Richard Jackson Archives - Irish Pirate Radio Audio Archive

29th July 202423rd July 2024

Early morning shows on Radio Nova

1985 was the last full year of Radio Nova, the ambitious radio experiment created by Chris Cary in 1981 that dominated the Dublin radio market for several years. In September 1985, Cary closed the offshoot station Magic 103 and sold transmitters and equipment to rival station Q102. A bitter strike with the National Union of Journalists had resumed and was affecting advertising. Nova closed down in March 1986.

This recording from just before Nova’s final Christmas features the end of Richard Jackson’s overnight slot and the first half hour of the breakfast show with Colm Hayes, who is still heard on Irish radio today. Perhaps due to the early hour, no advertisements are aired and there is no news bulletin at 0600. The recording was made from 102.7 FM between 0544 and 0632 on Monday 16^th December 1985 and is from the Anoraks Ireland Collection.

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.

20th January 202319th January 2023

Second night on Nova replacement Zoom 103

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Zoom 103 was a short-lived replacement for Dublin super-pirate Radio Nova after it went into receivership and closed on 19^th March 1986. Zoom began identifying itself shortly after 10pm that evening and the following day’s programming featured the normal Nova presenters but without an AM service. Nova founder Chris Cary denied any involvement in the new station and said he was leaving Ireland. Zoom 103 was based at 144 Upper Leeson Street in the city centre but lasted only until 24^th March, when the Nova receiver seized the transmitter. On 28^th March, a new station called Energy 103 began broadcasting from the same location, continuing until 11^th March 1988.

This recording of Zoom 103 features Richard Jackson with a late night show on the second day of the station. There are very few commercials and no jingles or idents, but listeners are reportedly hearing the station as far away as Belfast and Blackpool. Our tape was made on 20^th and 21^st March 1986 from 103.1 FM. Part 1 above is from 2246 and Part 2 below from 2359.

Part 2 from 2359.

The recording is from the Anoraks Ireland Collection, donated to us by Paul Davidson.

22nd June 202016th January 2023

Short-lived Zoom 103 replaces Radio Nova

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Zoom 103 was a short-lived station which came on air on 103.1 FM immediately following the final closure of Radio Nova on the 19th of March 1986. After a receiver was appointed to Nova Media Services, Nova’s FM service was replaced by continuous music just after 3pm on that day while continuing on 738 kHz AM until 6pm. Shortly after 10pm, the music service on 103.1 FM began identifying itself as Zoom 103. Programmes continued as normal the following day, with the usual line-up of Nova presenters but without Chris Cary and an AM service. Zoom broadcast from 144 Upper Leeson Street in the city centre but closed suddenly on Monday the 24th of March, after the Nova receiver reportedly seized the transmitter. A new station calling itself Energy 103 emerged from the ashes of Zoom on the 28th of April and continued until the 11th of March 1988, also from Upper Leeson Street.

This recording is from 1405-1450 on the second day of Zoom, the 20th of March 1986, and features Colm Hayes on air, who refers to Gary Hamill (Seán McCarthy) on news. There are no jingles, imaging or ads. It was made from 103.1 FM and despite the tape label, is in mono.

This recording is from the Skywave Tapes Collection. Skywave Radio International broadcast a shortwave station in the 1980s from Baldoyle in northeast Dublin.