Donegal Archives - Page 8 of 8 - Irish Pirate Radio Audio Archive

27th October 20234th January 2024

Death of Radio North operator, Paul Barnett

It is with great sadness that we learned today of the death of Paul Barnett, aka Paul Burbank or Paul Bentley following a battle with cancer. Paul was the operator of long-running AM pirate Radio North from Donegal and previously ran another station from that county, WABC. We thank Ian Biggar for writing this tribute for Pirate.ie.

I first got in contact with Paul in late 1987 when I heard his station, WABC on 107 FM back home in the west of Scotland. I received a friendly letter from Paul giving full details of his radio station that was broadcasting from north Donegal. Paul was from Mansfield in the English midlands and had moved with his Irish-born wife and family to set up a business in Coleraine. With Paul’s background in pirate radio it was a given that he would start a station and thus WABC was born, aiming its signal towards Coleraine and the Causeway coast.

WABC built up a strong audience over the next year, but like others had to close with the introduction of the broadcasting bill in Ireland on 31st December 1988. However, with the continuation of Radio North, Paul took the initiative and put WABC back on the air in mid June 1989. The station was now located in the family home in Greencastle.

We visited the station in May 1990 when Paul was running two formats, namely WABC Gold on 101.2 MHz and WABC Hot Hots on 101.5 MHz. It was always great to meet Paul as his enthusiam for radio was always infectious. I often was able to listen to both stations back at home on the west coast of Scotland.

In March 1991 I received a note from Paul saying that due to family commitments he and his family were returning to Mansfield. Paul then got involved with commercial radio with Gem AM in Nottingham and was a regular presenter. However, by the late 90s Paul was back in Donegal and running Radio North on 846 kHz and in time brought back WABC. However, his time was focused on Radio North which continues its format of country, oldies and religious programming on 846 kHz. Let’s hope Radio North can carry on and therefore continue Paul’s legacy.

RIP Paul and thank you for playing your significant part in the Irish era.

The recording is of the announcement by DJ Steven Lynch of Paul’s death on Radio North on Friday 27^th October 2023. It is courtesy of Neil Sweeney.

6th July 202115th June 2024

Border series: Weekend sounds on Donegal’s KTOK

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

KTOK broadcast from Donegal Town from mid-1987 until the end of the 1988, one of many stations from a county that has long boasted a pirate tradition. It was set up by Russ Padmore who had come from North West Community Radio in Buncrana. KTOK was first noted on 1566 kHz on 24^th May 1987 in the Anoraks UK Weekly Report. By July that year, FM frequencies on 96, 98 and 103 MHz were also logged. Russ Padmore closed down KTOK on New Year’s Eve 1988 when the Irish airwaves fell largely silent. He now works for the BBC.

This recording was made from 95.9 FM (announcing 96FM for south Donegal, Sligo and Leitrim) on 26^th August 1988 from 1934-2021 and features ‘Laura Live’ (Laura Hughes) with Weekend Sounds. Another transmitter on 99 FM covered north Donegal. There are ads from across central and south Donegal and from Sligo Town. Thanks to John Breslin for the donation.

13th January 202115th June 2024

Border series: KTOK from Donegal Town

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

KTOK was one of a number of pirates broadcasting to Co. Donegal in the 1980s and located in the Castle Centre in Donegal Town. It was set up by Russ Padmore, former manager of North West Community Radio in Buncrana. He had also worked previously with ABC Radio in Waterford and indeed it was thanks to Italian transmitters imported by ABC that KTOK got on air. The pop music format proved popular in an area where Irish and country music was common on radio.

KTOK was first noted in the Anoraks UK Weekly Report on 24^th May 1987 on 1566 kHz with a relay of RTÉ Radio 2. On 19^th July Weekly Report said that the station had been picked up as far south as Sligo Town and according to DX Archive, the signal was also heard in the UK. Ex-Radio Caroline DJ Dave James was said to be among those involved. An Anoraks Ireland list from July 1987 listed KTOK on 1566 kHz and on 96, 98 and 103 FM. The station continued until 31^st December 1988 at 4pm when it was closed down by Russ Padmore.

This recording was made from 95.9 FM on 26^th August 1988 from 1847-1934 and features Russ Padmore followed by Laura Live. Thanks to John Breslin for the donation.