Radio NOVA

About Radio NOVA

Radio Nova was a Dublin-based pirate station created and run by Chris Cary, a well-known figure in UK pirate radio. Before coming to Ireland, Cary had worked as a DJ on the iconic Radio Caroline ship in the 1960s, later moved to Radio North Sea International in the 1970s, and then spent three years at Radio Luxembourg.

Cary (R.I.P.) arrived in Dublin in 1981 and launched Radio Nova, a station that quickly became the benchmark for hit radio in Ireland and the country’s most successful Top 40 outlet. Official broadcasting began on Monday, June 29, 1981. The station dominated the airwaves for years, but a prolonged dispute with the NUJ eventually prompted Cary to shut it down on Wednesday, March 19, 1986.

Four decades later, on February 15, 2021, Radio Nova International returned — this time online. The relaunch brought back the original jingles and many classic favourites, and by the end of the year three original Nova DJs were involved: John Clarke, Tony McKenzie and Lawrence John.

Now commercial-free and not-for-profit, the station remains loyal to the sound and feel of the original while introducing new features that still fit the Nova spirit, such as the Nova Power Hour and Powerplays.

Leading the revived station is Lawrence John — DJ, radio consultant and programme director. He spent two years at the original Nova, went on to found Dublin’s Q102 in 1985, and later helped launch Belfast’s Energy 106 FM.

As traditional FM radio faces an uncertain future, Radio Nova International is focused on the next era of broadcasting: online streaming and the expanding world of internet-connected car radio.

Radio Nova International — Online honours the past while looking forward. One of its standout innovations is bringing founder Chris Cary back on air using AI. Believing Cary would have embraced the idea, the station has scheduled a weekly show, Chris Cary: Back to the Future, airing Saturdays and Sundays from 6–7pm. Written and produced by Lawrence John, it features Nova-era memories, anecdotes and stories told from Chris’s viewpoint, alongside music spanning the Nova years (1981–1986) right up to today.

The station is both a celebration of the original “super-pirate” Radio Nova and a tribute to Cary himself, as well as to many beloved Nova voices who have since passed away — including Tony Allan, Bob Gallico, Roland Burke, Peter Madison, Eddie West and Tom Hardy, whom Lawrence worked with in 1983 and 1984. It also recognises U.S. radio icons Casey Kasem and Gary Owens, whose syndicated programmes were hugely popular during Lawrence’s time at the station.

As Lawrence puts it: “You can’t put the genie back in the bottle — there are far more distractions now than in the 1980s — but we’ll make our mark as a living testament to the original Radio Nova and an acknowledgement of its unique contribution to Irish broadcasting.”

Radio Nova International is not-for-profit — “it’s all about the music.” If you like what you hear, please consider leaving a tip or making a donation to help cover running costs and keep the station going. You can also become a friend or patron at whatever level suits you.

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