Drive 105 advertising flyer (courtesy Ian Biggar).
This is another recording of the Derry/Donegal station Drive 105 from 2000. The station had studios in Derry City but broadcast from just across the border in Donegal, beaming its signal back into the North. The recording features Pierse McCallion in a lunchtime slot, playing mostly oldies. There are adverts from Derry and Donegal but no requests from listeners. Pierse is followed by Paul Anthony with the drivetime show.
The recording was made on from 105.3 FM on Sunday 23rd July 2000 between 1315-1505, with a break in the middle. Thanks to Ian Biggar for the donation.
Drive 105 poster from c2000 (courtesy Ian Biggar).
Drive 105 began transmissions to Derry and surrounding area on 105.3 MHz in 1999. Originally the station was located in a property just over the border in Muff, County Donegal, near the Rock Bar. The station broadcast a mainly pop music format and featured some staff who had worked on other pirates like Radio North and Riverside 101. As far as we are aware Drive 105 was never raided but did have to temporarily close in August 2001 when officials from the Department were operating in the area. At some point the station moved its studio to Shipquay Street in Derry, linking from there to the transmitter site just over the border in Donegal.
Ian Biggar recalls: I remember hearing Drive 105 in Portpatrick, Scotland on December 30th 2004 clearly having technical issues with very low audio.
Whether it was due to technical problems or not, Drive 105 left the air in January 2005 seemingly with the intention of applying for a licence. After some time off the air, they received a community licence in 2012 to broadcast to Derry, which they still do to this day. This recording was made from 105.3 FM on 26th April 2000 between 1315-1445. Plenty of entries into a listeners’ quiz and adverts from Derry and Donegal. The DJ is Brian Magoo. Many thanks to Ian for the donation and background text.
An undated photo of Paul Barnett (RIP) at Radio North (courtesy Steven Lynch).
This is another recording of former Radio North manager the late Paul Barnett’s popular morning oldies show on Donegal pirate Radio North. On a sunny autumnal morning, Paul has an electic mix of oldies from across the decades and a quiz with a cash prize up for grabs. Reflecting changing technology, listeners can phone in their answers or send a text. The first correct answer comes from Islay in Scotland, underlining the wide coverage area achieved by Radio North on AM. There are the usual adverts for small businesses in Counties Derry and Antrim, also voiced by Paul.
The recording was made in Scotland on 30th October 2006 from 846 kHz AM between 0955-1040 and is courtesy of Ian Biggar.
Paul Barnett at the Radio North site in the 2010s (courtesy Steven Lynch).
This recording of Donegal pirate Radio North features former station manager Paul Burbank (Paul Barnett, RIP) with an edition of his popular daily oldies show from 2005. Copious adverts for small businesses in Counties Antrim and Derry are voiced by Paul who also reads news at the top of the hour.
The tape was made from 1050-1135 on Tuesday 15th February 2005 from 846 kHz AM and is donated by Ian Biggar.
This recording of long-running Donegal pirate Radio North was made at the end of 2002. On air is Caroline McDermott with country and Irish music and some oldies. She also shares information about local music and gigs for New Year’s Eve. Adverts are for Northern businesses only. There’s a technical problem with the news at the top of the hour, presumably due to an issue with the link to a syndicated service. A listeners’ quiz with a £500 prize is sponsored by a car business in Derry and Tyrone.
The tape was made in Scotland from 846 kHz AM on 30th December 2002 between 1345-1515 and is courtesy of Ian Biggar.
