Larry Gogan

Lorcan Gogan (3 May 1934 – 7 January 2020[4]), known as Larry Gogan, was an Irish broadcaster working for RTÉ. He was a disc jockey on RTÉ Gold having previously worked on RTÉ 2fm. His show was The Golden Hour, during which he played old favourites and classic songs from yesteryear. Gogan spun the first disc on Radio 2, "Like Clockwork" by The Boomtown Rats. Louis Walsh has described him as one of "the kings of Irish broadcasting".[5]

Not to be confused with Larry Grogan.

Larry Gogan
Born
Lorcan Gogan

(1934-05-03)3 May 1934[1]
Dublin, Ireland
Died7 January 2020(2020-01-07) (aged 85)
Dublin, Ireland
NationalityIrish
OccupationBroadcaster
Years active1961[2]–2019
EmployerRTÉ
Known for"Just-a-Minute Quiz"
Spouse(s)Florrie Duffy
(m. 1963–2002, her death)[3]
Children5
Website2fm.rte.ie/larry

He was given the Industry Award at the 2007 Meteor Awards.

Early life

Lorcan Gogan was born in Dublin, Ireland, in 1934. He had seven siblings.[4] He grew up in Fairview, where his father ran a shop.[6]

Career

Gogan started in radio in the 1960s after finishing school. He broadcast his first radio programme on RTÉ Radio 1. He became a well-known presenter on Radio 1, including sponsored programmes, and was one of a handful of presenters playing almost exclusively pop music. He was in the original lineup in 1979 of RTÉ Radio 2 (which later became RTÉ 2fm), a station on which he spun the first disc. He presented a regular show there until 2019.

Gogan had also presented a variety of television programmes including Pickin' The Pops, Go 2 Show and The Golden Hour.

Having previously commentated for television, Gogan was the Irish radio commentator for the Eurovision Song Contest. He provided commentary between the 1984 and 2001 Contest and again in 2008. Although he was dropped from the commentary team for the 2009 Contest he continued to be part of the Irish delegation up until the 2011 Contest.

On 8 January 2019, it was announced Gogan was moving from 2FM to RTÉ Gold bringing to an end 40 years of presenting on 2FM. He presented his last programme on 2FM on Thursday 31 January having started on 31 May 1979 as part of the original line up.[7][8]

The Golden Hour

Gogan presented The Golden Hour up until February 2014. He returned to a weekday slot in January 2010 after a period of Saturday and Sunday afternoon shows.[9]

He had a high-profile interview with U2 drummer Larry Mullen Jr. in March 2009.[10]

In 2011 he gained listeners in the JNLRs.[11]

In February 2014, it was announced that he would present a new two-hour weekend show, entitled 'The Larry Gogan Show' instead of The Golden Hour.[12]

"Just a Minute Quiz"

Gogan was famous for his "Just a Minute Quiz", which occurred during his radio show.[13] When contestants get only a couple of questions correct he was famous for the catchphrase "They didn't really suit you". The quiz had produced its fair share of bloopers which have gone down in Irish folklore.[14] Question from February 2006: What famous star is followed by travellers? Answer: Joe Dolan.[15]

Television

On 6 November 2008, Gogan appeared on Irish television to officially open Carrigstown's new community centre.[16]

He hosted the 1980 National Song Contest (Irish heats for the Eurovision Song Contest) and provided the RTÉ television commentary at the 1978, 1980, 1981 and 1982 Eurovision Song Contest. Gogan also hosted heats for Castlebar Song Contest in 1968 and then from 1974 until 1977. He also presented the Cavan International Song Contest for a number of years in the early-mid 1980s.

In the 1960s he hosted Picking the Pops and the Go 2 Show, in the early days of RTÉ TV.[17]

He was the face of Daz Washing Detergent from the 1960s to the 1990s in Ireland.

Personal life

Gogan met his wife Florrie when she was 15. Both their fathers ran newspaper shops in Dublin. They were engaged two years later and married when she was 21. They had five children. Florrie developed breast cancer and died in January 2002 while Gogan was recovering from heart surgery. He says, "When something happens at work I say to myself 'I must tell Florrie that' and then I remember, she's not there any more"...[18]

On his official website, Gogan listed Katy Lied by Steely Dan as his favourite album of all time, while the song that drove him mad was "Save Your Love" by Renée and Renato. His favourite film was Casablanca.

