Gareth O' Callahan Has Parkinsons Disease

h7nlrp2v0g5u48

I just want to pay tribute to Gareth O' Callahan of 4fm who has been diagnosed with the fatal disease Parkinsons. I heard his interview on a local radio station today and I must say I admire him for having the courage to come out and speak about the effects of hearing the news that he has had Parkinsons for a number of years but was only diagnosed recently when he felt he started to have difficulty picking up and dropping things like knives, forks and spilling cups of coffee on a regular basis. He said he is still not over the shock of hearing the news but will try to live life as normal as possible while trying to slow down the disease by exercising more changing his diet and taking medication. So on this note please show your appreciation by supporting Gareth in his quest to live a long and fruitful life while trying to cope with this devastating news. My thoughts and prayers are with you Gareth.

Chancer3001

So on this note please show your appreciation by supporting Gareth in his quest to live a long and fruitful life"

Don't tell me what to do

silverharp

I remember him from the heady days of Nova in the 80's , probably the most exciting time in Irish radio history

Avatar MIA

Gareth is a nice bloke, a bit quiet off air.

He wrote a decent enough novel back in the 90s (early 00s). But, of course he's had a long career in radio.

One thing though...

natashaob6 wrote: »

I just want to pay tribute to Gareth O' Callahan of 4fm who has been diagnosed with the fatal disease Parkinsons.

Parkinsons is not considered a fatal disease.

h7nlrp2v0g5u48

silverharp wrote: »

I remember him from the heady days of Nova in the 80's , probably the most exciting time in Irish radio history

I remember him from the early days of 2fm when you had the best DJ's around such as the legend Larry Gogan, Jim o' Neill, Vincent Hanley and of course Dave Fanning. These guys were brilliant and the knowledge and dedication they but in to the music they played back in the day was nothing short of genius. Don't think we'll ever see the likes on Irish radio again unfortunately.

First Up

Avatar MIA wrote: »

Gareth is a nice bloke, a bit quiet off air.

He wrote a decent enough novel back in the 90s (early 00s). But, of course he's had a long career in radio.

One thing though...

natashaob6 wrote: »

I just want to pay tribute to Gareth O' Callahan of 4fm who has been diagnosed with the fatal disease Parkinsons.

Parkinsons is not considered a fatal disease.

Correct. People die with it, not from it.

It is however incurable (so far).

h7nlrp2v0g5u48

Avatar MIA wrote: »

Gareth is a nice bloke, a bit quiet off air.

He wrote a decent enough novel back in the 90s (early 00s). But, of course he's had a long career in radio.

One thing though...



Parkinsons is not considered a fatal disease.

Maybe fatal was the wrong word to use when discussing such a sensitive topic but there is no cure for Parkinson and it progresses very slowly eventually leaving the person a shadow of their former self.

silverharp

natashaob6 wrote: »

I remember him from the early days of 2fm when you had the best DJ's around such as the legend Larry Gogan, Jim o' Neill, Vincent Hanley and of course Dave Fanning. These guys were brilliant and the knowledge and dedication they but in to the music they played back in the day was nothing short of genius. Don't think we'll ever see the likes on Irish radio again unfortunately.

I know every teenager thinks their era was the best but damn, early to mid 80's was a real nexus of exciting times and changes in music, radio was also relatively more important as to how people enjoyed music at the time. Then there was the pirates versus RTE in Ireland for extra spice or trying to tune into stations like Radio Luxemburg

Bob Harris

natashaob6 wrote: »

So on this note please show your appreciation by supporting Gareth in his quest to live a long and fruitful life while trying to cope with this devastating news. My thoughts and prayers are with you Gareth.

How would you suggest people go about supporting Gareth?

my thoughts are with him.

I watched a grandfather waste away with this disease. It is an absolute **** of an illness.

corks finest

natashaob6 wrote: »

I just want to pay tribute to Gareth O' Callahan of 4fm who has been diagnosed with the fatal disease Parkinsons. I heard his interview on a local radio station today and I must say I admire him for having the courage to come out and speak about the effects of hearing the news that he has had Parkinsons for a number of years but was only diagnosed recently when he felt he started to have difficulty picking up and dropping things like knives, forks and spilling cups of coffee on a regular basis. He said he is still not over the shock of hearing the news but will try to live life as normal as possible while trying to slow down the disease by exercising more changing his diet and taking medication. So on this note please show your appreciation by supporting Gareth in his quest to live a long and fruitful life while trying to cope with this devastating news. My thoughts and prayers are with you Gareth.

