15 Years Gerry Ryan

think there were two phases of Gerry Ryan. The forced being the sharp, savvy radio Jaco made his way from pirate radio to 2FM and established himself as one of the stars the second being the coke-snorting, bon viveur who is Work was they ready to fuel his lifestyle.

I was a big fan of Gerry when he was doing nights 2FM but I only started listening from about 1987 onwards. That was towards the end of his tenure. I was only 12 or 13, but I thought the show was excellent. He played great music and great craic as well. Finally enougheven the signs of things to come starting to show. I remember he’s final FM show in 1988. He was moving to the 9 am slot but I found his final show disappointing. He had Moira, the wife, in studio I think but I definitely remember him talking about quaffing champagne while on air.

once I got to listen to his 9 am show I was also not that impressed but then again I wasn’t the audience. I think he is sure very much took over the housewives favourite slut established by Gay Byrne, just updated for a modern audience. During the early 90s also, RTÉ struggled to find a TV vehicle for him. It wasn’t for the but largely anything very good. I do remember him presenting the school around the corner which was pretty good overall from what I can remember. Contrary to what here earlier, I thought he brought some freshness to the when he hosted, I could definitely have seen him taking up the reigns after Pat Kenny.

By the mid to late 90s though I think we were in the second phase of G Ryan though. You could see that he’s health was starting to disprove. I had forgotten that he took part in operation transformation. That really was a bad choice. I can’t remember really listening to his radio show in the mornings. to get sick of him on television as well. He wasn’t really on my the late 90s/early 2000s.

Gerry and Pat Kenny great friends. I think if Gerry hadn’t got a line by his coke habit, you could probably draw a parallel between pets career and .Gerry’s. I think the early Gerry Ryan would have seen what direction the winds were blowing in RTÉ and have probably jumped to the independent sector around 2010 or a few years after. He would’ve certainly known that there wasn’t going to be a Gay Byrne type deal could retire but be work for anybody else on offer. I could see the ability to earn more money without scrutiny being an attraction. I think early Gerry would have taken a pay cut if it was needed as, let’s face it, he trained as a solicitor saw the guy he was clever and would have been astute. However, in real life I think he would have gone down the same as Ryan Tubridy. In fact, we might be talking about Gerry kicking off the RTÉ scandal. Using it fine restaurants while supporting a coal cabinet. restaurants while supporting a coke habit doesn’t come cheap. He was also separated by and having to support I assume his wife and family so renting his own place definitely takes a priority in that case.

as a radio man, I think he did what he did very well. 80s Ireland was a small market so, just like we didn’t figure out that was ripping off the Steve Wright player book, we didn’t know enough about shock jocks so what ever he was doing was fresh and innovative. was doing was fresh and innovative. A lot to an end the day Gerry passed away. I feel it was the last of the era of big babe celebrity jocks. It punched a big hole in RTÉ that never was really filled. a big RTÉ that never was really filled. At the time I remember being to see how out for somebody that at one time I thought was really talented, and very much appointment radio.

I think it’s true that, if Gerry was still broadcasting today, we would be complaining about him on here. I could definitely see him turning into self righteous presenter, and also possibly a bit of a crank. I would think he would be on Newstalk however an Ian Dempsey style to FM might have been good as well. Ian seems to be doing fine over there. It’s hard to believe it’s been 15 years. Rest in peace, Gerry.

Caught a snippet of the 1987 shoe there. Will listen more later. I don’t remember him being that professional sounding! He always be off the cuff and you can kind of hear that. It just shows how informal banter has become. It does jump out though that he is very much into the music he’s playing. That’s really why I show I’m thinking.