This is a recording of the Dublin station Sunshine 101FM from the morning of September 11th 1985. We join Pat Courtenay (right) in the Breakfast slot at 8.40am; and he’s followed by a short clip of Robbie Dale’s mid-morning show from 10am.
If you have any recordings on cassette or mp3 that you’d like to donate to our Irish Radio Recordings Archive please drop a line to recordings@radiowaves.fm
Pat Courtenay
Robbie Dale
This recording is by very kind courtesy of Gary Hogg
Radio Retro: archiving Irish radio broadcasts since 2002
This is Pat Courtenay on Drive for Dublin station Sunshine 101FM. The recording starts just as the 5pm News with Cathy Cregan is coming to a finish. The date is July 4th 1986 – American Independence Day – which is too good of an opportunity for Pat’s comedic talent to ignore.
From July 9th 1986 this is Pat Courtenay on Drivetime for Dublin station Sunshine 101FM. The recording starts just as the 5pm News with Justin McKenna is coming to a finish and you have a choice to listen to the broadcast either as it aired or with the music stripped out.
As broadcast
Music stripped out
Radio Retro: archiving Irish radio broadcasts since 2002
This recording of the Dublin superpirate Sunshine Radio is from August 26th 1986 This particular day saw the culmination of a long-running listener competition with a live broadcast from Tomangos.
There’s a short clip from Tony Dixon’s show as he hands over to Pat Courtenay, who warms up the listening audience before handing over to Robbie Dale/Robinson and Mark Byrne for the presentation from the nightclub.
Once the winner is announced the outside broadcast comes to an end and they hand back to Steve Kelly in the studio.
This is Dublin station Energy 103 with Pat Courtenay sitting in on Drive from 6.15pm, and he’s followed by John O’Hara with School’s Out after the 7pm News. The recording, off 103FM, dates from February 24th 1987. Michael Lewis and Teena Gates are the Newsreaders.
Pat Courtenay
John O’Hara
This recording is with thanks to Gary Hogg Radio Retro – archiving Irish Radio broadcasts since 2002 More from Energy 103; Pat Courtenay or John O’Hara
This is a recording of Energy 103 from February 26th 1987, taken from 103.0MHz. First, we hear from Colm Hayes on the Breakfast Show with News headlines on the half-hour and full news on the hour from George Long.
7.25am Colm Hayes
Colm is followed by Tony McKenzie from 10am through to the afternoon.
10am Tony McKenzie
Later in the day we join Pat Courtenay from 6pm. Sybil Fennell reads the News.
6pm Pat Courtenay
From 7pm it’s John O’Hara with Schools Out.
7pm John O’Hara
7.45pm John O’Hara
Tony McKenzie and George Long in the Energy studio in February 1987 Photo by kind courtesy of Kevin Brangan
This is a recording of Pat Courtenay (photo) on Dublin station Energy 103. Dated May 6th 1987 we join him on the breakfast show during the 7am news, which is read by Lisa Moore. Then from later in the day we join Tony Allan from 4.30pm – his show was affected by the ESB strike. George Long reads the News.
Pat Courtenay
Tony Allan
The morning recording is courtesy of Ian Biggar and the afternoon one is with thanks to Gary Hogg. The photo is thanks to Mike Mahon
Radio Retro: archiving Irish radio broadcasts since 2002
This is a selection of programming from the Dublin pirate Energy 103 on May 7th 1987.
We start with a short clip from the breakfast programme with Pat Courtenay. The show was obliterated by an ESB strike, which meant a late start for the 7am News, read by Lisa Moore. It wasn’t long before they were knocked off again…
7.06am
Power was eventually restored to ‘the power station’ and this segment is from Alan Burns.
10.20am
We catch the end of Alan Burns as he makes way for Tony Allan at 3pm.
2.54pm
During Tony’s show, we switch from medium wave to 103FM, in stereo…
3.15pm
Again, during Tony’s show, we switch back to medium wave…
4.46pm
This recording is by very kind courtesy of Gary Hogg, with extra thanks to Dave Small for the FM broadcast
Radio Retro: archiving Irish radio broadcasts since 2002
Here’s a morning’s worth of programmes from the Dublin pirate, Energy 103. The recording is from May 8th 1987 and features Pat Courtenay on Breakfast, who is followed by Alan Burns at 9.35am.
A recording of some programmes from Energy 103, who broadcast to Dublin from 1986-1988. From May 14th 1987 this is Pat Courtenay (right, in the Energy production studio) on Breakfast, ably assisted by Lisa Moore. Alan Burns follows from 9.35am, and then from 2pm there’s a short sample of Tony McKenzie’s programme.
