Remembering Waterford's Super-pirate of the 1980's!
Between 1982 and the end of 1988 thousands of people in South East Ireland listened to ABC Radio and 'ABC The Hot FM'. Twenty years on and now abcthehotfm.com invites you to take a nostalgic trip down memory lane and "listen again" to authentic archive recordings of this fondly remembered radio station which closed in December 1988. 
Do you remember Andy Ellis, Timmy Ryan, Stuart Clark, Clive Derek, Dave Windsor, Roddy Cleere, Tony Murrell, Kevin Turner, Johnnie Lewis, Richard Staines or Neil Butler?
Perhaps you recall the ads for Heffernan's Fuel centre, Megavision, The chuck Wagon, Cassidys, Buywise Carpets or Morks?!
Did you enjoy the fun at the outside broadcasts or remember the nights out at the ABC Roadshows?
This site tells the ABC story, a story that touched the lives of many thousands of people. We'll show you amazing archive pictures, including many recently re-discovered photos documenting ABC's final hours. We'll also find out "where they are now?" and publish your memories of the period. Do you have photos, recordings or memories to share here? If you do we would love to hear from you.
In its all too short history ABC Radio was innovative and original and its hardworking team had a vision to expand the station.
ABC Radio enjoyed good times and tough times, acts of sabotage, but also extraordinary acts of generousity and friendship from supporters. Great presenters came and went.. and some even re-joined again. Through the hardwork and determination of the team the station kept expanding and was broadcasting to the entire region as "ABC The Hot FM" by the time it closed 6 years later.
Do you remember Andy Ellis, Timmy Ryan, Stuart Clark, Clive Derek, Dave Windsor, Roddy Cleere, Tony Murrell, Kevin Turner, Johnnie Lewis, Richard Staines or Neil Butler?
Perhaps you recall the ads for Heffernan's Fuel centre, Megavision, The chuck Wagon, Cassidys, Buywise Carpets or Morks?!
Did you enjoy the fun at the outside broadcasts or remember the nights out at the ABC Roadshows?
This site tells the ABC story, a story that touched the lives of many thousands of people. We'll show you amazing archive pictures, including many recently re-discovered photos documenting ABC's final hours. We'll also find out "where they are now?" and publish your memories of the period. Do you have photos, recordings or memories to share here? If you do we would love to hear from you.
In its all too short history ABC Radio was innovative and original and its hardworking team had a vision to expand the station.
ABC Radio enjoyed good times and tough times, acts of sabotage, but also extraordinary acts of generousity and friendship from supporters. Great presenters came and went.. and some even re-joined again. Through the hardwork and determination of the team the station kept expanding and was broadcasting to the entire region as "ABC The Hot FM" by the time it closed 6 years later. Waterford Local Radio and Suirside Radio were on the air in Waterford before ABC Radio, but when it opened by surprise in 1982 
ABC Radio was the new
competition that helped drive the other 'pirate' stations to up their game. It was a fresh sound to the airwaves and the listeners were the real winners; they got great local radio, upto date information, and fun, innovative, professional-sounding programming. This site will remind you of ABC Radio's heyday - the mid 1980's when their music loving presenters broadcast 24 hours a day. ABC Radio was the region's first round-the-clock radio station in the days when even the country's two national radio stations closed down overnight. 
The signal was crystal clear, and considerably more powerful than the other local stations. The station met exceptionally high technical standards - it was the South East's first stereo station too (RTE's "Radio 2" was in mono when ABC opened with stereo broadcasts in 1982).
ABC Radio was the new competition that helped drive the other 'pirate' stations to up their game. It was a fresh sound to the airwaves and the listeners were the real winners; they got great local radio, upto date information, and fun, innovative, professional-sounding programming. This site will remind you of ABC Radio's heyday - the mid 1980's when their music loving presenters broadcast 24 hours a day. ABC Radio was the region's first round-the-clock radio station in the days when even the country's two national radio stations closed down overnight. The signal was crystal clear, and considerably more powerful than the other local stations. The station met exceptionally high technical standards - it was the South East's first stereo station too (RTE's "Radio 2" was in mono when ABC opened with stereo broadcasts in 1982).In 1988 the station complied with the impending legislation that would have seen the station's personnel liable to large fines and possible imprisonment. 
"ABC The Hot FM" closed down on December 29th 1988 at 3pm. December 30th was spent switching off the station's eight transmitter sites before the law came into force. Then months of work began on a licence application that was ultimately un-succesful. However, ABC Radio's considerable influence on the airwaves remains undeniable - and today, many of its talented personnel work in influential positions in the broadcasting industry - in Ireland and abroad.
"Pirate" stations like ABC Radio paved the way for legal local radio and the groundbreaking systems and formats they developed were since implemented in many radio stations that still broadcast today.
Many of the original 'ABC Radio' and 'ABC The Hot FM' team have been contributing their memories of here.
"ABC The Hot FM" closed down on December 29th 1988 at 3pm. December 30th was spent switching off the station's eight transmitter sites before the law came into force. Then months of work began on a licence application that was ultimately un-succesful. However, ABC Radio's considerable influence on the airwaves remains undeniable - and today, many of its talented personnel work in influential positions in the broadcasting industry - in Ireland and abroad. "Pirate" stations like ABC Radio paved the way for legal local radio and the groundbreaking systems and formats they developed were since implemented in many radio stations that still broadcast today.
Many of the original 'ABC Radio' and 'ABC The Hot FM' team have been contributing their memories of here.
Here at abcthehotfm.com we invite you to "listen again"
The lovingly restored recordings you'll hear document the 1980's, and are a living history of the period in South East Ireland.
The lovingly restored recordings you'll hear document the 1980's, and are a living history of the period in South East Ireland.
This site is dedicated to the ABC team of talented, young broadcasters, and, to the thousands of you who listened in cars, shops, factories and homes throughout the South East. To those who listened then, and to those who supported ABC...we thank you!
If you're a new listener we hope you'll find the memories of interest.
If you're a new listener we hope you'll find the memories of interest.
Keep listening; there are many hours and memories to enjoy... as we wind back the clock to the 1980's and re-live the fun of listening to ABC Radio and 'ABC - The Hot FM'
Over 20 years on we thank you for your lasting interest...from abcthehotfm.com