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Breakfast Club on Nova Power 103 FM

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Breakfast Club on Nova Power 103 FM
Exterior of Energy Power 103 in 1988 (courtesy Andy Carter). The auctioneer’s sign indicates this was taken after the station’s closure in April.

This is a snippet from the Breakfast Club on the short-lived Nova Power 103 FM, a merger of the ‘new’ Radio Nova and existing Dublin pirate Energy 103 in late 1987. Sounding crisp and professional are Cassidy Jones, Lisa Moore (Fionnuala Sweeney) and Bob Gallico (RIP) with a mixture of music, chat, papers, sports and news. On a freezing Friday morning in Dublin, Bob Gallico presents the review of the papers and shares his racing tips for the day, while Lisa reads news. The familiar high-level adverts are heard, including for brands, and the classic Nova jingles are played, creating something of an identity problem as they differ from the station’s name. Although Nova founder Chris Cary had promised new jingles on the day the merger was announced (25th November), there was not enough time to complete the imaging of the new station as it was promptly prevented by an interlocutory injunction from using the valuable Nova name, and eventually reverted to Energy Power 103, as in the image above.

This recording was made by Kieran Murray between 0728-0748 on 27th November 1987 and is from the Anoraks Ireland Collection. It is not clear if it was made from 99.9 or 103 FM.

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Chris Cary interviewed on new Nova Power 103 FM

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Chris Cary interviewed on new Nova Power 103 FM
Cartoon of Chris Cary by Terry Willers (courtesy of Sybil Fennell).

After testing for several days, at midnight on 9th November 1987, a new station began broadcasting continuous CD music on 100 FM in Dublin. On 18th November, the station announced itself as the ‘New Radio Nova’, rocking the Dublin pirate scene as it approached its final golden year of 1988. It was an ironic coincidence that the Minister for Communications, Ray Burke, published his new Broadcasting and Wireless Telegraphy Bill and Sound Broadcasting Bill the following day, 19th November, aimed at closing down the pirates and introducing licensed local radio. On 25th November came another dramatic announcement as existing station Energy 103 announced that it was merging with the new Radio Nova in light of the impending broadcasting legislation. The merged station was called Nova Power 103 FM and founder of the original Nova, Chris Cary (RIP), was involved, ostensibly as a consultant. This was to the consternation of many in Dublin who had been burned by Cary’s brash managerial style, particularly advertisers who lost money after the collapse of the station in 1986 and journalists and their union involved in the bitter industrial relations dispute with Nova.

In line with the new legislation, Nova Power 103 promised plenty of news and current affairs and revived the Dublin Today programme that was aired on the original Radio Nova. However, the new name was short-lived, when the receiver of Nova Media Services, Pearse Farrell, sought an interlocutory injunction preventing use of the Nova brand. According to Peter Mulryan in Radio Radio (1988), Farrell was also concerned about some activities of the bankrupt company and did not want to allow Cary to use the high-profile Nova name with licences in the offing. Within a few weeks, Nova Power 103 had reverted to Energy 103, which continued to broadcast until 11th March 1988.

This recording of Nova Power 103 was made on its first day and features an interview with Chris Cary on the Dublin Today programme, discussing his plans for the new station. Presenters of Dublin Today are Sybil Fennell and Teena Gates, and news at 1900 is read by Lisa Moore (Fionnuala Sweeney, who would later join RTÉ and CNN). The recording is from the Anoraks Ireland Collection and was made from 100 FM between 1850-1905 on 25th November 1987.

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More Gareth O’Callaghan on Energy 103

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More Gareth O'Callaghan on Energy 103
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.

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Gareth O’Callaghan on Energy 103 drivetime

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Gareth O'Callaghan on Energy 103 drivetime
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.

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Gerry Stevens on Energy 103 lunchtime

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Gerry Stevens on Energy 103 lunchtime
Energy studios in 144 Upper Leeson St in 1986 (courtesy Andy Carter)

Energy 103 was one of the most successful Dublin stations at the end of the pirate era, broadcasting from April 1986 until March 1988. This recording is of a familiar voice on Energy, Gerry Stevens (Lang) with a lunchtime show in the summer of 1986. There are the usual high-level adverts for larger businesses and brands and the slick Energy jingles. News is read by Dave Johnson (Andrew Hanlon) and George Long (Henry O’Donovan, RIP). The daily news quiz attracts many callers during lunch hour.

Gerry Stevens on Energy 103 lunchtime
George Long (Henry O’Donovan, RIP) (courtesy Seán McCarthy)

The recording is from the Anoraks Ireland Collection and was made from 103 FM on Wednesday 23rd July 1986 from 1244-1420. Energy 103 also broadcast on 738 kHz AM.