Radio Nova Archives - Page 3 of 14 - Irish Pirate Radio Audio Archive

24th May 20242nd May 2024

Jessie Brandon and Tony Allan on Radio Nova

This recording of Dublin super-pirate Radio Nova from 1985 features two of the station’s best presenters during its six years on air. The DJ is the legendary Jessie Brandon, who moved from the US to offshore pirate Laser 558 in 1984, before coming to Radio Nova. Jessie was one of the few female DJs on commercial stations in Ireland at the time. Joining her on news duties is the equally renowned Tony Allan (RIP), whose voice is also heard on several adverts and promos. The chemistry is electric in studio, with both presenters clearly revelling in each other’s company.

The recording is from the Anoraks Ireland Collection and was made from 102.7 FM between 1730-1815 on Wednesday 16^th October 1985. Radio Nova also broadcast on high power on 738 kHz AM during this time.

13th May 202412th May 2024

Radio Nova on its final morning

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After dominating the Dublin market for 5 years, by early 1986 Radio Nova was in serious trouble. A bitter dispute with the National Union of Journalists had affected advertising revenue, shareholders were unhappy and the station had lost listeners at home due to the decision to chase a British audience. In March, Chris Cary announced that he would sell Nova by the end of the month, blaming the NUJ for his decision. In fact the end came sooner, on March 19^th, after two disgruntled shareholders successfully applied to the High Court for a receiver to be appointed to Nova Media Services. There was no indication on air that anything was awry until that afternoon. Radio Nova closed down just after 1800 but continuous music was broadcast on both AM and FM, with a new station, Zoom 103, announced a few hours later. Zoom lasted for less than a week but was replaced on 28^th April by Energy 103.

This tape from the Anoraks Ireland Collection features part of the Nightcap programme on Nova, recorded as the station entered its final day. The DJ is Richard Jackson and the recording was made from 0000-0045 on March 19^th 1986 from 103.1 FM.

29th April 202428th April 2024

August bank holiday 1985 on Radio Nova

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This recording of pirate giant Radio Nova was made on the August bank holiday weekend 1985 and features two well-known voices on the station, DJ Colm Hayes and newsreader Bob Gallico (RIP). There is a listeners’ competition, celebrity birthday spot, sports news and mixture of chart music and oldies for the day that’s in it. The usual high-level agency adverts are heard, including ones for big brands Lucozade and Coca-Cola, reflecting Nova’s dominance in the radio market.

An interesting aspect of this recording is information about technical aspects of Nova’s broadcasts. A promo mentions the high-quality FM signal and powerful 50 kW AM transmitter, which is said to cover hundreds of square miles of coverage in Ireland, England and Wales. There is also mention of Nova’s offshoot station Magic 103 broadcasting on 1521 kHz AM, a frequency not normally announced.

The tape was made from 102.7 FM on Monday 5^th August 1985 from 0700-0745 and is from the Anoraks Ireland Collection.

22nd March 202418th January 2025

Overnight Nova as heard in Britain

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The boss of Dublin super-pirate Radio Nova, Chris Cary, made various attempts to reach the west coast of Britain through the use of high-powered AM transmitters. At various times in the station’s existence, weather reports referred to northwest England, southern Scotland and the Isle of Man and Nova opened an advertising office in Liverpool in 1984. Expansion plans were dealt a severe blow in May 1983 when the authorities raided Nova and when the station returned to full-time broadcasting a days weeks later, power was reduced significantly.

This recording was made from Nova’s AM frequency about a month before the raids and gives a flavour of how the station sounded in the English midlands outside the intended listening area on the west coast. It begins with Denis Murray finishing his Saturday night show and the extended midnight news read by Ken Hammond, who would go on to become an RTÉ journalist. The overnight DJ is the late Roland Burke. The recording continues with a Sunday morning show presented by Mike Moran and news read by Bryan Dobson, who also went on to a career with RTÉ News.

The night-time recording contains lots of fading consistent with AM propagation in the hours of darkness and the daytime section is typical of groundwave reception. Made from 819 kHz, it begins at 2350 on Saturday 9^th and continues from 0937 on Sunday 10^th April 1983. The recording is from the Leon Tipler Tapes Collection, donated to us by Steve England.

13th March 20249th March 2024

Sunday morning shows on Radio Nova

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This recording of Dublin super-pirate Radio Nova was made in the winter of 1983, six months after the raids that put it and the other main Dublin station Sunshine Radio off the air temporarily. By this time, Nova had resumed high-powered AM broadcasting on 819 kHz after equipment seized in the raid was returned following a court case. This gave it greater penetration into the west coast of Britain, an area that would be included in its weather forecasts to reflect the expanded listening area. The recording begins with the final few minutes of the religious programme Life is a Celebration, followed by news read by David Malone. Next up is Greg Gaughren, who continues to broadcast on the licensed Radio Nova in Dublin to this day. Commercial breaks include the usual mix of larger businesses and brands, reflecting Nova’s strong commercial success.

The tape was made near Birmingham from 0950-1030 on Sunday 27^th November 1983 from 819 kHz AM. It is from the Leon Tipler Collection, donated to us by Steve England.