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

1st June 20221st June 2022

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

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.

7th March 202213th March 2022

Pete O’Neill on South Coast Radio

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This is a recording of Cork super-pirate South Coast Radio shortly after the station’s official launch in March 1982. On air is one of the station’s founders Pete O’Neill with his early afternoon show. Pete thanks the late Hugh Browne who was on before him. News on the hour is read by Mark Lawrence and the show also contains a listener’s Top 5 songs and hospital radio requests.

Part 1 above was made from 1300-1345 on 24^th March 1982. Part 2 below is from the same day and runs from 1346-1430. Both were made from 104 FM but are in mono. South Coast Radio also broadcast on 1557 kHz, announcing 194 metres.

Part 2 of the recording

Thanks to Lillian O’Donoghue for the recording and photo.

7th October 20215th October 2021

Cork’s Top 40 on CBC

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This recording of the Cork Broadcasting Company (CBC) was made on 24^th July 1979 and features various DJs. Luke Ward is heard first, inviting entries into his quiz and signing off at the end of his show. The station is located in Patrick’s Quay at this time.

Luke is followed by the lunchtime show with Pete Andrews (O’Neill) who introduces Cork’s Top 40. The number one record is ‘I Don’t Like Mondays’ by the Boomtown Rats. The final DJ is Ed Harris.

Thanks again to Lillian O’Donoghue for the donation.