Barry Lang back on air presenting after 23 years

Cube98 · 10-03-2021 01:34PM #1

From next Sunday Morning 8am till 11 on Classic Hits (formerly 4FM) He was an absolute broadcasting giant for many years and a household name, he left 2fm in February 1998 to become a pilot which he retired from last year, he is still 2fms longest serving drivetime presenter. incidentally himself and Ian Dempsey stated on 2fm the same day and Ian is also still their longest serving breakfast host.

Pelvis Parsley · 10-03-2021 01:39PM

Larry Bang!

Tork · 10-03-2021 01:41PM

I wonder has he moved back to Ireland now that he's no longer a pilot? He was living out in Dubai as far as I remember.

Cole · 10-03-2021 02:22PM

Tork wrote: »

I wonder has he moved back to Ireland now that he's no longer a pilot? He was living out in Dubai as far as I remember.

I think so...I heard Ronan Collins play a request for him a few months ago! I can't remember if it was for his retirement or return to Ireland.

Cole · 10-03-2021 02:23PM

Cube98 wrote: »

From next Sunday Morning 8am till 11 on Classic Hits (formerly 4FM).

Sunday morning Beatbox 2021

ford fiesta · 10-03-2021 02:59PM

One of the best.
This show is at the moment, only for 3 weeks.

He should have Drivetime on RTE Gold.

It will be strange hearing Barry not on RTE Radio..
I could never get used to hearing his good friends ex-RTE Ian D and Tony F on Today FM.

Cube98 · 10-03-2021 03:08PM

4fm in its original form would have been a perfect home for him but the current version seems so cheap and automated and most of their current djs could just as easily be on iRadio. Perhaps tho with the licence renewal recently as well as an new program manager that they are now going to give the station more attention.

ford fiesta · 10-03-2021 03:12PM

The last time Barry was on radio in 1998, there was probably just one computer in the RTE studio for the adverts..
Music / jingles would have being played by Barry.. mostly from CD and Mini Disc/Carts.

Barry's final song on 2FM in 1998 was The Walker Brothers "No Regrets"
https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/pilot-of-the-airwaves-takes-flight-26199594.html

Declan A Walsh · 10-03-2021 03:13PM

Cube98 wrote: »

4fm in its original form would have been a perfect home for him but the current version seems so cheap and automated and most of their current djs could just as easily be on iRadio. Perhaps tho with the licence renewal recently as well as an new program manager that they are now going to give the station more attention.

I said it on the Classic Hits/4FM thread that it started off with a lot of people connected to RTE. There are still some though: Damian Farrelly, Nikki Hayes, Enda Murphy and Dusty Rhodes.

Maybe this thread should be merged with the other one.

Losty Dublin · 10-03-2021 04:47PM

ford fiesta wrote: »

The last time Barry was on radio in 1998, there was probably just one computer in the RTE studio for the adverts..
Music / jingles would have being played by Barry.. mostly from CD and Mini Disc/Carts.

Barry's final song on 2FM in 1998 was The Walker Brothers "No Regrets"
https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/pilot-of-the-airwaves-takes-flight-26199594.html

2FM had a remote fire off system for their carted ads and jingles years ahead of PC playback. That said, it was somewhat wasted in there as they didn't have the ad traffic to warrant it.

I remember Barry's last show going out on air, and it's God awful montages of big celebrity friends like Ronan Keating and Dustin wishing him well

ford fiesta · 10-03-2021 04:54PM

Barry got a good send off in 2FM..something that no longer happens on radio these days

Tork · 10-03-2021 05:00PM

I heard him being interviewed by Ian Dempsey about 10 years ago when they were on one of those Today FM junkets to Dubai. He said that he promised himself that by the time he was 40 he'd not be a DJ any more and would have a "proper" career. Arguably it was the right decision when you look at how many of his contemporaries fell by the wayside. After 2FM the only way is down for most of these guys. Especially now.

joebloggs32 · 10-03-2021 06:48PM

ford fiesta wrote: »

Barry got a good send off in 2FM..something that no longer happens on radio these days

Oh Matron.......

ford fiesta · 10-03-2021 06:51PM

Losty Dublin wrote: »

I remember Barry's last show going out on air, and it's God awful montages of big celebrity friends like Ronan Keating and Dustin wishing him well

That's a bit harsh to say that - it was an example of radio being harmless fun..the final years of good radio, before the Internet / social media came along ..ruining its mystery and its skill to just entertain and inform.

ford fiesta · 10-03-2021 08:48PM

Cube98 wrote: »

incidentally himself and Ian Dempsey stated on 2fm the same day and Ian is also still their longest serving breakfast host.

Ian suddenly left 2FM 6 months after Barry 1n 1998

Pelvis Parsley · 10-03-2021 09:31PM

A good coup for 4FM, Barry is a far steadier fella than say...one G O'C...

Declan A Walsh · 10-03-2021 09:43PM

Pelvis Parsley wrote: »

A good coup for 4FM, Barry is a far steadier fella than say...one G O'C...

Speaking of Gareth O'Callaghan, he was the original presenter of that love songs show on Sunday mornings that Barry now has.

Pelvis Parsley · 10-03-2021 09:45PM

Declan A Walsh wrote: »

Speaking of Gareth O'Callaghan, he was the original presenter of that love songs show on Sunday mornings that Barry now has.

Indeed yes, that was what formed the association in my head.

