Undated photo of Gareth O’Callaghan at Radio Nova (courtesy Noel Hiney)
Gareth O’Callaghan was one of the most popular and professional DJs of the pirate era and continues to broadcast on independent radio to this day. In this recording from summer 1986, he winds up his evening drivetime show on Dublin station Energy 103, not long after it emerged from the ashes of Radio Nova in the spring of that year. Gareth has a television teaser for listeners and refers to the Queen concert coming up in Slane that weekend. News is read by George Long (Henry O’Donovan, RIP).
Gareth’s show is followed by Tony McKenzie presenting a syndicated programme in the 7Up Music Machine series, featuring British rock band Supertramp in a live concert in the US. Reflecting the sponsorship deal, many adverts refer to 7Up and the Music Machine albums. The tape is from the Anoraks Ireland Collection and was recorded from 103 FM from 1834-1922 on Wednesday 2nd July 1986.
Tony Allan pictured during the 1983 raid on Nova (courtesy Joe King).
Veteran DJ Tony Allan (RIP) rang in 1985 on Dublin super-pirate Radio Nova. In this recording, Tony is in top form as he reads out New Year’s greetings from listeners and shares recorded inserts from Nova colleagues Bob Gallico, Colm Hayes and John Clarke. Bernie Jameson presents a news review of 1984 and in time for midnight, there is a link-up with Peter Madison (RIP) at the Nova Park nightclub nearby in Rathfarnham. The broadcast also includes a New Year’s message from Nova boss Chris Cary, who refers to the large number of staff who moved on during 1984.
The tape is from the Anoraks Ireland Collection and was recorded from 102.7 FM between 2236-0013 on 31st December 1984 and 1st January 1985.
Treble TR Christmas card from 1985 (Anoraks Ireland Collection)
Treble TR (sometimes written TTTR) was a country and Irish pirate station broadcasting from Dublin from the spring of 1981 until the end of 1988. The station began on 945 kHz AM, announcing 317 metres, adding FM from 1983. A second AM frequency on 891 kHz was added in 1987. Initially based in Rathfarnham near Radio Nova, TTTR later moved to Harold’s Cross south of the city centre. It closed down on 30th December 1988 in line with new broadcasting legislation.
Other side of Christmas card from 1985 (Anoraks Ireland Collection).
This recording was made as TTTR entered 1986. First up is Conn O’Mahoney who shares plenty of New Year’s requests from listeners around Dublin. He signs off at midnight and hands over to Dave Stewart who picks up the pace a bit, although the music is still country in style. Adverts are heard from small and medium-sized businesses around town.
The tape is from the Anoraks Ireland Collection and was made from 99 FM between 2343-0030 on 31st December 1985 and 1st January 1986.
Ad for Capitol-Nitesky in the Sunday World in 1986 (Alan MacSiomoin Collection).
Capitol Radio was Dublin’s alternative music station, broadcasting for five-and-a-half years from mid-1983 until the end of 1988. It began by playing album tracks but focused more on alternative/indie in its last two years on air, supporting the many new Irish bands on the growing Dublin music scene. In summer 1986, Capitol launched an evening service, Nitesky 96, which experimented with specialist shows and further promoted indie bands. It had a loyal following among listeners unserved by the ‘hot hits’ format that was popular among the pirate stations and ran a weekly ‘Alternative Night’ in the iconic McGonagle’s nightclub in South Anne Street, to where the station moved its premises in later years.
This recording is of the final half-hour of Capitol/Nitesky on New Year’s Eve 1988 as it prepared to close down for good. On air is station manager Conor Brooks with Tony Lewis and Killian Forde in studio. There is a link-up to a closedown event at Side’s nightclub in Dame Street, from where DJs John Kiely and Matt Dempsey give updates via a scratchy phone line. Conor thanks listeners, advertisers and presenters for their support, singling out McGonagle’s which was so important to Capitol/Nitesky in later years. He also underlines the relationship between the station and the emerging Irish indie scene, saying that one fed the other and distinguished Capitol/Nitesky from mainstream radio stations.
The recording is from the Anoraks Ireland Collection and was made from 95.8 FM on 31st December 1988 from 2333-0002. It is followed by the sound of the FM transmitter being switched off. A longer airchecked version of the final two hours on air is available below and includes other DJs Tony Gahan and Neil Hayes as well as a visit from Bryan Lambert of Class Radio, which had closed down a few hours earlier.
Longer airchecked version of final 2 hours (Anoraks Ireland Collection).
1986 advert for Energy 103 from Health & Beauty magazine including Gareth O’Callaghan (Anoraks Ireland Collection)
Energy 103 quickly made inroads in the competitive Dublin radio market after it emerged from the ashes of Radio Nova in the spring of 1986. This recording is of popular DJ Gareth O’Callaghan presenting the drivetime show on a balmy summer evening in 1986. The show includes gig and event guides, a teaser, birthday slot, weather forecasts from Dublin and across Europe and the usual agency adverts associated with Energy 103. Gareth O’Callaghan continues to broadcast on Irish radio to this day.
The recording was made from 103 FM from 1805-1853 on 7th July 1986 and is from the Anoraks Ireland Collection.
