Tag: Henry O’Donovan (George Long)

Posted on

Q102 prepares for Easter weekend 1985

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Q102 prepares for Easter weekend 1985
Chris Barry in the Q102 studios in 1985 (Anoraks Ireland Collection).

By Easter 1985, new Dublin station Q102 was just over two months on air and already making waves as a professional and slick choice for listeners in the capital. In this recording from Holy Thursday that year, Chris Barry presents the Good Morning Dublin show including news, weather, sports, a birthday file, the papers and Hollywood gossip. News is read by George Long (Henry O’Donovan, RIP) and there’s a promo for a £10 giveaway for drivers stuck in traffic who are listening to Q102. Chris Barry was a familiar voice on many Dublin pirates and subsequently had a long career in licensed radio. Henry O’Donovan worked in radio in Australia.

Q102 prepares for Easter weekend 1985
Original cassette label from Anoraks Ireland Collection.

This recording was made from 102 FM on Thursday 4th April 1985 from 0640-0728. It is from the Anoraks Ireland Tapes Collection, donated to us by Paul Davidson.

Posted on

Gareth O’Callaghan on Energy 103

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Gareth O'Callaghan on Energy 103
Energy 103 logo from Alan MacSimoin collection.

Energy 103 emerged from the ashes of Radio Nova on the 29th of April 1986 and broadcast until the 11th of March 1988, when it closed suddenly. Within hours its frequencies were taken over by Q102. This recording is from 1626-1713 on 17th July 1986 and features Gareth O’Callaghan on air. News is read by George Long (Henry O’Donovan, RIP (2024)) and is followed by the Listeners’ Top 10 at 5. The voice of Sybil Fennell is heard on an advertising promo for Energy.

Gareth O'Callaghan on Energy 103
The Energy 103 offices and studios at 144 Upper Leeson Street are now a hair salon (photo by John Walsh).

This recording is from the Skywave Tapes Collection. Skywave Radio International broadcast a shortwave station in the 1980s from Baldoyle in northeast Dublin.  

Posted on

George Long on Capitol Radio

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

George Long on Capitol Radio
George Long (Henry O’Donovan, RIP) (courtesy Seán McCarthy)

There were several stations calling themselves Capital or Capitol Radio in the pirate era, the best-known being the station that was on air from 1983 until the end of 1988. This Capitol became more specialist as time went on, playing first album tracks and then indie and alternative music. On 1st July 1986 Nitesky 96 was launched as a sister station from 6pm each evening with its own niche shows. The station was a strong supporter of the lively Dublin band scene of the 1980s, broadcast a weekly listeners’ Alternative Top 10 and held its own ‘Alternative Night’ every week.

George Long on Capitol Radio
Flyer for Capitol from c. 1985. Pic courtesy of Alan MacSimoin (RIP).

This recording is from 96 MHz FM, begins at 9.15am on 3rd February 1984 and features the final 45 minutes of the ‘Daybreak’ show presented by George Long (Henry O’Donovan, RIP (2024)) who went on to work with Radio Nova and Energy 103. George also reads news also 9.15, 9.30 and 10.00 (quite a workload!) before handing over to Conor Brooks. There’s also a promo for a holiday giveaway giving the station’s address in Milltown, Dublin 14. At this time Capitol also broadcast on 1017 kHz but left AM at the end of March 1986 after reportedly selling the transmitter to the new Liberties Local Community Radio. Capitol-Nitesky 96 continued on FM until 31st December 1988.

This recording is from the Skywave Tapes Collection. Skywave Radio International broadcast a shortwave station in the 1980s from Baldoyle in northeast Dublin.