North East Radio first appeared in Dundalk in 1979 on 252m (announced as 257m) broadcasting around the clock. The station were located in the Imperial Hotel in Dundalk and at the start had a good, clear signal provided by a custom-built transmitter. Local businessmen gave the station a secure financial backing.
Internal staff disagreements caused the engineer to depart. Thos left the transmitter in the incapable hands of the station’s on air staff. Transmitter repairs were amateurish and the station’s signal deteriorated. Worse, dangerous harmonics were heard in the shipping bands. Station staff were known to be involved in fistfights and the station’s ongoing bad name meant they were forced to leave the Hotel. The financial support was also withdrawn and the station ceased broadcasting in August 1980.