WABC owner Paul Barnett in 1991 (courtesy of Ian Biggar).
On 18th March 1991, Ian Biggar received a note from the owner of Donegal pirate WABC, Paul Barnett (RIP), saying that due to family circumstances, he and his wife Krissi were moving back to England. Because of that WABC would close on 31st March 1991, the second time for the station to leave the airwaves since its establishment in 1987. This recording was made a little over a week previously as the station was winding down although this is not referred to on air.
Up first is Paul with the final part of the breakfast show until 1100 and he is followed by Krissi with her usual mid-morning programme. There is no reference to the impending closure on air, although a hint is provided by Krissi who says that she will be finishing up the following week. Adverts feature businesses in Antrim, Derry and Donegal, the latter unusual post-1989 as there were strict penalties for advertisers in the Republic. News on the hour is read by Paul and there is also a What’s On Guide. Music is a mixture of oldies and chart.
The tape was made on Friday 29th March 1991 from 101.7 between 0953-1125 and is courtesy of Ian Biggar.
Paul Barnett (left) and Andy Craig of Riverside 101 in 1990 (courtesy Ian Biggar)
By August 1990, both transmitters of Donegal pirate WABC were carrying the oldies station WABC Gold. Earlier that year, WABC had split into two parallel stations, Hot Hits and Gold, but due to staff shortages it was decided to concentrate on the oldies service only for a while. This recording from autumn 1990 features Paul Bentley (Paul Barnett, RIP) and his then wife Krissi Carpenter, who formed the backbone of WABC Gold. First up is Paul with the end of the breakfast show, including a What’s On Guide for the station’s main listening area in Portstewart (Co. Derry) and Portrush (Co. Antrim). There are also adverts from both towns and surrounding areas. News at 1100 is read by Paul and is followed by Krissi with the lunchtime show.
The recording was made from 1015-1115 on Thursday 6th September 1990 from 101.2 FM and is courtesy of Ian Biggar.
Paul Barnett (RIP) of WABC pictured c 1991 (courtesy Ian Biggar).
Despite closing down at the end of 1988 like the vast majority of the other pirates, the Donegal station WABC was among those to venture back on air in 1989, where it would remain for a further two years. Continuing our series on this important border station, we publish below an account of WABC’s return courtesy of Ian Biggar.
In early 1989, Paul Barnett [WABC founder, RIP] was talking about a license under what he termed ‘phase 2’. I assume he meant the community licenses which did eventually appear, but not for some years. To keep his hand in, Paul was operating a short wave transmitter on behalf of the Scottish Free Radio Network. However, the temptation was too great and WABC returned to the air on Sunday 3rd June 1989 on 101.7 MHz with a power of 20 kW. All the old crew like Krissi, Barry Owler, Happy Harry and of course Paul were back and the station often played American radio tapes overnight to maintain a 24-hour service.
I received a letter from Paul dated 1st September 1989, in which he wrote that the launch of Atlantic 252 had not lived up to his expectations! He said that the 101.7 transmitter was still located in Stroove at 230 feet above sea level. He had upgraded the aerial system with 4×10 element yagis estimating an effective radiated power (ERP) between 35-40 kW. The only drawback was that a couple of local houses could clearly hear WABC on their telephones! I had reported reception of WABC at on high ground on the west coast of Scotland on 98.3 MHz. Paul was surprised at this as it was only a 5 watts mono relay in the centre of Moville atop a 100 foot tower, 150 feet above sea level!
This recording was made shortly before Christmas 1989 and features the end of Paul Barnett’s breakfast show and the start of the lunchtime programme presented by his wife Krissi Carpenter. The musical style is oldies, referred to by Paul as ‘Solid Gold WABC’ and there are generic and branded station jingles. Due to the busy time of year, there are large numbers of adverts for businesses in Counties Derry and Antrim, reflecting the core coverage area and the reluctance of southern businesses to advertise of the pirates due to strict new legislation. The tape was made on 10th December 1989 between 1045-1215 from 101.7 FM and is courtesy of Gary Hogg and Ian Biggar. Audio quality is generally good but there is fading in places as this recording was made in Lancashire.
Donegal pirate WABC closed at 4pm on 30th December 1988 despite announcing previously that it would carry on and for a time over that weekend it looked as if the station would make a speedy return. This recording is of the final 90 minutes of WABC from 1430 on that day. It begins with Barry Owler who shares good wishes to those involved from local advertisers and listeners. There is a promo about the pirate closedowns that day and reference to the new radio legislation, including WABC’s intention to apply for a licence at a later stage. Barry is followed by station operator Paul Bentley (Paul Barnett, RIP) from 1500 for the final hour.
Following closedown at 1600, a loop tape was broadcast on WABC’s frequencies later that evening claiming erroneously that Radio Dublin owner Eamonn Cooke had won his appeal against the new radio legislation, that it appeared that the new laws were on ice and that WABC may be able to return to the airwaves. The court had in fact dismissed Cooke’s attempt to gain an injunction preventing the new laws from coming into effect but had granted him leave to challenge the constitutionality of certain sections of the broadcasting acts. Although WABC did not return in the short term, it would not be too long until it was heard again on the airwaves in the northwest. The recording was made from 101.7 FM by Rodney Neill and is courtesy of DX Archive.
Paul Barnett (RIP) at WABC in June 1988 (Anoraks Ireland Collection).
Continuing our series on Donegal pirate WABC, today’s recording is from 1988, the last year of the station’s first period on air before new broadcasting legislation was introduced. On 10th January 1988, WABC was heard on a new frequency of 101.7 FM. The move was due to interference at 107 and the fact that not everyone wanted to tune so high up on the FM dial. Also in January 1988, power on 1242 kHz was noted at about 150w and the studios were said to be in a mobile home about 5 miles from Inishowen Head. The target areas were Derry City, Coleraine and Limavaddy.
On 27th March, Weekly Report noted WABC on 6300 kHz shortwave as well as medium wave and FM. It added: ‘The station seems bright and lively and must be gaining listeners amongst the younger end in Coleraine and surrounds. Some adverts are noted, and plenty of “Laser-type” jingles’. Around this time, the Sunday World newspaper carried a feature about the station and its first road show which was a success. On 10th April 1988, the FM transmitter of WABC on 101.7 was reported to have an output of 900w. The main FM was to be moved from the existing site at the studio at about 230 feet above sea level to a new site about 600 feet above sea level so the new signal would cover a much greater area. Reference was made to a recent setback when a number of items were stolen from the station, including a transmitter. On 24th April, no doubt in response to the new transmitter site, Anoraks UK reported a ‘super signal’ for WABC on FM in Blackpool. On 12th June, it noted that WABC had moved from Garvagh to Greencastle where their new studios were located. It also reported a new FM transmitter for Derry City on 100.8 and Moville and the Donegal coast on 99.8. Both MW and SW were off air at the time due to a lack of valves.
Our recording was made on a drizzly summer morning and features the end of the Breakfast Club with Paul Bentley (Paul Barnett, RIP), followed by Krissi. There are plenty of tagliners and station idents and adverts for businesses in Co. Antrim. The tape was made on 7th July 1988 from 101.7 FM between 1019-1105 and is kindly donated by Ian Biggar.