Sad news

h7nlrp2v0g5u48

Bob Harris wrote: »

How would you suggest people go about supporting Gareth?

Open to suggestions but i think the fact that we are discussing it on boards and the more people come on and show their support by just wishing him well for the future also by logging on to his Facebook page and leaving a message or even tweeting him. I suffered a major health scare a year ago and the amount of best wishes and support I got from people at that time helped me through a time in my life when I felt scared and depressed. Who knows maybe Gareth will log on to boards and see all the support boardies are giving him.

Lollipops23

natashaob6 wrote: »

Maybe fatal was the wrong word to use when discussing such a sensitive topic but there is no cure for Parkinson and it progresses very slowly eventually leaving the person a shadow of their former self.

Agree that it's awful news, but as someone who lives a happy and full life with MS, please stop with the doom and gloom.

Yes Parkinsons and MS are a really shíte thing to have happen, but please don't have him dead and buried just yet.

h7nlrp2v0g5u48

silverharp wrote: »

I know every teenager thinks their era was the best but damn, early to mid 80's was a real nexus of exciting times and changes in music, radio was also relatively more important as to how people enjoyed music at the time. Then there was the pirates versus RTE in Ireland for extra spice or trying to tune into stations like Radio Luxemburg

Down in my part of the country we didn't have pirate radio stations the majority of them were in Dublin and when RTE2 Radio launched it opened up a whole new genre of music for people outside of the Dublin area and introduced the country to a whole array of new talent that was hidden away in the pirate radio industry.

topper75

One of the few working in the Irish entertainment industry who never got my goat at some point.

His voice didn't grate on the ear. Never brought ego to the mic. Just good tunes.

He helped a lot of people outside of his radio work too.

Very sorry to hear of this diagnosis.

h7nlrp2v0g5u48

Lollipops23 wrote: »

Agree that it's awful news, but as someone who lives a happy and full life with MS, please stop with the doom and gloom.

Yes Parkinsons and MS are a really shíte thing to have happen, but please don't have him dead and buried just yet.

I listened to Gareth's interview earlier today and he thanked people for their kind words and support they have been giving him since he went public with it so I think to suggest that I have him dead and buried by suggesting posters on here offer their support and best wishes is a bit unfair. I know people can still live happy and fruitful lives with Parkinsons, MS, and Dimentia but highlighting these health issues can only help people understand the effects they can have on the person's life.

The Backwards Man

Do you have to play tunes on the wireless or are other sufferers of degenerative diseases worthy of support too?

jelutong

Didn't Gareth o Callaghan do a bit of rallying with the late great Frank Meagher back in the day?

Neyite

Parkinsons is not fatal. It is not always progressive either.

Look at Michael J Fox and Pope John Paul II for examples of people who have had the condition for more than 20 years.

h7nlrp2v0g5u48

The Backwards Man wrote: »

Do you have to play tunes on the wireless or are other sufferers of degenerative diseases worthy of support too?

As you know Gareth seems to be a well liked public figure and when you announce life changing news like he did on social media people will either react positively or negatively and by that i mean feeling sorry for him and I'm sure he will deal with negativity in his own way.

erica74

Fatal disease? Would you not change your OP?

I remember Gareth when he was on 2fm, I can't remember exactly but I think he had the breakfast show for a while and a few other shows after that.

h7nlrp2v0g5u48

Chancer3001 wrote: »

So on this note please show your appreciation by supporting Gareth in his quest to live a long and fruitful life"

Don't tell me what to do

Not putting a gun to your head. If you don't have anything constructive to add please move on.

Mrcaramelchoc

natashaob6 wrote: »

I listened to Gareth's interview earlier today and he thanked people for their kind words and support they have been giving him since he went public with it so I think to suggest that I have him dead and buried by suggesting posters on here offer their support and best wishes is a bit unfair. I know people can still live happy and fruitful lives with Parkinsons, MS, and Dimentia but highlighting these health issues can only help people understand the effects they can have on the person's life.

