Posted on

Steve Marshall and Richie O’Shea on WLS

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Steve Marshall and Richie O'Shea on WLS
WLS letterhead from 1986 (courtesy Ian Biggar).

This recording of Galway pirate WLS was made towards the end of the station’s life in June 1987. It begins with the end of Steve Marshall’s show and a promo for the Solid Gold Sunday programme with Don Stevens. The top-of-the-hour ident mentions ‘VHF stereo’ only as AM had been discontinued at this time. Steve is followed by Richie O’Shea from midday who mentions a £1,000 giveaway. Commercials include local businesses and agency adverts. The sound is tight with good music and slick jingles but WLS would be gone within the next few weeks.

Steve Marshall and Richie O'Shea on WLS
Cassette label from Anoraks Ireland Collection.

Made on 4th June 1987, part 1 above runs from 1150-1238 and part 2 below from 1238-1326. The tape was recorded from 96.4 FM in stereo with excellent audio quality.

Part 2 from 1238.

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

Posted on

Richie O’Shea on WLS Music Radio

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Richie O'Shea on WLS Music Radio
WLS studios at Prospect Hill in Galway in 1986 (Anoraks Ireland Collection).

By mid-1986, WLS was well-established as the leading pirate in Galway city. Professional on-air standards led to strong advertising revenue, as this recording from May of that year indicates. Commercial breaks feature local businesses including a private bus company and there are agency adverts for national brands. A station newsletter from late 1986/early 1987 claimed a market share of at least 54 percent of listeners in the city and included testimonials from a range of advertisers.

In this recording, Richie O’Shea takes over from Steve Marshall for his early evening show which includes an interview with Galway band Manic Depression. A top-of-the-hour promo for WLS mentions both AM and FM and describes it as the ‘West’s local station’.

Richie O'Shea on WLS Music Radio
Cassette label from Anoraks Ireland Collection.

Part 1 above is from 7th May 1986 from 1757-1842 and part 2 below from 1843-1928.

Part 2 from 1843.

Both were made from 102.7 FM and are from the Anoraks Ireland Tapes Collection, donated to us by Paul Davidson.

Posted on

Late night WLS from Galway

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Late night WLS from Galway
Close-up of WLS letterhead (courtesy Ian Biggar).

This is another recording of Galway pirate WLS Music Radio from 1985. Tony Henry is on air with laid-back music until midnight and is followed by Richie O’Shea with a more upbeat offering. There are few adverts given the time of night but one business featured is Supermac’s, now a successful west of Ireland fast-food company. The weather forecast contains a reference to ‘the bay area’, which was clearly based on the style of Radio Nova in Dublin.

Late night WLS from Galway
Tape label from Anoraks ireland Collection.

The recording was made from 102.7 FM on 17th September 1985 and audio quality is fair with some distortion and hiss, so it is possible that the receiver was slightly off channel. Part 1 above runs from 2325-0011 and part 2 below from 0011-0057.

Part 2 from 0011

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