An undated photo of Paul Barnett (RIP) at Radio North (courtesy Steven Lynch).
This is another recording of former Radio North manager the late Paul Barnett’s popular morning oldies show on Donegal pirate Radio North. On a sunny autumnal morning, Paul has an electic mix of oldies from across the decades and a quiz with a cash prize up for grabs. Reflecting changing technology, listeners can phone in their answers or send a text. The first correct answer comes from Islay in Scotland, underlining the wide coverage area achieved by Radio North on AM. There are the usual adverts for small businesses in Counties Derry and Antrim, also voiced by Paul.
The recording was made in Scotland on 30th October 2006 from 846 kHz AM between 0955-1040 and is courtesy of Ian Biggar.
Paul Barnett at the Radio North site in the 2010s (courtesy Steven Lynch).
This recording of Donegal pirate Radio North features former station manager Paul Burbank (Paul Barnett, RIP) with an edition of his popular daily oldies show from 2005. Copious adverts for small businesses in Counties Antrim and Derry are voiced by Paul who also reads news at the top of the hour.
The tape was made from 1050-1135 on Tuesday 15th February 2005 from 846 kHz AM and is donated by Ian Biggar.
Radio North flyer from 2001 including Paul’s oldies show (courtesy Ian Biggar).
This recording of Donegal pirate Radio North features an oldies show rather than the usual conutry and Irish music long associated with the station. Former station manager Paul Barnett (RIP) is at the helm on a bright but chilly New Year’s Eve, and the professional presentation is reminiscent of his early 1990s station WABC Gold, also based on the Inishowen peninsula. Adverts for Northern businesses only are voiced by Paul and the absence of advertising from Donegal is likely due to a clampdown in the Republic at the time on the pirates and on businesses buying commercials on them.
The recording was made in Ayrshire on 31st December 2001 from 846 kHz AM between 1000-1130 and is kindly donated by Ian Biggar. Audio quality is generally good with some interference, as would be expected during daytime DX reception at the time of year.
L-R: Jock Wilson, Paul Barnett, Ken Baird, Andy Craig and Ian Biggar at WABC in 1991 (courtesy of Ian).
On Easter Monday 1991, Donegal pirate WABC announced that it was closing down. The pioneering Inishowen station had been on air for 3-and-a-half years, with the exception of 6 months in the first half of 1989 due to the new legislation. At one stage it ran two parallel services specialising in hot hits and olides, and gained many listeners and advertising across the northwest, a region starved of music radio after 1988.
But at 1700 on Easter Monday, WABC began broadcasting continuous dance music interspersed with jingles and a message by owner Paul Barnett (RIP) announcing that it would go off air at 1900. It was a low-key closedown that was not flagged officially in advance, although there were hints on air and a farewell appearance on Saturday of Paul’s then wife and fellow DJ Krissi Carpenter at her oldies roadshow in Coleraine, Co. Derry. After a two-hour loop of music and the recorded announcement, WABC closed down shortly before 1915. Ian Biggar takes up the story:
The 101.7 transmitter remained on site and started relaying the programmes of [fellow Donegal pirate] Riverside 101. It continued to do so until a UK licence was received to broadcast as Q 102.9 and again continued to relay the legal station for many years. At one point the frequency was changed to 102.9 MHz.Paul and Krissi continued to do programmes for Radio Fax which was operating on short wave from Donegal before both were offered jobs on commercial radio in the UK. However, Paul still had a love for Ireland and both he and Krissi could still be heard on commercials and promos on Radio North. Unfortunately, their marriage broke up and Paul headed back to Donegal in the late 1990s to take up a managerial role with Radio North.
This recording was made from 101.7 FM from 1800-1919 on 1st April 1991. Thanks to Ian Biggar for the recording and research. However, as is often the case with pirate radio, the 1991 closedown was not the end of the story, and WABC would rise again in the future for a final time.
Paul Barnett at WABC in 1991 (courtesy Ian Biggar).
In this recording of the Donegal pirate WABC, station founder Paul Barnett (RIP) is in top form for his final show as the station prepares to close down for the second time. The music is a mixture of contemporary hits and oldies, like an amalgam of the two original WABC Stations, Hot Hits and Gold.
Adverts are voiced by Paul and his then wife Krissi for businesses in Derry and Antrim and there is a promo for Krissi’s last appearance at the Coleraine Rugby Club. Paul presents the WABC What’s On Guide but there is no mention that the station is being wound down. Similarly, there is no formal sign-off from Paul although Krissi’s show is announced as her last.
WABC closed on Easter Monday 1st April 1991. This recording was made on Friday 29th March 1991 from 0930-1100 from 101.7 FM and is courtesy of Ian Biggar.
