Nova day coming up 37 years

The most important event in Irish radio history? ,

All started off as a normal mornings broadcasting on the 18th,Nova with Dekkie and Bob on 88FM and 819AM and Kiss with Mike Moran on 102.7FM live from the studios at 19 Herbert Street.

The first sign of something amiss was the airing of the RNI theme music followed by requests for Chris to contact the station

Meantime at Nova park a 50kw AM was being installed. ....

Members of the P&T and the Gardai had arrived at Herbert Street looking for the keys to the transmitter sites including Nova park. The studios were not touched.

(Les Reed - Man of Action is the name of the RNI theme )

Ger Roe wrote: »

I first suspected something was up when Declan missed a link and a few jingles were played, out of the expected context. In the days before mobile phones, he was desperately trying to attract the attention of those who would know that the Nova groove was not right.

After another few links missed and more random jingles, I mentioned to some colleagues that something was up. They hadn't noticed, but once Declan put out his call for Chris to contact the station and Man of Action was played, I knew it was serious.

The following hour or so was compulsive listening and word spread like wildfire around Dublin (and far beyond) that Nova was being raided. Little did any of know at that time, that far more was to come.

Ger, recordings of Nova on that day are common enough but what about Kiss, or indeed of Sunshine?

Infoanon wrote: »

On the 'Bring Back Nova' TV Doc Tom Hardy mentions getting into a car with a P&T official and heading up to Stocking Lane where one P&T van was waiting to load the equipment - the P&T really had thought this one through !

(Compare this keystone cop raid to the raids 20 years later on Dublins FM stations ).

An over zealous P&T official wanted to cut through the 10kw AM feed to get Nova off the air quickly - and there was good reason for this - the P&T where heading off in there van to raid Sunshine next !

The keys to the transmitters arrived (no iron grinders in sight),and Nova fell silent - the AM going off while 'Rip it up and start again played'.

With help from Nova staff and Nova vehicles (you couldn't make this up) the 10kw and 50 kw AMs where seized along with the FMs,optimods etc.

The last TX to fall silent was the Kiss back up transmitter in Woodtown (just up the road from Stocking Lane ).

RTE news crew filmed the raid and the closure of Nova was the lead story on RTE and the main headline in the evening papers.

Ministers warned of more raids and (at this stage) some where pretty happy that they had silenced Nova.

The 19th would be a new day but for now a state of shock and bewilderment befell the radio community/

That last statement is important as, of course, it wasn't the end of Radio Nova. Nor was it the end of Sunshne Radio, which was to subsequently reinvent itself as Sunshine 101. It did spell the end of Kiss FM, its sister station, though. Mike Moran, aka Mike Maloney, and Greg Gaughren moved over to Nova. Eventually Radio Nova closed in a much quieter way during the spring of 1986.

Infoanon wrote: »

Kiss did return after the raids - the main priority was getting Nova back on air on full power to air those prepaid ads.
Kiss would close in early 84 - but that's another story.

On the 18th,Nova and Kiss where off ,Sunshine was on with Robbie getting assurances that Sunshine would not be raided , that this action was about taking Nova off (before the 50kw was switched on)

Okay, I got the sequencing slightly wrong there, but I think the raids were a factor in hastening the end of Kiss FM.

I do have some memories of that day in 1983. It was big news. Was that the same day when Chris Cary asked car drivers to "honk their horns" in support of Radio Nova?

Ger Roe wrote: »

The call to 'sound your car horn' was made by the legendary Tony Allan, Ex of offshore stations Radio Scotland, Caroline, Radio North Sea, Voice of Peace and a host of Irish land based pirates. It was the next day, March 19th.

Nova were back on low power AM from early that morning and then Sunshine was hit (around 11am) and Nova announced at lunchtime that they were closing at six o clock.

Funny how the mind can play tricks with you! Tony Allen had a very distinctive voice and it looked like it was all over for Nova on that second day. But of course it wasn't!

Incidentally, there are a number of voices from the offshore pirates involved with an online station called Quasar The Album Station. There's a thread about it below. Ahem!

Infoanon wrote: »

The transmitters at the Sands where switched off only for one P&T official to suddenly realised there was still a signal on from somewhere - anecdotally the late Peter Gibney made a few frantic phone calls to have the TX turned off - the main FM - at Howth Head iirc (someone else might be able to confirm the exact location ).

Sunshine had managed to save a FM transmitter which would greatly help their return to the airwaves.

I believe that it was Bellingham Farm on the Carrigbrack Road though that's by no means a certainty. Not terribly high as location but it has a great vista for the entire greater Dublin area and was arguably better than most of the pirate sites of the time.

