Radio Nova's 40th Anniversary. A Radio Behemoth & Broadcasting Revolution

To commemorate the 40th anniversary of perhaps Ireland's most influential and important radio stations in the history of Irish broadcasting, here are a selection of the recently received archives from Anoraks Ireland. Radio Nova, the brainchild of the late great Chris Cary, began broadcasting 'clutter free' music to Dublin on June 29th 1981. In its five years on air, the station, its owner, its ethos and its commercial success revolutionized Irish radio and created an industry that thrives today. 
This is an early daily schedule for the station

One of the most successful double acts ever in Irish radio was Declan Meehan (who began his pirate career as Arlo St Jude) and American born Bob Gallico. The Deckie Wekkie Brekkie Trekkie was the number one rated show on Radio Nova and while Declan continues in radio today on East Coast Radio, Bob alas passed away in 2013. This is the letter sent to him by Sybil Fennell (later to become Chris Cary's life partner) to say that his demo tape had won their attention and as they say the rest is history. 

https://radiotoday.ie/2013/08/tributes-paid-as-bob-gallico-dies-at-83/

Note in 1982, Nova's stationary were dual language English and Irish. 

One of Nova's enduring legacy's was their charity broadcast 'Operation Novacare', which is forever associated with by a certain generation of listeners with the track  'I Won't Let You Down' by Jim Diamond.

Radio Nova attempted to spread its wing by focusing more on broadcasting into Britain and began announcing that rather than broadcasting 'to Dublin' they were broadcasting 'from Dublin'. They at one time opened an advertising office in Liverpool. This is an opinion poll sheet used in Liverpool.

The end came in 1986 for Radio Nova as industrial issues and increased competition for advertising forced Nova from the airwaves. The company went into liquidation and a local auctioneering firm were tasked with disposing of what assets they could. 

For further information on Radio Nova see

https://ibhof.blogspot.com/search?q=radio+nova

https://radionovainternational.co/?fbclid=IwAR0aVthVfbkdYzIrmNOUMthxHbn0gWYNxP-3gRqczOPoCKuGZGyrCdlfgAc

The images above are from the Archives of Paul Davidson & Anoraks Ireland which have recently donated to the Irish Pirate Radio Archive at Dublin City University