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EVERYTHING YOU’VE HEARD about Larry Gogan is true – he really is the loveliest man in the Irish media, and probably even the world.
I had the great pleasure of working with Larry for a number of years during my time at RTE 2fm and my memories of those days are amongst the happiest of my career.
This week it was announced that he is moving to RTÉ Gold after 40 years with RTÉ 2fm; it truly is the end of an era but wherever Larry goes, his devoted listeners will follow.
‘A master at work’
First things first, Larry is an outstanding broadcaster. Spending time with him in the studio it was a privilege to see and hear the master at work. He once told me that when he is presenting, he imagines he is speaking to just one person in their kitchen or car as they go about their day. Perhaps that is in part why everyone loves Larry: we’ve been having a conversation with him for four decades, and his voice is as familiar to us as some of the people in our own families.
When I first joined the station, I was shy about meeting the living legend who quietly went about his business without any fuss or attention seeking but always had a kind word for everyone.
I suppose when you’ve got it, you can have the confidence to not have to shout about it. And Larry has it in buckets. How could he possibly live up to the reputation he had for being one of Ireland’s national treasures?
I was so young and inexperienced, and concerned he would be disappointed to have a novice such as myself coming to work with him, but I should never have wasted a moment even thinking such a thing. From the very first show Larry made me feel like we were old friends and gently helped me navigate what we needed to do in order to deliver the show every day.
It was easy for Larry to live up to his reputation because there isn’t an insincere bone in his body – what you hear on the radio or see on the television is exactly how he is in real life. Warm, kind and full of fun. We were always chatting while records were playing and often in stitches just before the red light came on as his mic went live, but Larry never missed a beat or lost his cool. A total pro.
So many things Larry did made a profound impression upon me that I’ve never forgotten.
Irish music champion
I fear it sometimes flies a little under the radar how much he supports emerging new Irish artists, but he has always been a great champion for homegrown talent. While I was working with him it didn’t matter whether he received a demo tape recorded in someone’s bedroom, or an exciting new release from a record label, Larry listened to every single one.
And played anything he believed the listeners would be interested in – regardless of whether they were playlisted, had a publicist promoting them, or if a band had sent it to him directly. I bet he still does because above all else Larry loves and appreciates music in all genres and wants to support the industry. It’s in his blood.
The other thing I always speak of when asked about Larry is the tremendous respect he has for his colleagues and listeners. We travelled together up and down the country with the Roadcaster and further afield for broadcasts in Malta and Austria and not once in all my time on the road with him did I ever hear him say a cross word about anyone or shy away from meeting the fans who love him so much.
His one rule was that the Larry Gogan Show was a team and not just him, so whenever he was invited for lunch or dinner or any treat while we were travelling, he would always ensure the invitation was extended to the sound operators and full broadcast team too. While we all looked up to him for the superstar that he is, Larry looked at all of us as his equals and it made everyone feel so valued. Like so often in life, it is the little things that count.
I remember one Christmas someone sent him a huge chocolate hamper and he wanted to divide it between us. For once I managed to put my foot down and told him to bring it home to his grandchildren and give them the pleasure of opening it, and he very reluctantly agreed.
The next day he arrived in the office with two plastic bags full of biscuits and chocolates – he had given it to them to open and then put half aside for me. That small story tells you everything you need to know about Larry Gogan. To this day I receive a Christmas card from him every year and it means the world to me to see his handwriting on the envelope when it lands on the mat. I have tears in my eyes just thinking about it.
A privilege
It was one of the great privileges of my career to work alongside Larry and I think of him often. When I was writing my debut novel, I gave myself the challenge of trying to capture the spirit of Dublin when my character William Woolf visits the city.
As soon as I sat down to write it became clear to me that no one encapsulated that energy more than Larry and so William discovers the Roadcaster on St Stephen’s Green and witnesses the man at work alongside a character fulfilling the role that was once mine – his broadcast assistant keeping track of the scores and reading out the prizes. In my own small way, I wanted to pay tribute to the man who still means so much to me.
Larry Gogan truly is the King of Radio and I will follow his golden voice to any station it leads me to. Long live the King.
Helen Cullen worked at RTE 2fm from 2000- 2010 and is the author of The Lost Letters of William Woolf.
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You have to plan for 50 at a wedding which a 1 day event and most of the people there will be most likely vaccinated but schools can have over a 1,000 of unvaccinated students in the same building for 9 months. Madness.
