Pete O'Neill Archives - Page 2 of 3 - Irish Pirate Radio Audio Archive

15th June 202214th June 2022

South Coast Radio from June 1982

This is a selection of short recordings of Cork’s South Coast Radio from a week in June 1982. First up is Nick Richards from just after midnight on Tuesday 15^th June, who includes a request for number one South Coast fan, Lillian McCarthy (O’Donoghue). Then we hear extracts from Pete O’Neill’s mid-morning show from Thursday 17^th June. Pete says that the schedule will be different the following day because breakfast DJ Alan Reid (Henry Condon, also known as Henry Owens, RIP) will be celebrating his birthday that night. At the end we hear a snippet of the late Hugh Browne from his afternoon show on the same day.

These recordings were made from 104 FM and are courtesy of Lillian O’Donoghue.

10th June 20229th June 2022

Pete O’Neill and Hugh Browne on South Coast Radio

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This is a recording of part of Pete O’Neill’s popular mid-morning show in the early days of the Cork super-pirate South Coast Radio. It’s a sunny Thursday morning, 13^th May 1982, and Pete has the usual bright and breezy mix of music, interviews and information. Regular slots include What’s On In Munster, the Adult Education Diary and the Listener’s Favourite 5 after the midday news. There are also announcements about community events such as a road race in Co. Clare (giving a sense of the station’s wide coverage on 1557 kHz AM) and an interview with a Cork band. Listeners are invited to call the Hitline and vote for their favourite record of the week and there are various promos for other shows including the Nightline with Nick Richards and Hit and Miss with John Kenny. Other promos of note include Flatline, an accommodation service, and Jobline, a vacancies slot.

Pete is followed by the late Hugh Browne, who has a competition for tickets to a forthcoming Don McLean concert. News is read by Mark Lawrence but is edited out of the original recording. Part 1 of the recording above runs from 1005. Parts 2 and 3 are below.

Part 2 from 1137

Part 3 from 1230

The recordings were made from 104 FM in stereo and are courtesy of Lillian O’Donoghue.

1st June 20221st June 2022

Mid-morning with Pete O’Neill on South Coast Radio

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Pete O’Neill was a popular DJ on various Cork pirates in the late 1970s and 1980s, including one of the city’s big stations, South Coast Radio. This is a recording of his mid-morning show beginning at 1000 on Tuesday 4^th May 1982. Pete thanks Alan Reid (aka the late Henry Condon/Henry Owens) for the breakfast show and presents his usual mix of music, chat and information. There are promos for Wheelchair Awareness Week and local concerts, daily horoscopes and birthdays, an adult education diary, what’s on file and lost and stolen section. A studio guest from the Tony Quinn Yoga Club talks about relaxation. The listener’s Top 5 just after 12 noon features the choice of loyal South Coast fan Lillian McCarthy (O’Donoghue). News on the hour is read by Mark Lawrence but is cut.

Part 1 above runs from 1000-1135 and part 2 below from 1150-1250.

Part 2 from 1150

Audio quality is mixed as the recording switches between 104 FM and 1557 kHz AM. Thanks to Lillian O’Donoghue for the donation and photo.

15th April 202224th March 2024

Pete O’Neill on Good Friday on South Coast Radio

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Pete O’Neill was one of the founders of Cork’s South Coast Radio, which launched in March 1982. Pete, who had previously broadcast on smaller Cork pirates such as the Cork Broadcasting Company (CBC), presented the weekday early afternoon show from 1300-1600 on South Coast.

This is a recording of Pete’s entire show from 1303-1600 on Good Friday, 9^th April 1982. Section 1 is above and the remaining three sections below. At the start, Pete thanks the previous DJ, the late Hugh Browne, who would later be heard on other pirates such as KLAS in Dublin. There are regular promos for the South Coast ‘Jobline’, voiced by the late Tony Allan. The music is mixed, ranging from easy listening and country to chart hits. News on the hour is read by Mark Lawrence but is mostly edited out. Interestingly, South Coast broadcasts a minute’s silence at 1500, reflecting the influence of Catholicism on Ireland at the time and existing practice on RTÉ.

Part 2 from 1348 (news cut)

Part 3 from 1436 (news cut)

Part 4 from 1521

The recording was made from 104 FM in stereo and quality is good, although a hum can be heard when there is no music. Thanks to Lillian O’Donoghue for donating the recording and photograph.

9th March 202213th March 2022

Birthday cake on South Coast Radio

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Today we feature three hours of afternoon programming on Cork super-pirate South Coast Radio from 1982, not long after it was launched. Pete O’Neill is on air with his usual mix of music and requests, including the Listener’s Top 5 after the 2pm news, the ‘3 at 3’ after the 3pm news and oldies spot ‘South Coast Supergold’. Station staff and loyal fan Lillian McCarthy (O’Donoghue) sing ‘Happy Birthday’ to Pete who is presented with a cake in studio. The voice of legendary DJ Tony Allan is heard on ads and on a promo for South Coast Radio ‘jobline’, a service to advertise job vacancies. There’s also a promo for the American Country Countdown, a syndicated programme from the US, and Pete announces a new events spot ‘What’s on in Munster’ that will air every weekday afternoon.

The recording is divided into four segments, running from 1305-1610 on 25^th March 1982. News on the hour is read by Mark Lawrence and Pete’s show is followed by the late Keith York.

Part 2 from 1353

Part 3 from 1440

Part 4 from 1525

The recording was made from 104 FM but is in mono. South Coast also broadcast on 1557 kHz AM, announcing 194 metres. Thanks to Lillian O’Donoghue for the recording and photo.