in hot hits and olides, and gained many listeners and advertising across the northwest, a region starved of music radio after 1988.

But at 1700 on Easter Monday, WABC began broadcasting continuous dance music interspersed with jingles and a message by owner Paul Barnett (RIP) announcing that it would go off air at 1900. It was a low-key closedown that was not flagged officially in advance, although there were hints on air and a farewell appearance on Saturday of Paul’s then wife and fellow DJ Krissi Carpenter at her oldies roadshow in Coleraine, Co. Derry. After a two-hour loop of music and the recorded announcement, WABC closed down shortly before 1915. Ian Biggar takes up the story:

The 101.7 transmitter remained on site and started relaying the programmes of [fellow Donegal pirate] Riverside 101. It continued to do so until a UK licence was received to broadcast as Q 102.9 and again continued to relay the legal station for many years. At one point the frequency was changed to 102.9 MHz. Paul and Krissi continued to do programmes for Radio Fax which was operating on short wave from Donegal before both were offered jobs on commercial radio in the UK. However, Paul still had a love for Ireland and both he and Krissi could still be heard on commercials and promos on Radio North. Unfortunately, their marriage broke up and Paul headed back to Donegal in the late 1990s to take up a managerial role with Radio North.

This recording was made from 101.7 FM from 1800-1919 on 1^st April 1991. Thanks to Ian Biggar for the recording and research. However, as is often the case with pirate radio, the 1991 closedown was not the end of the story, and WABC would rise again in the future for a final time.

30th March 202530th March 2025

Border series: Final Saturday breakfast show on WABC

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In March 1991, Donegal station WABC was preparing to close down for the second time since its estalishment in September 1987. After three-and-a-half years of successfully building the station in the northwest, station owner Paul Barnett (RIP) and his then wife Krissi Carpenter, had decided to return to England. This recording features the final Saturday Breakfast Binge show with Happy Harry, two days before WABC closed down. The programme features mostly chart music, plenty of inane chat and a promo for Krissi’s final oldies roadshow in Coleraine that night. There is no direct reference to the closedown, although Harry drops hints that something is afoot at the station. The breakfast show is followed at 1100 by a music show live from Sweden by satellite.

The recording was made from 0944-1118 on Easter Saturday 30^th March 1991 from 101.7 FM and is from the Anoraks Ireland Collection.

29th March 202529th March 2025

Border series: Paul Barnett’s final show on WABC in 1991

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In this recording of the Donegal pirate WABC, station founder Paul Barnett (RIP) is in top form for his final show as the station prepares to close down for the second time. The music is a mixture of contemporary hits and oldies, like an amalgam of the two original WABC Stations, Hot Hits and Gold.

Adverts are voiced by Paul and his then wife Krissi for businesses in Derry and Antrim and there is a promo for Krissi’s last appearance at the Coleraine Rugby Club. Paul presents the WABC What’s On Guide but there is no mention that the station is being wound down. Similarly, there is no formal sign-off from Paul although Krissi’s show is announced as her last.

WABC closed on Easter Monday 1^st April 1991. This recording was made on Friday 29^th March 1991 from 0930-1100 from 101.7 FM and is courtesy of Ian Biggar.

29th March 202529th March 2025

Border series: WABC approaches end of second period on air

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On 18^th March 1991, Ian Biggar received a note from the owner of Donegal pirate WABC, Paul Barnett (RIP), saying that due to family circumstances, he and his wife Krissi were moving back to England. Because of that WABC would close on 31^st March 1991, the second time for the station to leave the airwaves since its establishment in 1987. This recording was made a little over a week previously as the station was winding down although this is not referred to on air.

Up first is Paul with the final part of the breakfast show until 1100 and he is followed by Krissi with her usual mid-morning programme. There is no reference to the impending closure on air, although a hint is provided by Krissi who says that she will be finishing up the following week. Adverts feature businesses in Antrim, Derry and Donegal, the latter unusual post-1989 as there were strict penalties for advertisers in the Republic. News on the hour is read by Paul and there is also a What’s On Guide. Music is a mixture of oldies and chart.

The tape was made on Friday 22^th March 1991 from 101.7 between 0953-1125 and is courtesy of Ian Biggar.

19th March 202521st March 2025

Border series: More of Donegal station Northside Radio

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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 23^rd 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.