@Eoin Fitzgerald: Schools are managed very well, they operate in pods, staggered times etc. etc. and it is the same kids everyday. Apples and Oranges
@Carpentoza: why can’t weddings have larger crowds then and operate like schools with the pods?
@Eoin Fitzgerald: yeh. Pods in hotel dining rooms replacing tables. Handling hundreds of customers. 2-4 each, all in a bubble. Easy enough. Can’t see why they can’t do it.
@john smith iv: It’s the evil drink they fear at weddings but they won’t say that. Mr Delta only gets ya when you stand up to have a dance, maskless at meal for 90 plus mins, no sure he’s grand with that, no interest.
@Carpentoza: not entirely true….
@Eoin Fitzgerald: what is wrong with this government. People going to a wedding would most likely be in their 30s and 40s and 50s upwards. Why would you have to limit to 50 when all the people going to the wedding I am going to are vaccinated. What
These guys have brides and grooms in a state of chaos. They’re allowing thousands of people to gather on beaches but won’t allow a couple to have their wedding night as envisaged. They have completely ignored the weddings industry and it is a total shame. Couples hung out to dry and out of pocket, businesses completely ignored with no correspondence. No sign of a simple structured plan. Events are happening regardless. Some hotels are facilitating couples, which is right. Suppliers to the weddings industry have had their livelihoods decimated and no support if any value has been discussed or set out. Parties are happening all over the country. Beer gardens are full. Hotels are operating as normal but this weak, and leaderless excuse for a government won’t tackle the issue.
@Shane McGrath: Shame, shame, shame on them. I very much hope that this government and those three parties are shown the ire of the Irish people in the next election. The alternative couldn’t possibly handle this any worse. Give them a shot at it, if for no other reason to show this (non governing) government that they answer to and work for the people, not the other way round.
@Shane McGrath: I think we know by now that indoors is worse than outdoors. Right?
@john smith iv: We do. And hotels are full to capacity with people indoors every night in August.
@Shane McGrath: I agree with you but you can’t compare people going to beaches to indoor weddings.
@Shane McGrath: I’ve stayed at hotels and most people were eating outside in the recent weather. Plus they have social distancing inside. A hotel dining room that used to hold 100 would probably only hold 50 now. To be honest a sweaty wedding with the traditional dance is pretty likely to produce spreader events.
@K C: 80,000on a beach waterford last Sunday. Yes you can compare it…. To 50 people and a bit of music, no deaths, and a heavily vaccinated society. You can discuss the lunacy all day with me. The double standard approach is killing support, and the people are now (almost) finished supporting this government.
@Shane McGrath: no you can’t compare indoor to outdoor.
@Shane McGrath: Go away out of that, with your 80,000 on a beach.
@Shane McGrath: Have we heard any different from the opposition no we have not.
Stop politicising the virus.
@Shane McGrath: yep in a state losing money booking re-booking. But that’s ok They still get paid and kids teens go back to school but we can’t have a normal wedding. They’ll be riots on the street if they don’t make some sort of proper road map.
@Shane McGrath: I’ve only been in one recently and it’s managed very well…even though its packed. They even use the ballroom for dinners and drinks with social distancing and everyone wears a mask while walking around.
@Shane McGrath: there is not a beach in Ireland that could hd 80,000 people
What if they hold it in croke Park? Is it 500 then ?
Is the Taoiseach really suggesting that people leave it to the last minute to plan a wedding? Couples have had to cancel weddings…sonetimes more than once. A wedding with table service, no music and closing time of 11.30 can surely be regarded as a fairly controlled environment
Same with Communions and Confirmations 50 can attend Mass but won’t allow ceremonies because of the after party which for the majority is a family thing in the back garden with a bouncy castle, while thousands flock to beaches.,
It’s a bit late to be saying that now ya muppet
@Ger Cassidy: I know. Hopefully these lads are working more than the standard work week. How do they not have the time to work out a realistic plan for each of the main sectors that have restrictions imposed on them, backup plans, reopening plans and communicate clearly with everyone with as much advanced notice as possible. Very unfair to businesses and stakeholders. And easing rules should be consistent across the board…….. We’ve been locked down for so long with plenty of time to plan reopening but everything seems so last minute, unorganized and confusing.
@Ger Cassidy: they’ve said 50 for months.
