Non-Corkonians currently or previously on Cork stations

its_steve116 · 05-05-2026 10:26AM #1

Dave Mac - Dundalk

Philip Bourke - Mayo (I think Ballina)

Keith Cunningham - Mayo

Ray Foley (ex-Red FM) - Mayo

Any other examples?

L1011 · 05-05-2026 10:28AM

Charlie Wolf on RedFM would be a very obvious one!

its_steve116 · 05-05-2026 01:36PM

I think Katie Jane Cronin is a Kerrywoman?

Declan A Walsh · 05-05-2026 02:21PM

On the "previously" list: Matt Dempsey (Dublin) ex-Red FM: presenter on Radio Nova and behind the scenes management with Classic Hits.

thejuggler · 06-05-2026 12:26PM

Steve Hayes formerly of 96FM/Atlantic 252

Nick Richard’s c103

Richie O’Shea RedFM (early days)

Declan A Walsh · 06-05-2026 03:13PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124447824#Comment_124447824

The last entry reminds me that Rick O'Shea (Dublin) was on Corks 96FM at one stage in his career, now of course with Radio 1 and until recently with RTE Gold. In keeping with the OP, I know that Nick Richards is English but where are Steve Hayes and Richie O'Shea from?

Miley Byrne · 06-05-2026 05:07PM

Patricia Messenger on C103 is a Tipp woman as far as I'm aware.

smallfridge · 07-05-2026 09:05AM

Steve Haze is from LA I think.

Emmet Kennedy former 96fm is from Kilkenny.

Cooper from iRadio was on Red FM breakfast.

Colm McGrath former C103 is from Limerick.

Antenna · 07-05-2026 09:20AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124448552#Comment_124448552

thats correct, from the Clonmel area, and she had broadcast in the 1980s on Clonmel pirate station called 'CBC'. First came to what was originally called County Sound to be the first presenter of 'West Cork Today' from Bandon (the west Cork area had its own separate programme in the past) before moving to the Mallow studios.

staying with just C103 (previously 103FM and County Sound), some other names are:

John O'Connor formerly of news since the beginnings of County Sound is another Tipp native originally from northern Tipperary. After retiring from news he continued to present a weekly farming programme (Farmtalk), and continued doing so up to around the time of the closure of the Mallow studio in 2024. He had been involved in radio a very long time, voicing ads on pirate radio in Cork city in the late 1970s

The late Sean Donnellon/Donlan on C103 who presented a long-running weeknight county and Irish show (and subsequently broadcast a show on Sundays) was originally from Co. Roscommon. Eric Grifin, who took over his weeknight show after being the previous presenter of what became Nick Richards afternoon slot, originally from Co. Carlow. Eric left the station in 2024 apparently relating to the closure of the Mallow studio.

The late Paudie Palmer, who passed away a few years ago following a road traffic accident, is remembered as a legendary GAA commentator and sports reporter on the station, he was originally from the Kenmare area of Co. Kerry

Expunge · 07-05-2026 10:24AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124449739#Comment_124449739

If I may digress on the Clonmel thing for just a moment…. there's very little written on the other Clonmel pirate of that era, Centre Radio. It was more "hot hits" than the broad based format of CBC. I believe it was set up by Paul Byrne, later CEO of the Radio Kerry group and Englishman, Kevin Palmer. Kevin worked at a high level in the British radio scene afterwards and I believe is now a senior executive of the COPE radio network in Spain.

I remember when Centre Radio was good, it was very slick for a period of time.

You mentioned Patricia Messenger, who I think did mid mornings there. Others of note who were involved with Centre Radio were Eoin Ryan - now edior of the Nationwide TV show on RTE One, maybe Shane O'Donoghue of that CNN golf show and 2FM did a stint there as a young fella (also on CBC) and also I recall a very young Niall Carroll - now on RTE Lyric FM starting off there. And to bring it back on topic (in reverse), Corkman Mike O'Sullivan who went by the name Ben O'Sullivan was on there too.

A very fine station which burned bright for a short period of time, almost forgotten now.

Sorry for the off topic, but Patricia Messengers name brought it all back.

ford fiesta · 07-05-2026 12:02PM

John Kenny from Dublin (RTE) was on 80s Cork pirate South Coast if I'm not mistaken ??

