Various shows on Donegal’s KTOK

Various shows on Donegal's KTOK
1988 KTOK studio shot with owner Russ Padmore in the blue shirt (courtesy Andy Carter).

KTOK was a successful commercial station broadcasting from Donegal Town between summer 1987 and the end of 1988. This recording features airchecks of various programmes between Christmas 1987 and February 1988. First up is Dave James, formerly of offshore station Radio Caroline, recorded between 1400 and 1800 on 27th December 1987. Frequencies mentioned are 103 and 96 FM and 1566 kHz AM. There are plenty of requests, promos for Christmas holiday events and gigs, the ‘gosh factor’ trivia segment and a television guide. The KTOK Cinderella Christmas Pantomine is mentioned but is unfortunately edited out of the recording, as are most of the adverts for local businesses. News on the hour with John Breslin is similarly cut, but the DJ is heard reading the headlines at half-past the hour.

At 17 minutes, the recording switches to airchecks of the Dave James show from 8th February 1988 between 1000-1300. 99 FM is heavily promoted as the new transmitter for North Donegal, with 96 FM serving South Donegal, Leitrim and Sligo. There is no mention of the AM transmitter as it may have been discontinued at this time.

At 58 minutes, station founder Russ Padmore is heard from 18th February 1988 between 1500-1800. Local gigs and discos are promoted and news on the hour is read in English and Irish but edited out. The inclusion of Irish may have been as much due to impending broadcast legislation as the fact that many parts of Donegal are Irish-speaking. Music is mostly pop but includes some oldies and country, reflect the huge popularity of the latter in rural areas of Ireland.

It is unclear which FM frequency the recording was made from. It is from the Anoraks Irish Tapes Collection, donated to us by Paul Davidson.

Border series: Saturday sounds on KTOK

Border series: Saturday sounds on KTOK
KTOK studio from 1987 with Russ Padmore in the blue shirt (courtesy Andy Carter).

This recording of Donegal Town station KTOK features Saturday programmes in the winter of 1987. Up first is Brian McLoughlin and he is followed by station owner Russ Padmore with the weekly northwest Top 40, sponsored by a local hifi company. There are plenty of adverts from around Donegal and Sligo, including a promo for a weekly KTOK club night in Glenties. News is read by John Breslin and there are also some local community announcements. The DJs announce the main channel of 96FM but in order to cover the hilly terrain, KTOK also broadcast on other FM frequencies and on AM.

Border series: Saturday sounds on KTOK
Original cassette inlay from Anoraks Ireland Collection.

KTOK broadcast from the middle of 1987 until the end of 1988, when it closed in line with new broadcasting legislation. The recording was made on Saturday 7th November 1987 from 103.9 FM. Part 1 above runs from 1006-1140 and Part 2 below from 1317-1348.

Part 2 of Top 40.

Both are from the Anoraks Ireland Tapes Collection, donated to us by Paul Davidson.

Sunday afternoon on Waterford’s ABC

Sunday afternoon on Waterford's ABC
Selection of ABC car stickers (Anoraks Ireland Collection).

Although largely playing chart music, this recording gives a sense of some of the diversity of weekend programming on Waterford station ABC. It includes Russ Padmore presenting the American Top 40 and Billy Power with a country music programme. News at 6pm is also read by Russ Padmore and there are plenty of adverts for local businesses and national brands. Russ is clearly burning the candle at both ends because he is to return at 1am for the night shift. He is now a journalist with BBC World Service. Billy Power went on to present a country show on rival Waterford station Crystal City Sound.

Sunday afternoon on Waterford's ABC
Original label from Anoraks Ireland Collection – note incorrect times and wrong name of country presenter.

Our tape was made from 1026 kHz AM from 1735-1820 on Sunday 5th May 1985 and was recorded in Kilkenny, some distance from the transmitter. It is from the Anoraks Ireland Tapes Collection, donated to us by Paul Davidson.