@john smith iv: they said it would be 100 from Aug 1
@john smith iv: they said 100 from August….. Bit late notice to say plan for 50, 100 isn’t guaranteed
@Ger Cassidy: yes they did but they always put in a rider…depending on Covid numbers. I agree it’s very hard to plan. We have a wedding next month, currently have 75 guests. May have to lose 25.
@Paul Hedderman: Have you not learned by now everything is driven by the virus and the data they receive. They can plan anything they respond to its movement or changes.
@Paul Hedderman: They also said that could change depending on the data.
@Gary Kearney: Good man Gary. Wheres the consistency where its only 50 at a wedding but a hotel can provide indoor dining to any amount of unvaccinated? Wheres the consistency with you can fly in a plane for many hrs vaccinated, with a negative test or having recovered from the virus but only 50 at weddings, can people not be tested, vaccinated for higher wedding numbers?…… why are they so late at implementing travel plan when its been closed for a over a year, did the not envisage it restarting? Plenty of advanced notice! Or scrambling to put an indoor dining plan in place?….. Etc. Should the bulk of all this not be done behind the scenes over the past year so they’re prepared?
@Gary Kearney: Also Gary, have you not learned by now that our govt dont know how to manage the country and are reactive as opposed to proactive. Communication should be clear and concise which it hasn’t been. Rules should be clear and consistent but they’re not. No real leadership…… Only the other day minister for state tweeting you can travel on vaccine cert or negative test and there are people in forced quarantine in Malta because Malta des6nt accept negative test or HSE doc. Tweet is still on his feed right now days later….. Unbelievable
Shame on them there doing everything to keep controlling the people Leo loves the spotlight and hearing himself talk SH-T with a snear on his face
@Margaret Kane: Your right Margaret Shame on them for trying to stop a deadly pandemic from taking any more people before their time.
Saving people from themselves is a terrible thing to do.
@Gary Kearney: Shame on them for advising that weddings would be increased in August and now its 11 days before and hes saying to prepare for 50?!?! There has been no communication on weddings for a long time and now 11 days before theres a wishy washy statement on it but nothing definitive. Meanwhile based on previous info couples were preparing for 100 guests as advised. Wedding numbers need to be finalized weeks before a wedding for food orders and preparation. What about the bride and groom or the guests, do they not need to know?……… Educate yourself and check the stats on the age groups being infected and compare the hospital numbers to the flu numbers every year. Also take a look at the UKs figures
@Gary Kearney: what a silly comment
@Gary Kearney: YAWN GARY.
@Margaret Kane: Most of them are!
Pandemic is over. Let’s move on.
@Barry Ryan: Barry haas decided all hail Barry. When did you decide that was it when you realised a little under 5,000 people passed away today from it. Or was it when there was only 44,000 cases in the UK where they have opened up.
We have had a 90% increase in cases.
But you say its over.
@Gary Kearney: Stop living in the past Gary. Vaccine is rolled our to the vulnerable. Death rate has plummeted as a result and will continue to stay low. UKs has plummeted as a result as well despite their huge daily cases for a long while. Theres a reason were vaccinating….. People are gonna catch it while the rollout continues, less serious symptoms than the first 3 waves…… I feel sorry for those that live by the daily cases and fail to see the results of the vaccinations, or even understand that of the half that arent vaccinated, majority of the under 35s, 99.9% off them won’t have a serious illness….. Wait for it…… BECAUSE THEY’RE THE LEAST VULNERABLE!!!!. Its a different landscape now but you keep pointing out the stats that accrued when there was no vacciene.
@Paul Hedderman: *death rate and hospital numbers
@Gary Kearney: AND YAWN AGAIN GARY.
@Gary Kearney: put your head under the duvet and stay there or else go out and play with the buses
Thats the Bride sorted.The groom is not going to get a look in
Here’s a complete irrational thought…..why not treat weddings like you’re going to be treating pubs next week.
I thought the UK gov were a joke but, fair play Ireland you’re not far behind
Thanks Leo! You’ve just killed my buzz for next month
Does anyone know situation with communion and confirmations. When will they happen
OK the waves can go back to the sea now.
But you can go indoors if you are vaccinated in a restaurant with over 100 people but you can’t have a wedding with 100 people doesn’t make sense. Why bother getting vaccinated if they are stopping us with these ridc rules. The rules do not make sense. If I knew this
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