WABC studio shot in May 1990 (courtesy Ian Biggar).
Returning to 1990 and the story of Donegal pirate WABC, today’s recording is from the autumn of that year following the resumption of the twin services WABC Gold and WABC Hot Hits. Tina James is in the afternoon slot on the Hot Hits station with plenty of chart music interspersed by idents claiming to play 10,000 hits in a row. News on the hour is read by Declan Gill and adverts are heard for businesses in Derry and Antrim, including one from as far away as Belfast.
The tape is from the Anoraks Ireland Collection and was made between 1500-1705 on 17th October 1990 from 101.7 FM.
WABC studio photo from May 1990 (courtesy Ian Biggar).
1991 was the year that the Donegal pirate WABC closed down for the second time, as station owner Paul Barnett (RIP) moved back to the UK. A reminder of the constant threat to the pirates operating in the new legal landscape came at the end of 1990 when on Wednesday 14th November a team from the Department for Communications was operating in Donegal and visited the studios of North Atlantic Radio and Radio North. Both were told to cease transmissions which they did. On hearing of this, Paul Barnett closed both WABC services and awaited developments. No visit was received, and the transmitters were switched back on two days later. Both Radio North and North Atlantic Radio returned over the following days.
By early 1991, WABC had once again combined the Hot Hits and Gold services and was transmitting on both FM channels. Paul had always hoped to get WABC back on medium wave and in a letter to Ian Biggar dated 28th January 1991, he said a 1 kW rig was ready and would be in use soon on 954 kHz. The transmitter was built in England and shipped across to Donegal. It was on air in late January and February before disappearing. It was believed to have been sold to North Atlantic Radio.
This recording of WABC from 101.7 FM was made on 21st January 1991 and seems to post-date the combination of both services as the music contains both chart hits and oldies. Up first is Happy Harry from 1735-1820 who also shares snippets of news from the evening papers. The second part of the recording runs from 2005-2050 on the same date and features Doctor Pat. The voices of Paul Barnett and his then wife Krissi Carpenter are heard on adverts, mostly from the Coleraine area. News at 1800 is read by Barry Owler. Thanks to Ian Biggar for the recording and for background information.
By the autumn of 1990, the twin services of WABC Gold and WABC Hot Hits had resumed from Inishowen in Co. Donegal close to the border with Co. Derry. The hot hits service had been suspended for a few months since the summer due to a shortage of staff but was later reinstated. In this recording, Tina James presents the afternoon drive programme. The emphasis is on the chart music with a minimum of talk although there are plenty of local adverts. The final news bulletin of the day is read by Declan Gill at 1700 and is shared with the Gold service.
The recording is courtesy of Ian Biggar and was made from 101.7 FM on 10th October 1990 between 1645-1825.
WABC antenna system in May 1990 (courtesy Ian Biggar).
After a temporary hiatus in the broadcasts of Donegal station WABC Hot Hits over the summer of 1990, by October that year the chart music service had returned to the air and was blasting its signal across the border into Derry and beyond. In November 1990 Free Radio News from Ireland confirmed the resumption of transmissions from WABC Hot Hits on 101.7 MHz and reported that WABC Gold had installed a new aerial system for the 101.2 MHz transmissions resulting in increased signal strength in the Coleraine area. Staff shortages was given as the reason for the delay in getting the Hot Hits station back on air.
This recording is of the Hot Hits service following its resumption. Declan Gill is on air and regularly uses the strapline ‘Hot Hits 101’. There are plenty of advertising promos for both Hot Hits and Gold and adverts for small businesses in Counties Derry and Antrim, many voiced by station founder Paul Barnett (RIP) and his then wife Krissi Carpenter. The recording was made from 101.7 FM on 10th October 1990 from 1315-1445 with Declan Gill and ‘network news’ at the top of the hour is read by Krissi Carpenter. Thanks to Ian Biggar for the donation and for background information.
Paul Barnett (left) and Andy Craig of Riverside 101 in 1990 (courtesy Ian Biggar)
By August 1990, both transmitters of Donegal pirate WABC were carrying the oldies station WABC Gold. Earlier that year, WABC had split into two parallel stations, Hot Hits and Gold, but due to staff shortages it was decided to concentrate on the oldies service only for a while. This recording from autumn 1990 features Paul Bentley (Paul Barnett, RIP) and his then wife Krissi Carpenter, who formed the backbone of WABC Gold. First up is Paul with the end of the breakfast show, including a What’s On Guide for the station’s main listening area in Portstewart (Co. Derry) and Portrush (Co. Antrim). There are also adverts from both towns and surrounding areas. News at 1100 is read by Paul and is followed by Krissi with the lunchtime show.
The recording was made from 1015-1115 on Thursday 6th September 1990 from 101.2 FM and is courtesy of Ian Biggar.
