Larry Gogan, RTÉ broadcaster, dies aged 81
- Published
Mr Gogan worked in broadcasting for almost six decades
RTÉ broadcaster Larry Gogan has died, aged 81.
Mr Gogan worked in broadcasting for almost six decades and was best known for his work on RTÉ 2FM where he worked as a DJ for 40 years.
Mr Gogan is best remembered for playing classic hits on the Golden Hour and hosting the Just A Minute Quiz which became as famous for its wrong answers as it did for the correct ones, according to RTÉ.
He moved to RTÉ Gold last year.
Irish President Michael D Higgins said that "people all over Ireland will have been greatly saddened by the news of the death of Larry Gogan, legendary broadcaster and much loved DJ".
"For six decades, Larry Gogan made an indelible impact on Irish music, having promoted both up-and-coming and more established Irish musicians and sharing his infectious enthusiasm and passion for pop and rock music of all kinds," he said.
Household name
Born in Fairview in north Dublin in 1938, Larry Gogan first began broadcasting with sponsored programmes and then with Raidió Éireann.
He moved to RTÉ 2FM when that station opened in 1979, remaining one of its favourite DJs for the next 40 years.
Mr Gogan was such an Irish household name that in Roddy Doyle's Barrytown Trilogy, the family dog was named "Larrygogan".
The first band Larry Gogan played on 2FM was the Boomtown Rats and he remained a strong supporter of Irish music over the years, winning many awards from the music and broadcasting industries.
He was also a member of the IMRO Hall of Fame.
He was predeceased by his wife, Florrie, and is survived by his five children and grandchildren.
Last week, RTÉ broadcaster Marian Finucane died suddenly, aged 69.