Infoanon wrote: »

24kw on 102.7 later 102.9,a 3kw TX into a 8 bay antenna array iirc

Nova also had a TX from Nova Park on 103.2

That's significantly more transmission signal power than many of the commercial stations in the Dublin market are allowed!

Losty Dublin wrote: »

To be fair to FM104, they wouldn't be broadcasting with the same EFR that Nova had. Also, the FM spectrum in 1983 was a lot less congested back then it is these days and less regulated; as a result stations were able to to a lot more with their TX if they so wished.

Exactly - 98FM and FM104 have the same ERP iirc, and 50 miles would be outside their designated broadcast area.

The key difference between now and mid eighties is regulation. The FM band was very congested in the mid eighties in Dublin with even the super pirate stations only having a .4 Mhz gap as opposed to the .6 these days. .2 gaps where not uncommon.

And now as it approaches 6pm the memories flood back - Abba Dance while the music still goes on ,the theme from Hill Street Blues and So good to be the king airing with car horns blaring and crowds chanting 'we want Nova' all magnificently choreographed by 'the voice' Tony Allen

Losty Dublin wrote: »

I believe that it was Bellingham Farm on the Carrigbrack Road though that's by no means a certainty. Not terribly high as location but it has a great vista for the entire greater Dublin area and was arguably better than most of the pirate sites of the time.

Just as an aside, this comment reminds me of the time I met someone who told me of his experience of living at a pirate radio mountain site.

When he was a teen, he lived somewhere around the ticknock/3Rock/kilakee area and his dad was approached one day to use their adjacent workshed as a TX site. A payment amount was decided and the legal situation was agreed so that he would not be told what station it was and the people dealing with him would say that they told him it was legal equipment being housed at his property. He reckoned his dad did know, but the family were never told, to keep the ignorance defense valid and to stop them talking.

The mains power lead for the transmitter was plugged into this guy's bedroom double power socket (switched) and sent to the shed through a hole drilled in the window frame.

The teenager was an avid Nova fan and he listened in his room at night from a mains powered radio on his bedside locker. Late one night, he reached out to switch off the radio (using the socket switch) and it fell silent, except that the lights on the radio were still on. After a few minutes of trying to figure out what was happening, he realised that the radio was indeed still on, but not receiving - he had flicked the wrong socket switch (shed power) and had turned off Radio Nova - the secret was out.

Just as he turned the power back on, the phone rang to ask if there had been a power cut in the area (not uncommon), he said that there had been a very brief interruption, but all was back now... and then he put some masking tape on the Nova power socket switch, to prevent any more accidental 'drop out'.

I don't remember exact date, location, frequency used etc... but I do remember having a good laugh about it with the person concerned as he recalled the night he put Nova off the air.

May 20th and Radio Dublin was one of the few Pirates still on, after the raids on Nova & Sunshine stations nationwide had left the airwaves.

By Saturday 21st things where starting to change ,Radio Dublin had not being raided and while Chris Cary brought his staff out for dinner in an up market restaurant in Dun Laoghaire a carrier appeared on AM. ...

By Sunday morning Nova was back with its full normal schedule from Monday. AM power was improved (still 1kw) and high power FM was restored shortly afterwards

At the same time both Nova and Sunshine where taking cases against the minister of communications,the cases failed and Sunshine resumed on AM and FM on the 12th June.

The court cases against Nova and Sunshine took place in October and both where found guilty of illegal broadcasting - fined £25 and €20 respectively with the P&T instructed to return the equipment within 14 days .

Once returned Kiss FM returned to the airwaves and Novas 10kw CSI was switched on with installation work commencing on the 50kw AM.
The new tower had also been installed for the high power AM transmissions.

Foot notes : High level sources had tipped off Nova about the raids but the tip offs where ignored.

There was one further raid on Nova when the P&T seized the 15 kw TV transmitter - RTE had kicked up a hell of a rumpus about Nova TV - ironically Nova had been tipped off about this raid and had taken action but Cary relented and gave the P&T the TX (which was then returned a few months later).

There was also a threat of a raid - this occurred when the 50kw started drifting during a snow storm causing interference to BBC Scotland, the 50kw TX was switched off and no raid occurred.

Everybody remembers Tony Allens closedown but it would be another year before Tony was back on the radio ,May 23rd 1984 to be precise when the one and only test of Exidy738 wad heard wide and far (50kw ).

Infoanon wrote: »

................................................


Everybody remembers Tony Allens closedown but it would be another year before Tony was back on the radio ,May 23rd 1984 to be precise when the one and only test of Exidy738 wad heard wide and far (50kw ).

