Saturday night 7th June was the date which marked a very special occasion at the Inishowen Gateway Hotel in Buncrana as past owners, management, technicians, presenters and staff of the former Donegal Pirate Radio Stations gathered in one room together for the first time ever!
There was much reminiscing over this most exciting era in radio during the 80s and 90s when the likes of NWCR, Radio North, Radio Nova, DCR, Northside Radio, WABC, Riverside 101, North Atlantic Radio and KTOK ruled the airwaves of the North West.
A time before Internet, Tablets, Ipads/Ipods and mobile phones, when these stations were not just a source of music and entertainment, but the fastest and most convenient source for local news, weather and local gigs. Small businesses now had a means of advertising their products/services for £1 punt per play and gained amazing results!
These stations paved the way for so many singers and musicians whose talents were showcased on a daily basis. They helped form bonds between communities North and South of the border and they forged friendships that have lasted a lifetime.
On the night, there were snippets from all the stations playing in the background & stirring many memories. There was live music and a montage of photographs from the time rolling on a projector for the duration of the event, many of these photographs showcasing how basic a lot of the equipment was and by contrast how professional a lot of the broadcasts actually were, again, no computerised playlists and ad breaks, these were the days of cassette tapes, 33/45 rpm vinyl!
There was plenty to eat and plenty to wash it down with! Glasses were raised in memory of those who had passed away and many tales fondly recounted of their departed friends in a reflective manner.
These giants of radio were genuinely delighted to meet up and exchange stories with each other into the wee hours, stories of jamming telephone exchanges with the sheer volume of phone-calls from the listening public to some of the ” very occasional” bloopers which sometimes aired!
It was a time when radio truly became local and every village and townland got its mention on the air. Every local artist was supported and promoted to the highest degree.
All in all, it was a fantastic night, In fact, so much so was the success of the gathering, the guys and girls have decided to make it an annual event!
The organisers would like to thank all the local press and media for highlighting that the event was happening, the Inishowen Gateway Hotel for providing excellent service and especially to all those who turned up and made this a night to remember with a smile.
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