Pat Courtenay
Alan Burns
Tony McKenzie
This recording is by very kind courtesy of Gary Hogg and the photo is thanks to Mike Mahon
Radio Retro: archiving Irish radio broadcasts since 2002
This recording is from the morning that Bob Gallico (pictured) made his debut on Energy 103. Bob defected from Q102 to join Pat Courtenay and Lisa Moore for Energy’s Breakfast programme, which we join at 6.40am. The first part of the programme was taken from medium wave…
6.40am
Just before the headlines at 7.30am we switch to FM in stereo…
7.28am
Here’s the full show with the music stripped out..
Airchecked
Here’s the full show on medium wave
This recording is by very kind courtesy of Gary Hogg; photo of Bob is thanks to Mike Mahon
Radio Retro: archiving Irish radio broadcasts since 2002
From June 19th 1987 this recording is from the day that Alan Burns (pictured) presented his final show on Energy 103. The recording starts with Pat Courtenay, Bob Gallico and Lisa Moore on the Breakfast programme from 8.20am. Then it’s over to Alan at 9.30am.
Breakfast
Alan Burns
This recording is by very kind courtesy of Gary Hogg; photo of Alan is with huge thanks to Mike Mahon
Radio Retro: archiving Irish radio broadcasts since 2002
From September 9th 1987 this is a selection of clips from Energy 103’s Breakfast Club with Pat Courtenay, Bob Gallico and Lisa Moore. There’s also a collection of Gareth O’Callaghan’s phone call sketches from his afternoon show.
Breakfast Club
Gareth O’Callaghan
Radio Retro: archiving Irish radio broadcasts since 2002
From October 23rd 1987 this is a recording of Dublin pirate station Energy 103. First we hear the end of The Breakfast Club with Pat Courtenay and the team. This is followed by Tony McKenzie from 10am. Then from later in the day we join Cassidy Jones at 4.30pm.
Breakfast Club
Tony McKenzie
Cassidy Jones
Radio Retro: archiving Irish radio broadcasts in collaboration with Gary Hogg / DX Archive
Click on the name to hear lots more from Energy 103
From the morning of November 5th 1987 this is a recording of The Breakfast Club from Energy 103 with Pat Courtenay, Bob Gallico and Lisa Moore, plus the usual array of comic characters. We join the show on 103.0MHz from 7.50am.
Listen
Radio Retro: archiving Irish radio broadcasts in collaboration with Gary Hogg
This is Energy 103’s Breakfast Club with Pat Courtenay, Bob Gallico and Lisa Moore. The recording was made from 8.30am on November 11th 1987 off 103FM.
Listen
This recording is by very kind courtesy of Jess Codd
Radio Retro: archiving Irish radio broadcasts since 2002
November 25th 1987 was a historic day in Irish radio as it seen the merger of Energy 103 with the recently relaunched Radio Nova. Nova had reappeared on the Dublin FM band a couple of weeks earlier – 20 months after the hugely successful station had ceased broadcasting.
Here we have a selection of recordings from the day, starting with a short snippet from the morning’s Breakfast Club.
08:34-Breakfast Club
Then, on the mid-morning show, Niall McGowan is sitting in for Tony McKenzie.
11:20-Niall McGowan
12:15-Niall McGowan & Cassidy Jones
Following the news Tony McKenzie took over from Niall and Cassidy was still in the studio.
The bulk of this recording was made near Blackpool and as the day progresses interference increases. Where possible we’ve switched to a locally made FM recording, meaning parts of this segment is airchecked.
13:05 Tony McKenzie & Cassidy Jones
15:50 Tony & Cassidy airchecked
At 6pm Dublin Today made its return…
18: 00 Dublin Today – Airchecked
From 7.55pm this is John O’Hara
19: 55 John O’Hara
Wow. Thank you for the memories we were all so happy in those days. “FREE” to play DJ and just have fun. In hindsight, we did not know just how much freedom and fun we had. I have always considered myself to be lucky to be on such great stations with such great people. Thanks.
Niall McGowan
Radio Retro: archiving Irish radio broadcasts in collaboration with Gary Hogg / DX Archive
This is Pat Courtenay around lunchtime on Nova Power 103FM from December 3rd 1987. Teena Gates and Bob Gallico are on News and also help with comic inserts.