The latter is still rattling around Facebook, tilting at windmills.

I look forward to hearing Barry again, the nostalgia factor will be strong-he was very popular up to the day he left, IIRC.

Declan A Walsh · 10-03-2021 09:49PM

I have a tape somewhere of Barry Lang on 2FM (or Radio 2 as it was then) in the 1980s playing an extended version of Smalltown Boy by The Bronski Beat. This was when he was on nighttime - not sure if it was a weeknight or weekend.

Skid X · 10-03-2021 10:41PM

I vaguely remember Barry being the champion behind 'Web Week' on 2FM before he left, long before the Internet was relevant to most people

Maybe he had an idea of where Radio was going when he quit

It'll be nice to hear him back on the air, I have fond memories of him on 2FM

ford fiesta · 10-03-2021 11:08PM

Barry was the main driver behind the early versions of rte.ie, 2fm.ie and was the first presenter I heard ask listeners to send in a request by e mail in around 1995/1996. I think it was 2fm@iol.ie or something like that.

This video of Barry from a time when most jocks on Radio 2 sported a good thick moustache!
https://www.rte.ie/lifestyle/living/2020/0225/1117471-marty-whelans-1986-pancake-tuesday-relay-road-race/

JustAThought · 10-03-2021 11:18PM

Thread just sums it up. Half the countries media outlets run on interns and work experience and people working for free or for a pittance trying to work their way up and an old boy from the club missing for 23 years waltzes back in. It must really stick in the throat of all those deaperately trying to start a career aNd get ahead in life.

Like that vile old dinosaur on lyric who despises classical music refusing to leave and stating that he will never retire - this after he was given the job against all odds when he had to be booted off rte after decades.

And we wonder why out talent leaves and people cannot get ahead and mental issues dominate everything.

ford fiesta · 11-03-2021 12:30AM

This is a 3 show stint on a Sunday love songs slot.. hardly going to make any young person unemployed!

sligono1 · 11-03-2021 07:58AM

Think the above poster is just looking a good old troll.

Doodah7 · 11-03-2021 09:47AM

JustAThought wrote: »

Thread just sums it up. Half the countries media outlets run on interns and work experience and people working for free or for a pittance trying to work their way up and an old boy from the club missing for 23 years waltzes back in. It must really stick in the throat of all those deaperately trying to start a career aNd get ahead in life.

Like that vile old dinosaur on lyric who despises classical music refusing to leave and stating that he will never retire - this after he was given the job against all odds when he had to be booted off rte after decades.

And we wonder why out talent leaves and people cannot get ahead and mental issues dominate everything.

Boo hoo for the young 'uns. I couldn't give a toss. Let them whinge on Tik Tok or whatever.

Even after over two decades out of the business they wouldn't be able to wipe the sand off his Dubai boots!

JoeA3 · 11-03-2021 10:41AM

Doodah7 wrote: »

Even after over two decades out of the business they wouldn't be able to wipe the sand off his Dubai boots!

:pac:

I've good memories of Barry on 2FM too. It was 2FM's real heyday, back in the early to mid 1990's. They had such a strong line up of presenters back then, most of them household names at the time.

Cube98 · 11-03-2021 11:23AM

JoeA3 wrote: »

:pac:

I've good memories of Barry on 2FM too. It was 2FM's real heyday, back in the early to mid 1990's. They had such a strong line up of presenters back then, most of them household names at the time.

Back then there was great atmosphere from the station and everyone working there seemed to be good mates, a dj leaving was treated like a relative immigrating to America. The last time I listened properly to 2fm in 2010s it was the complete opposite of that, a toxic atmosphere and presenters just dropped from the schedule without mention.

Cube98 · 11-03-2021 11:43AM

Barry had over 300k listeners to his Drive show but at the time there was no Today FM, No Newstalk and RTE Radio 1s current affairs drivetime show was only 1hour long. It's amazing how much radio has changed even if you ignore online.

ford fiesta · 11-03-2021 08:49PM

Cube98 wrote: »

Barry had over 300k listeners to his Drive show but at the time there was no Today FM, No Newstalk and RTE Radio 1s current affairs drivetime show was only 1hour long. It's amazing how much radio has changed even if you ignore online.

Indeed different and good days: 7am to 10pm Weekdays Ian, Gerry, Larry, Gareth, Barry, Tony, Dave.

Itssoeasy · 11-03-2021 10:23PM

Cube98 wrote: »

From next Sunday Morning 8am till 11 on Classic Hits (formerly 4FM) He was an absolute broadcasting giant for many years and a household name, he left 2fm in February 1998 to become a pilot which he retired from last year, he is still 2fms longest serving drivetime presenter. incidentally himself and Ian Dempsey stated on 2fm the same day and Ian is also still their longest serving breakfast host.

That’s amazing that two presenters that left in the late nineties are still over two decades later the longest serving hosts of two different shows.

ford fiesta · 11-03-2021 10:38PM

Itssoeasy wrote: »

That’s amazing that two presenters that left in the late nineties are still over two decades later the longest serving hosts of two different shows.

Not counting the others such as Larry, Gerry and Dave...

Though since Barry and Ian left 2FM..
John Clarke was the consistent presenter of Ireland Biggest Jukebox for 13 years on a Sunday on 2FM 2001 to 2014.

Will Leahy also had a long stint on his Saturday show, around 10 years 1998 to around 2009.

Barry Lang back on air presenting after 23 years

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