Any way i could listen back to that interview?what station was it on?etc
I used to love gareth on 2fm back in the day.good luck to him in dealing with this.

Cushie Butterfield

OP, your heart is in the right place but you’ve gone about this completely in the wrong way.

Request the thread to be deleted & start a new one, one that is less OTT & that doesn’t deflect from an upbeat, positive & supportive one, please:)

h7nlrp2v0g5u48

Mrcaramelchoc wrote: »

Any way i could listen back to that interview?what station was it on?etc
I used to love gareth on 2fm back in the day.good luck to him in dealing with this.

Try this link hope it works. It's down the bottom of the article. http://radiotoday.ie/2018/03/gareth-ocallaghan-diagnosed-with-parkinsons/

Rubberchikken

While i wouldnt always have been a fan i appreciate his love of music/radio and its hard to see someone of 57 diagnosed with this.
I wish him strength.

The Backwards Man

The Backwards Man wrote: »

Do you have to play tunes on the wireless or are other sufferers of degenerative diseases worthy of support too?

Sure why don't you start a thread for them then?

h7nlrp2v0g5u48

Cushie Butterfield wrote: »

OP, your heart is in the right place but you’ve gone about this completely in the wrong way.

Request the thread to be deleted & start a new one, one that is less OTT & that doesn’t deflect from an upbeat, positive & supportive one, please:)

If the moderator wants to delete this thread I won't have an issue with it also if other posters wish for me to have this thread deleted I will request it.

jmayo

Avatar MIA wrote: »

Gareth is a nice bloke, a bit quiet off air.

He wrote a decent enough novel back in the 90s (early 00s). But, of course he's had a long career in radio.

One thing though...

Parkinsons is not considered a fatal disease.

I was going to post the same thing and earn brownie points with my missus for correcting someone on terminology.

natashaob6 wrote: »

Maybe fatal was the wrong word to use when discussing such a sensitive topic but there is no cure for Parkinson and it progresses very slowly eventually leaving the person a shadow of their former self.

Ehh much like for most MS sufferers it is considered a long-term degenerative disorder and not a fatal disease.

As someone else stated Gareth was one of the non offensive types on the Irish airwaves and always came across as the type of guy you actually wouldn't mind meeting.

Avatar MIA

jmayo wrote: »

I was going to post the same thing and earn brownie points with my missus for correcting someone on terminology.

Great, I would like to cash in my brownie points with your wife. *dims the lights and puts on Barry White*

h7nlrp2v0g5u48

jmayo wrote: »

I was going to post the same thing and earn brownie points with my missus for correcting someone on terminology.



Ehh much like for most MS sufferers it is considered a long-term degenerative disorder and not a fatal disease.

As someone else stated Gareth was one of the non offensive types on the Irish airwaves and always came across as the type of guy you actually wouldn't mind meeting.

My intention wasn't to offend anyone who suffers from any of those degenerative disorders if I did I apologise profusely. Hopefully my apology will clear that up and we can stick to the topic of wishing Gareth and his partener Paula a long and happy future together.

seamus

He's been getting a lot of flack in recent years for the stuff he posts on social media about cold cases like Philip Cairns. All very disjointed and paranoid stuff.

Parkinson's does have neurological effects, much more subtle than dementia but it's there. My own grandfather lost complete control of his bipolar disorder as his Parkinson's progressed - he was found giving the checkout girls in the local Superquinn expensive watches as gifts.

I wonder if this would explain Gareths recent behaviour?

Any road, I hope he gets the support he needs.

jmayo

Avatar MIA wrote: »

Great, I would like to cash in my brownie points with your wife. *dims the lights and puts on Barry White*

Do you also want to take the kids for the night so I can watch the match in peace.

natashaob6 wrote: »

My intention wasn't to offend anyone who suffers from any of those degenerative disorders if I did I apologise profusely. Hopefully my apology will clear that up and we can stick to the topic of wishing Gareth and his partener Paula a long and happy future together.

Jeeze don't worry about that.
I don't think that many people will be offended and if they can't take your well meaning intention then feck them I say.
Sorry, but if you are to post around here you will have to toughen up.