Listen
Radio Retro: archiving Irish radio broadcasts since 2002
From December 14th 1987, this is a recording of…emmm…..Power 103?!! It had previously been called Nova Power 103 following a merger between Energy and Radio Nova on November 25th, just a few weeks earlier. An injunction had been granted to the receiver of the original Radio Nova restraining the team behind the newly merged station from using the name.
These snippets are from Pat Courtenay’s show which was on air not long after the court decision became effective.
Listen
The photo is with thanks to Mike Mahon Radio Retro: archiving Irish radio broadcasts since 2002
This is Energy 103 from December 18th 1987 featuring The Breakfast Club from 9am followed by Pat Courtenay from 11am-2pm.
This recording of The Breakfast Club with Cassidy Jones, Bob Gallico and Lisa Moore was made on the morning Energy 103 restored their old moniker following a month of having an identity crisis which confused listeners and presenters alike! Energy Power 103 had merged with the new Radio Nova in the last week of November to become Nova Power 103, but a legal challenge over the use of the Nova name forced them to change again so they had been identifying as Power 103 since the start of this particular week.
Breakfast Club as broadcast
Breakfast Club airchecked
Pat Courtenay
Radio Retro: archiving Irish radio broadcasts in collaboration with Gary Hogg / DX Archive
Pat Courtenay presents ‘The Best of Energy ’87’ on New Year’s Day 1988 on the Dublin station. This is a selection of sketches from when he was the presenter of The Breakfast Club. This tour de force of great comedy from a very talented team of writers and performers is about as good as it gets.
Around half of this recording comes from our own archives and the other half has been supplied by Ian Biggar. Unfortunately, for about ten minutes around halfway through the combined audio, faulty erase heads on our recording device ruined the output but it is still listenable, and as it is anorak gold it is worth preserving even in this state.
The Best of Energy
Enda Caldwell: If you have about an hour… you will do wisely to pass it by giving this a listen 32/33 years ago radio in Dublin Ireland sounded like this in the mornings only on 1 station Energy Power 103FM with Pat Courtenay , Bob Gallico (dearly departed) and Lisa Moore aka Fionnuala Sweeney who later worked as main European News Anchor for CNN. People often seem bewildered with “what is your fascination with radio – sure its dead all it does is x y or z…” well NOT back then when you are 12 and we did not have computer games nor phones nor endless cartoons or violent movies inappropriate for children that they somehow end up seeing anyway… No… we had a £57 Panasonic Clock Radio AM/FM where you just tuned up to The Power on 103… and The Theatre of The Human Mind.
Radio Retro: archiving Irish radio broadcasts since 2002 With thanks to Ian Biggar
This is the Nova Night Network from just after midnight on September 7th 1988. Pat Courtenay is on the air in this recording which was taken from Westsound Ayr on 96.7MHz.
Listen or download
This recording is thanks to Ian Biggar.
Radio Retro: archiving Irish radio broadcasts since 2002
From Christmas morning in 1989 this is Classic Hits 98FM’s morning crew with Pat (Courtenay), Elaine (Geraghty), Tom Hardy and Nixer all live in studio. This short extract is airchecked but gives a good flavour of the show
Radio Retro: archiving Irish radio recordings since 2002
This is The Morning Crew with Pat Courtenay and Elaine Geraghty from the Dublin licensed station Classic Hits 98FM. The recording is from February 22nd 1990 taken off 98.1MHz from just after 8am.
Listen or download here
This recording was made by Rodney Neill in Portadown and donated to us with thanks to Ian Biggar.
Radio Retro: archiving Irish radio broadcasts since 2002
Operating under a temporary licence, this is Dublin station The Rock on 94.9MHz. The date of the recording is October 5th 2007 and the start time is 5.03pm. Enda Murphy is on air. Included is a comic insert from Pat Courtenay.
This is Pat Courtenay on air for Radio Nova, the multi county rock music licensed service. The recording was made off 100.3MHz on August 11th 2020 from 3.40pm.
Radio Retro: archiving Irish radio broadcasts since 2002
From August 12th 2020 this is a recording of Pat Courtenay on his Drive show for Radio Nova, the multi-county rock service which was originally licensed just for Dublin.
Radio Retro: archiving Irish radio broadcasts since 2002
This is Pat Courtenay on Drive for Radio Nova 100, the rock music station serving Dublin, Meath, Kildare and Wicklow. The recordings runs from the start of his show at 3pm.
Radio Retro: archiving Irish radio broadcasts since 2002
If you have any old cassettes, digitised recordings, or radio recordings on a Mixcloud/Soundcloud account that we can add here, please get in touch – recordings@radiowaves.fm or use wetransfer to the same address.
