Castle FM

[scotty]

I saw from the RA RSL list that Castle FM in Carrickfergus is due back on air over Xmas.
Sorry for going over old ground, but what was the history behind this? Did they broadcast as a pirate in the past and jam Energy or were they allocated a frequency next to Energy?
Any info would be welcome as I have no knowledge of the happenings.

[Radio Presenter]

Citybeat's sister station Castle FM in Carrickfergus is now counting the days to its launch, at 10:07 on Wednesday, December 11.

The programmes will be broadcast from the town's DeCourcy Centre on 107.2 FM until Christmas Eve. To find out more on all that's going on, check the Castle FM website at www.castlefm.net

[scotty]

Thanks for that. It filled in the details.

[Mike]

OK Castle FM (previously known as Vibe FM/Radio Carrickfergus) is an RSL run by Stuart Robinson of Citybeat on behalf of Citybeat and Carrick Borough council

During 2000 for a few weeks Mr Robinson srt up a pirate station (for reasons best known to himself) which broadcast initally on 100.5 befor moving up to 106.7 blocking out Energy over a large area around Belfast Lough including much of N Belfast.
Programming consisted of "test transmissions" a phone no was given out but calls were never returned

Presumably niether Carrick Borough Council, The managment of citybeat or the radiocommunications agency were ever made aware of this

[Megawatts]

The RCA were aware, and were alledgedly about to raid him, when he did not come on air, on the day in question.. maybe some inside infor down at Stranmillis.

However as with Riverside, Failte,.. and Energy's raid, its a prosecution that counts, and not the raid.

The only prosecution that has ever happened (I think) was on my station KISS 103.1, Craigavon, in March 1985. DJ Mike Millar was caught on air, all the equipment smashed, and Mike was dragged before Craigavon Court... and Fined £13. That resulted in ZEE 103, and later KITS and KISS Monaghan.

Castle FM was simply a jammer on Energy, due to personality problems between LJ and certain Citybeat staff.

[scotty]

Megawatts, Andy Craig got fined when he was raided up in Coleraine during 1989. He got the studio gear back but not the rig. That was for TNR FM which I think was on 98.2

[scotty]

I meant to ask, was Lawrence ever taken to court for the raid on Black Mountain in 1997?

[Mike]

Andy also used to operate on Shortwave as Rock Radio Int/Freewave/NISWRS around 6.273 MHz
Didnt know about the raid but always wondered what happened him

[scotty]

He operated on shortwave as Northern Ireland Radio Relay Service until the mid 90's. Then he took a break, but was back on 6400 khz or 6310 khz in March 2000 relaying Paul's WABC. It didn't last long as Paul asked him to stop(!) and then he lost use of the site. Knowing Andy he might re appear in the future.