By the autumn of 1990, the twin services of WABC Gold and WABC Hot Hits had resumed from Inishowen in Co. Donegal close to the border with Co. Derry. The hot hits service had been suspended for a few months since the summer due to a shortage of staff but was later reinstated. In this recording, Tina James presents the afternoon drive programme. The emphasis is on the chart music with a minimum of talk although there are plenty of local adverts. The final news bulletin of the day is read by Declan Gill at 1700 and is shared with the Gold service.
The recording is courtesy of Ian Biggar and was made from 101.7 FM on 10th October 1990 between 1645-1825.
WABC antenna system in May 1990 (courtesy Ian Biggar).
After a temporary hiatus in the broadcasts of Donegal station WABC Hot Hits over the summer of 1990, by October that year the chart music service had returned to the air and was blasting its signal across the border into Derry and beyond. In November 1990 Free Radio News from Ireland confirmed the resumption of transmissions from WABC Hot Hits on 101.7 MHz and reported that WABC Gold had installed a new aerial system for the 101.2 MHz transmissions resulting in increased signal strength in the Coleraine area. Staff shortages was given as the reason for the delay in getting the Hot Hits station back on air.
This recording is of the Hot Hits service following its resumption. Declan Gill is on air and regularly uses the strapline ‘Hot Hits 101’. There are plenty of advertising promos for both Hot Hits and Gold and adverts for small businesses in Counties Derry and Antrim, many voiced by station founder Paul Barnett (RIP) and his then wife Krissi Carpenter. The recording was made from 101.7 FM on 10th October 1990 from 1315-1445 with Declan Gill and ‘network news’ at the top of the hour is read by Krissi Carpenter. Thanks to Ian Biggar for the donation and for background information.
Paul Barnett (left) and Andy Craig of Riverside 101 in 1990 (courtesy Ian Biggar)
By August 1990, both transmitters of Donegal pirate WABC were carrying the oldies station WABC Gold. Earlier that year, WABC had split into two parallel stations, Hot Hits and Gold, but due to staff shortages it was decided to concentrate on the oldies service only for a while. This recording from autumn 1990 features Paul Bentley (Paul Barnett, RIP) and his then wife Krissi Carpenter, who formed the backbone of WABC Gold. First up is Paul with the end of the breakfast show, including a What’s On Guide for the station’s main listening area in Portstewart (Co. Derry) and Portrush (Co. Antrim). There are also adverts from both towns and surrounding areas. News at 1100 is read by Paul and is followed by Krissi with the lunchtime show.
The recording was made from 1015-1115 on Thursday 6th September 1990 from 101.2 FM and is courtesy of Ian Biggar.
Site of WABC FM transmitter in Greencastle, May 1990 (courtesy Ian Biggar)
WABC Gold was one of two stations operated by Paul Barnett (RIP) from Greencastle on the Donegal/Derry border in 1990. The other service was WABC Hot Hits and together both stations swept up advertising revenue from businesses in Northern Ireland despite new broadcasting laws in the Republic that were supposed to silence the pirates. This recording features the afternoon show presented by Barry Owler, who plays oldies and also reads news on the hour. An advertising promo refers to both stations in ‘the WABC radio network’, there are plenty of commercials from Counties Derry and Antrim and the show is sponsored by a wine bar and nightclub in Portstewart. Barry refers to the Italia 90 World Cup due to start that week and there is also a chance for listeners to win a weekend holiday break.
The tape was made between 1400-1530 on 6th June 1990 from 101.2 FM. Audio is generally good but there is some fading in places as it was recorded in Coleraine in Co. Derry. Thanks to Andy Craig for the original recording and to Ian Biggar for the donation.
A sticker for the WABC Gold service (courtesy DX Archive)
Continuing our series on Donegal border pirate WABC, we take up the story in mid-1990 by which time the station had expanded into two separate services. The following text is courtesy of Ian Biggar.
WABC continued pretty much unhindered for the remainder of 1989, but by my next visit in May 1990 significant change had happened. Two stations were now operating from the attic of Paul’s family home in Greencastle and both were running live programmes. The original 101.7 transmitter was operating as WABC Hot Hits with the second station being WABC Gold on 101.2 MHz. The transmitters were located fairly close to each other at Stroove. Both were aimed at Coleraine and beyond and were gaining a loyal following and a fairly healthy advertising log. However by August both transmitters were carrying the programmes of WABC Gold. In November 1990 Free Radio News from Ireland reported that WABC Gold had installed a new aerial system for the 101.2 MHz transmissions resulting in increased signal strength in the area of Coleraine. It also reported the resumption of transmissions from WABC Hot Hits on 101.7 MHz. Staff shortages was given as the reason for the delay in getting the Hot Hits station back on air.
This recording is of WABC Gold with a lunchtime show presented competently by Krissi Bentley (Carpenter), who was married to station founder Paul Bentley (Paul Barnett, RIP). There are plenty of adverts for businesses in Counties Derry and Antrim and the programme itself is sponsored by a carpet shop in Coleraine. Krissi reads news headlines at the top of the hour and the show also includes a laid-back Coffee Time slot and a Beg, Steal or Borrow section. There is also a listeners’ competition and promos for the two WABC stations. The recording was made between 1125-1300 from 101.2 FM on 6th June 1990 and is courtesy of Ian Biggar.