Tony Allen had a powerful voice. I'm pretty sure that was his voice used for at least one jingle on Dublin pirate Capitol Radio in the 1980s: Capitol, playing all you want to hear! I have a vague memory of another jingle that may have used his voice: Capitol - the city sound!

Infoanon wrote: »

The court cases against Nova and Sunshine took place in October and both where found guilty of illegal broadcasting - fined £25 and €20 respectively with the P&T instructed to return the equipment within 14 days .

Once returned Kiss FM returned to the airwaves and Novas 10kw CSI was switched on with installation work commencing on the 50kw AM.
The new tower had also been installed for the high power AM transmissions.

Foot notes : High level sources had tipped off Nova about the raids but the tip .

By way of an additional footnote to clarify something that is oft asked about the prosecution of Nova and Sunshine and specifically the return of their equipment.

A previous case against another pirate resulted in a Not Guilty verdict after the defence showed that transmission equipment alleged to have been used to transmit illegally could be lawfully used for other purposes than that of unlicensed wireless telegraphy. Once the case was over any such equipment that fell into this category could be returned to the accused party on foot of a court order, which meant that it all had to be returned. Upon being found guilty Nova and Sunshine used this precedent to their advantage by applying for all seized equipment to be returned after their cases were finished; both parties using their returned wares for more free radio telegraphy, only on a far grander scale than before :pac:

Over time the Department would practise the tactic of raiding and drawing out any pending prosecution for as long as possible to try and make it harder for raided goodies to be used for the same purpose that they were initially taken for in the first instance

Losty Dublin wrote: »

There was portacabins at Stocking Lane for the masts. Cary didn't own the land at the time)

There are great pictures on the DX Archive of the Nova transmitter site from November 83.

The portacabins originally housed the transmitters (AM/FM )before the AMS where moved into the main building and the main FM up the mountain.

What's sometimes forgotten is that the then Green acres country club was the home of Treble TR - an AM station that was getting reception reports from far and wide.This attracted Cary to the site and ultimately ownership in 82 - but as Losty has said that is another story.

Truth or Myth - After the destruction of the Sunshine mast and the subsequent rebuild there was 24 hour security on the mast - it is alleged that Chris offered Robbie daughters boyfriend 2 tickets to go to New York leaving Robbie with the headache of having to personally do more security shifts.

Infoanon wrote: »

..........................................

What's sometimes forgotten is that the then Green acres country club was the home of Treble TR - an AM station that was getting reception reports from far and wide.This attracted Cary to the site and ultimately ownership in 82 - but as Losty has said that is another story.
..............................

I did not realise (or I have forgotten!) that Treble TR was on AM at all. I remember it being on FM. I checked and it was indeed on 945 kh on Medium Wave, as well as its more well-known (I think) frequency of 99.5 FM.

During that summer, when there was speculation about how long the pirates would last after the big raids in Dublin, Capitol Radio appeared on the scene.

Infoanon wrote: »

There is a picture - probably DXArchive - where you can see Treble TRs wire antenna and in the background Novas massive free standing tower. Novas AM at that stage was a mere 3kw on 846/891 .The RF interference must have been huge (and add in the FM at 5kw erp).

True story - I recall a parish priest getting very irate at the breakthrough on his churches audio system with his sermons being interrupted by pop music and blaming RTE 2FM. I pointed to the mast a few hundred feet away - the Q102 AM mast......the issue was resolved quickly (by RTE according to the parish priest !)

Even to this day, there are some people who are oblivious to the existence of Irish stations other than those owned by RTE, never mind pirates! Then there are other people who did not realise the stations they were listening to were unlicensed!

I just stumbled across this thread - great memories one and all.

On our old site at Radiowaves.FM we had a small piece on the Raids, that was expanded and relaunched on Monday, the anniversary of the hit on Radio Nova.

If anybody has any memories, information or material that can be added to those pages please let me know.

Here's the link - I hope you enjoy it.

http://radiowaves.fm/ire/radiowavesnews/the-raids-of-1983/

thejuggler wrote: »

Cork had its superpirates too (on a smaller scale) - ERI and Southcoast radio both inspired and influenced no doubt by the success of nova and sunshine in Dublin.
.

I believe Chris and Paul Cotter were invited down to ERI to advise on their transmision facilities.
The original South Coast would have the expertise of the late Keith York.

It was not unusual for an IBA station to ask for advice on how to set up their optimods - Sunshine and Nova where literally years ahead.

Sunshine and then Nova set the standards that exist to this day.

PacMan wrote: »

I really enjoyed reading this article, and each page reminded me of that day in Dublin, as a student, my favourite radio station, Nova was gone.
I was one of the many, who visited Herbert street that day. And I was one of the many, who phoned what I think was leinster House, as the radio stations were giving out numbers to ring to complain about the closures.