Declan A Walsh · 07-05-2026 09:23PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124450156#Comment_124450156

If we are including Cork pirates for this thread, Tipperary man Liam Quigley spent some years on Cork pirate radio which included ERI and possibly South Coast Radio. He has been a voiceover man for many years. He was a presenter with Century Radio, Dublin's 98FM, Dublin's Lite FM (now Q102), 2FM and Radio Nova, as well as stints on UK radio.

Expunge · 08-05-2026 09:09AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124451569#Comment_124451569

Just heard him this morning on GHR while flicking through the DAB offering for the first time. What a voice that man has.

From Killenaule, I believe. A parish better known for producing hurlers for the Tipp team.

ford fiesta · 08-05-2026 10:16AM

Stevie Bolger on Cork pirates and RTE Cork

Declan A Walsh · 08-05-2026 11:41AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124452459#Comment_124452459

Where is Stevie Bolger from?

ford fiesta · 08-05-2026 01:34PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124452684#Comment_124452684

fairly sure Dublin - a brother of Smiley Bolger (who reviewed Irish music releases / gigs on the Beat Box on Network 2 & 2FM in the early 90s Ian Dempsey era of the show)

Declan A Walsh · 11-05-2026 02:40PM

I only discovered yesterday from a podcast that Dundalk man Owen Larkin, aka Owen Barry, did a stint on Cork pirate ERI!

*Off topic, I also found out that he was a weekend jock on Chris Cary's Kiss FM in Dublin, sister station of Radio Nova. This is not to be confused with Monaghan Town based Kiss FM (or Kiss FM Northern Ireland as it was referred to in the podcast!), which he was also involved with. I already knew about the latter and various other north-east pirates that Owen was involved with, but not Dublin or Cork.

Owen Larkin has previously presented on Century Radio, City Beat/Q and 4FM/Classic Hits. He is currently with Belfast's Downtown Radio.

It appears that quite a few people wandered through Cork pirates in their time. As well as Nick Richards, some other Englishmen were involved in the Cork pirate scene. Sadly, the examples below are no longer with us:

Stevie Marshall - South Coast Radio, ERI, Cork City Radio and WKLR

Keith York - South Coast Radio and WKLR

Peter Madison - South Coast Radio and WKLR

*Owen related a funny story about how he ended up with a gig with the Chris Cary led Kiss FM. Andy McCloskey, a colleague of Owen on Drogheda's Boyneside Radio, told Owen that Chris Cary was looking for him and he gave him a bona fide phone number. When Owen rang Chris, Chris said he had not been looking for Owen and Owen realized it was a prank by Andy and apologized! At this stage, Chris, who did not know Owen at all, said he liked his voice and invited Owen to meet him! Subsequently, Chris offered Owen a gig with Kiss FM, which he took!

Antenna · 26-05-2026 07:03PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058438139/non-corkonians-currently-or-previously-on-cork-stations

You mention a number from Co. Mayo.

Another one going further back in time is the late Joe Reilly who was from the Westport area of Co. Mayo. He broadcast on 96FM in its early days, then moved to Radio Kerry

According to pirate.ie he was with Radio Carousel in Dundalk in 1985 broadcasting under the name 'Dave Scott'. Later moved to ERI in Cork (as Joe Reilly, presenter and newsreader) up to the end of 1988, and in 1989 was a presenter on the new licenced Radio South - which relaunched as 'Hits and Memories 96FM' after about a year.

Antenna · 19-06-2026 02:18PM

Another notable one being the late Ezeke Gray / The Man Ezeke from Jamaica. In so far as can be ascertained, he first had a show on ERI in Cork in the mid-1980s. In the early 1990s, he broadcast in the UK, including for a time having a show on BBC Radio 1 at prime listening time on Sundays. Later he reappeared in Cork and had a weekend show on 96FM

John Creedon leads tributes to Jamaican singer and Cork 96FM DJ, the Man Ezeke

thejuggler · 22-06-2026 09:47PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124563500#Comment_124563500

He also did shows on CUHFM Hospital radio during this period.

eastie17 · 22-06-2026 10:04PM

yer one on 96fm in the mornings with the super annoying English accent can’t be from Cork surely?

Non-Corkonians currently or previously on Cork stations

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