This page is intended to be the start of a list of radio stations heard across the water here in the UK, from Co Donegal. There are some of the stations that have barely been heard of outside their own local area, yet one or two of the earlier ones actually were heard quite well in the UK both by day as well as at night. Some attempt is also made here to document the various Radio North factions, which is not that simple after so many years have passed. |
EARLY STATIONS
Radio Donegal was heard for the first time in 1980. Frequencies heard were 1600, 1560, and on one occasion seemed to be on 1539ish // 1560. But not only did the MW signals come through. 6240 was strong one particular Sunday, (4 x 1560). There were also harmonics at a different time, on 4800 and 6400 (3 and 4 x 1600).
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DCR was heard in the UK at night on 1410kHz, off channel. This was during the summer months of 1980. One log which has been questioned but sadly can't be backed up by a recording, is reception one night in July 1980 on 1615kHz. This is logged as a test transmission from Donegal Community Radio.
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1985 - 1988 BOOM TIME |
NWCR was the first station to come out of County Donegal in a few years. But in November 1985, signals were logged on 1260 initially, before a move to 1296 was made. NWCR eventually settled on 1116, before adding 1008 in //. See NWCR home page for more details and promotional material.
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DCR broadcast from Letterkenny area in County Donegal. It is unknown if the station had any connection whatsoever other than in name, to the former station that was heard in 1980. DCR was pretty settled on 945kHz from 1986 until 1988. More information and photos are available on the Donegal Community Radio home page.
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Radio North began life on 1386 briefly in late 1986, followed by a change to 1404kHz. It was first noted in the Anoraks UK Weekly report as launching on Tuesday 18th November 1986, after a period of testing. More info on Radio North and various pieces of promotional material can be found via their home page. This faction of Radio North continued up until the 31st December 1988.
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A few photos taken by Steve West during his 1988 tour of the Irish pirates and a few pieces of promotional material are all we have of this station. Radio Nova began life as City Sound, then Radio Nova 2, and finally Radio Nova.
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WABC began life on 106FM, then moved to become the Hot 107, before settling down on 101.7 where it remained. Various SW frequencies were used, as was 1242kHz in the MW band.
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There are not too many details available about KTOK from onegal Town. But the signals made it to the UK on 1566kHz. Steve West took a few photos during his travels in 1988.
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Glencoagh or Glencoe Radio was heard in the UK on 1143kHz during 1988. A few photos are included from Steve West's travels during 1988. See home page for more details.
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RADIO 4U This station was run by a German fellow, but we have no more real info to hand about Radio 4U, so there is not a page about the station as yet. ==================================================== |
AFTER THE 1988 BROADCASTING BILL - (1989 ONWARDS) |
This was more or less Radio North under a different banner, first heard in mid January 1989 until Monday 4th September 1989. THat was the day the name changed back to the traditional RADIO NORTH name.
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After the 1988 broadcasting act, Radio North was heard on and off on 846kHz. Some of the details and the ins and outs of the station have not been too well documented, but an attempt is made on their home page to document as much information as we can find in the old log books.
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We have some good photos of the AM / FM mast of North Atlantic Radio from 1992, during a visit to County Donegal. The studio in Main Street, Carndonagh and station van are pictured on the NAR page.
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WABC came back on the air in 1989, after Northside Radio, Star and Radio Dublin had sort of tested the water. Radio Dublin were raided in February 1989, but Star and Northside carried on as normal. WABC closed on 31st March 1991. The station did briefly return in about 1997.
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Riverside 101 started life as a small time FM pirate station after Frankie of Riverside left Triangle Night Time Radio to set up. The station went from strength to strength and eventually achieved such a polished and professional sound, it ranks up there in the favourite radio stations of all time. More details and promotional material can be found on the Riverside 101 page.
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