I used to think it was fatal, but my missus is a medical professional and due to her training she would correct me on such things.
Ignorance can sometimes be bliss when it comes to medical conditions and just thank your lucky stars you are healthy.

It is sadly one of those diseases that can leave people a shell of their former self and really a different person.

h7nlrp2v0g5u48

jmayo wrote: »

Do you also want to take the kids for the night so I can watch the match in peace.



Jeeze don't worry about that.
I don't think that many people will be offended and if they can't take your well meaning intention then feck them I say.
Sorry, but if you are to post around here you will have to toughen up.

I used to think it was fatal, but my missus is a medical professional and due to her training she would correct me on such things.
Ignorance can sometimes be bliss when it comes to medical conditions and just thank your lucky stars you are healthy.

It is sadly one of those diseases that can leave people a shell of their former self and really a different person.

Thank you for those kind words I really appreciate them.

skylight1987

I am going to post a thinking of you card to him in 4fm .just to let him know he is in my thoughts. its the least I can do, he has entertained me with his fab voice for years .im going mad for him

h7nlrp2v0g5u48

Good on you. I'm sure Gareth will appreciate that. Lovely gesture.

Lollipops23

natashaob6 wrote: »

I know people can still live happy and fruitful lives with Parkinsons, MS, and Dimentia but highlighting these health issues can only help people understand the effects they can have on the person's life.

And I'm saying calling it "fatal" is misleading and actually a bit upsetting for those of us with the conditions (MS and Parkinsons work in a similar manner).

Yes, it's a dreadful thing to happen anyone, let alone a man who is only in his 50s.

Just could use a bit more tact in your OP is all.

Chrongen

natashaob6 wrote: »

I just want to pay tribute to Gareth O' Callahan of 4fm who has been diagnosed with the fatal disease Parkinsons. I heard his interview on a local radio station today and I must say I admire him for having the courage to come out and speak about the effects of hearing the news that he has had Parkinsons for a number of years but was only diagnosed recently when he felt he started to have difficulty picking up and dropping things like knives, forks and spilling cups of coffee on a regular basis. He said he is still not over the shock of hearing the news but will try to live life as normal as possible while trying to slow down the disease by exercising more changing his diet and taking medication. So on this note please show your appreciation by supporting Gareth in his quest to live a long and fruitful life while trying to cope with this devastating news. My thoughts and prayers are with you Gareth.

What good are your effing prayers?

dxhound2005

natashaob6 wrote: »

Down in my part of the country we didn't have pirate radio stations the majority of them were in Dublin and when RTE2 Radio launched it opened up a whole new genre of music for people outside of the Dublin area and introduced the country to a whole array of new talent that was hidden away in the pirate radio industry.

I thought there were some pirates in nearly every county. The way I remember they were very low quality. There isn't much that can be done to make playing music, and reading out the price of beans and bread in the local shop, any way exciting. Some people may remember it as a golden age, but if they listen to the recordings, it might change their minds. The two long term medium wave pirate in Monaghan and Donegal, now get a lot of their funding by selling airtime to hellfire Bible thumpers.

http://www.dxarchive.com/downloads_irish.html

Mike Guide 69

I remember back in the early 90's on 2FM (or was it Radio 2 "??), on his afternoon show, he use to do the "Stitch Me Up" slot, winding up some poor unfortunate. But one stitch me up I definitley remember was an ocassion, a bloke he rang, who was at his workplace, Gareth had convinced him, that he was a builder relaying all the slates on the roof of his house and had sound effects of bricks/slates been battered and thrown into a skip. Poor bloke nearly had a coronary live on air, I think he actually ended up driving to his house to check as well.....

batman75

Pretty sure the family of Philip Cairns were not happy with him talking about the disappearance of their son. Pretty sure they asked him to desist and yet I see this morning he has a post up on the back of a new book about the disappearance. He's hinting at being threatened in the past if he didn't leave it be. He is also insisting he is related to the young boy even though, he himself says the family dispute this. I think he should respect the family's wishes.

Shao Kahn

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/106360437#Comment_106360437

In the words of a famous ex-sportsman who died from MND - "That's not true, there is a cure for this bloody thing... we just haven't found it yet."