I am glad I was around when Nova was broadcasting, and of course Sunshine also.
Listening to the music of Steely Dan, Toto, Orange Juice and of Course "Its good to be the King", all possible thanks to Nova.

At that time, RTE appeared to be playing Big Tom on a loop, or at least that's how it appeared to this teenager, and finally Nova was there "For Me", playing all this fantastic music, with brilliant jingles and really professional presenters.

Thank you for the very kind words Pacman, and for sharing your memories.

You might also enjoy a new addition to our Radio Retro section.

On the 20th Anniversary of the raid on Radio Nova Ger Roe produced an excellent edition of The Anorak Hour airing memories of the day from the listeners perspective.

You can tune in to it here:
https://www.mixcloud.com/radiowaves_fm/phantom-fms-anorak-hour-may-18-2003/

To answer the query on Kiss:

KISS 102.7 was Novas FM only sister station. The station was launched for a number of reasons including taking some of the advertising strain off Nova where at times there were 14 minutes of ads per hour.

Kiss went off the air when it's transmitters where seized from its Woodtown site.

Kiss did not return to the airwaves until the P&T returned the equipment in October '83.

However during the period from May to October '83 Kiss programming was effectively carried on the FM split service Super Nova on 88FM.

When Kiss did return it became more MOR.

After a successful Christmas '83 trading period for Nova and Kiss,Nova where hit by the intensive RTE jamming to their 88FM service and to the microwave links from Herbert Street to Rathfarnham.
Kiss was carried on AM for a day - presumably the 1kw rig that was later used for Magic up to its closure .

However the Kiss service was closed shortly afterwards with Nova replacing it on 102.7.
There are many reasons put forward for the Kiss closure but in hindsight it was the right move as RTE would go on to jam Nova on 88FM and 102.7FM and jam Sunshine on AM ( which would/could have been the Kiss AM).

Novas 2 other AM transmitters - 10kw and 50kw would not suffer jamming.

The Kiss studio equipment along with the Nova equipment was moved up to Stocking Lane.

A second studio was fitted out in Stocking Lane which was used for Exidy738.

In the past former Nova staff have referred to Kiss as the creme de la creme of the FM band.

radiowaves wrote: »

Thank you for the very kind words Pacman, and for sharing your memories.

You might also enjoy a new addition to our Radio Retro section.

On the 20th Anniversary of the raid on Radio Nova Ger Roe produced an excellent edition of The Anorak Hour airing memories of the day from the listeners perspective.

You can tune in to it here:
https://www.mixcloud.com/radiowaves_fm/phantom-fms-anorak-hour-may-18-2003/

Great package put together by Ger Rowe for Phantom back in May 18th 2003. It was interesting to hear all those voices from that period in 1983. Incidentally, it was also interesting hearing those Phantom voices from 2003, including one Pete Reid, aka Simon Maher, with his radio news roundup at the end!

Just wondering did the P&T/authorities ever come after pirates on the grounds of not having planning permission for their masts etc? I imagine if you erected a 200ft mast in an urban area today you might attract attention from your local authority planning office and people would be queuing up to object.

Infoanon wrote: »

The short answer is No ,however......during the dispute between Nova and the NUJ word got out that Nova did not having planning permission for the 220 foot mast at stocking lane.
Planning permission was sort ,however many locals where against permission being granted on the grounds of Health concerns around the 50kw transmitter (which ironically was now switched off with the CSI 10kw on instead. ).

Planning permission was refused and shortly before Nova closed they carried requests for a new site for the AM .

As an aside the 50kw was switched on again for a few days in early '86 for Nova (Country) on 254 LW with transmission power circa 15 kw.

P&T couldn't have done anything about stations on a basis of planning permission issues as such matters were a matter for the respective county council of the day. At best the Dept could have applied to to the courts for an order to dismantle a mast but they'd have needed pretty strong reason to do as such, such as actual evidence of interference from the site and they'd need to be 100% sure on matters such as site owners and or leasers, transmission sources and who was creating same. Nova had a maze of companies around it's operation and it would only take for one shelf company to appear, claim responsibility for such and such and any such action would be rapidly dismissed.

More importantly though, the time and money, accusations of abuses of power and the wider political fallout of such a measure would have caused a lot of political damage for all parties. Bad and all as the Wireless Telegraphy was, it was functional enough to allow for raids to take place if and when the will was there.

Ironically enough it was the maze of shelf companies employed by Cary to run the station, his rapid expansion of Green Acres as a broadcast facility and general planning and other licensing issues that all played their parts in the demise Nova. That and the fact that he clearly wasn't the nicest man in the world to deal with at times