Steve Marshall on Galway’s WLS

Steve Marshall on Galway's WLS
WLS flyer from 1986/7 (courtesy Ian Biggar).

Steve Marshall was one of the founders of Galway station WLS (1985-1987), along with other ex-offshore DJs Keith York (RIP) and Don Stevens. WLS broadcast on 846 kHz AM and 104 FM, but switched to 102.7 in May 1985 after RTÉ alleged that it was interfering with television reception in Galway. By the summer of 1986, WLS was established as a popular and successful commercial station but it closed in unexplained circumstances in June 1987 after the departure of Don Stevens. Keith York and Steve Marshall went on to form Coast 103, which broadcast until the end of 1988.

This undated recording features Steve Marshall presenting a late night show sometime around October 1986. It was made from 102.7 FM from 2157-2233 and is courtesy of Brendan Mee.

Steve Marshall and Richie O’Shea on WLS

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.

Summer shows on WLS Music Radio

Summer shows on WLS Music Radio
WLS flyer from 1985 (courtesy Ian Biggar).

These recordings of Galway station WLS Music Radio were made in the summer of 1986, when the station was well established as the leading pirate in Galway. Part 1 above was made on 1st May 1986 from 2143-2228 and features Barry Williams with a requests show. Among the adverts is one for Supermac’s, now a highly successful fast-food company.

Summer shows on WLS Music Radio
Cassette label from Anoraks Ireland Collection.

Part 2 below was made from 1559-1644 on 2nd May 1986 and features news with an unidentified presenter followed by Steve Marshall, one of the station’s founders.

Recording from 2nd May 1986.

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

Lunchtime on WLS Music Radio

Lunchtime on WLS Music Radio
Exterior of WLS at Prospect Hill in 1986/7 (Anoraks Ireland Collection).

This recording of WLS Music Radio from Galway features lunchtime programmes from autumn 1985, about six months after the station began broadcasting. Pamela Wilson, formerly of ERI in Cork, is on air until 1400. She is followed by one of the station founders, former Voice of Peace DJ Steve Marshall. News with Laura Landers (not Andrews as indicated on the label) includes a reference to the ‘bay area’, a phrase borrowed from Radio Nova in Dublin, then at the peak of its influence on the Irish radio scene.

Lunchtime on WLS Music Radio
Cassette label from Anoraks Ireland collection.

The tape was recorded from 102.7 FM on 26th September 1985. Part 1 above runs from 1241-1327 and part 2 below from 1327-1413. Audio quality is fair with some distortion in places.

Part 2 from 1327

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

Solid Gold Sunday on WLS Music Radio

Solid Gold Sunday on WLS Music Radio
Steve Marshall at ERI in Cork c. 1983 (courtesy Lillian O’Donoghue).

This recording of commercial Galway pirate WLS Music Radio (1985-1987) features the Solid Gold Sunday programme presented by one of the station founders, former offshore DJ Steve Marshall. Steve worked in Cork pirates such as South Coast Radio, ERI and WKLR before coming to Galway. Today’s tape was recorded on 22nd September 1985 from 102.7 FM and includes a promo for the station at the top of the hour. Audio quality is fair to poor in places and it is not clear if this is due to a degraded cassette or a problem with the receiver or recorder.

Solid Gold Sunday on WLS Music Radio
Cassette label from Anoraks Ireland Collection.

Part 1 above runs from 1458-1544 and part 2 below from 1544-1630.

Part 2 from 1544

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