Death

Gogan died in the early hours of 7 January 2020 at a care centre in Bohernabreena, Dublin, following a short illness. He was 85. His funeral mass took place at the Church of St Pius X in Templeogue on 10 January 2020.[19][20][21][6][22]

Awards

In 1986, Gogan was honoured at the Jacob's Awards for his weekly show, Ireland's Top Thirty.[23]

On 11 March 2005, Gogan was awarded the IRMA Honours Award "in recognition of his outstanding contribution to Irish music".[24]

Gogan received the Industry Award at the 2007 Meteor Awards on 1 February that year.[25] He was nominated in the category of Best Radio DJ – National at the 2010 Meteor Awards.[26]

Year Nominee / work Award Result
1986Larry GoganJacob's AwardsWon
1987Larry GoganIRMA Music AwardWon[27]
2005Larry GoganIRMA Honours AwardWon
2007Larry GoganIndustry Award at the Meteor AwardsWon
2010Larry GoganIndustry Award at the Meteor AwardsNominated

References
  1. "Larry Gogan obituary: 'He really was the greatest. It's as simple as that.'". www.irishtimes.com. 8 January 2020.
  2. "Larry Gogan: I still speak to my wife every day". www.youtube.com. 6 February 2019.
  3. "Larry Gogan: 'I talk to my wife Florrie every day since she died". Independent.ie.
  4. Armstrong, Kathy (7 January 2020). "Legendary broadcaster Larry Gogan has died, aged 85". Independent.ie. Retrieved 8 January 2020.
  5. Jackson, Joe (3 February 2002). "Six things about Louis". Sunday Independent. Retrieved 3 February 2002.
  6. "Funeral details announced for RTE legend Larry Gogan who died aged 81". Journal. 8 January 2020. Retrieved 9 January 2020.
  7. "Eddie Rowley: 'Much-loved DJ has been soundtrack to all our lives'". Irish Independent. 9 January 2019. Retrieved 9 January 2019.
  8. "End of an era – Larry Gogan's Just a Minute Quiz won't feature on Golden Hour on RTE Gold". Irish Independent. 8 January 2019. Retrieved 9 January 2019.
  9. "RTÉ 2fm announce New Year schedule changes". RTÉ. 22 December 2009. Archived from the original on 17 January 2010. Retrieved 22 December 2009.
  10. Costello, John (13 March 2009). "Larry Mullen lays Bono bare as Gogan produces pure radio gold". Evening Herald. Archived from the original on 7 January 2013. Retrieved 13 March 2009.
  11. "Morning Ireland tops JNLRs once again". RTÉ. 28 October 2011. Retrieved 28 October 2011.
  12. "He might be moving to weekend but Larry's 'not going anywhere'". Irish Independent. 7 February 2014. Retrieved 7 February 2014.
  13. "High Nelly hopes for world record". Leinster Express. 21 October 2011. Archived from the original on 3 April 2012. Retrieved 21 October 2011. The event got national attention from newspapers and television, while the real proof of having made it in Ireland was featuring as one of the questions on DJ Larry Gogan's legendary 'Just a Minute' quiz.
  14. "Famous Irish Quotes" Archived 2 February 2007 at the Wayback Machine.
  15. "My 2006 by Dave Fanning". Hot Press. 1 January 2007. Retrieved 20 December 2009. WHAT TICKLED YOUR FUNNYBONE IN 2006? Larry Gogan's Just A Minute Quiz in February – Question: What famous star is followed by travellers? Answer: Joe Dolan.
  16. Nolan, Lorna (6 November 2008). "Golden Hour for Carrigstown as legend Larry pays a visit". Evening Herald. Retrieved 21 November 2008.
  17. Heaney, Mick. "Larry Gogan obituary: 'He was the greatest ... Simple as that'". The Irish Times.
  18. Gogan, Larry (Friday 25 November 2011). "I never thought that Florrie would die first...", Irish Independent (LIVING), p. 38.
  19. "Veteran RTÉ broadcaster Larry Gogan dies". RTÉ.ie. 7 January 2020.
  20. "Larry Gogan (1934-2020): Radio icon who provided the soundtrack to Irish life". Journal. 7 January 2020. Retrieved 8 January 2020.
  21. "Larry Gogan funeral to take place in Dublin on Friday". Journal. 8 January 2020. Retrieved 9 January 2020.
  22. "Radio stations to pay tribute to Larry Gogan as his funeral takes place in Dublin". Journal. 10 January 2020. Retrieved 10 January 2020.
  23. "RTÉ Archives | Larry Gogan". www.rte.ie.
  24. "Larry Gogan to be honoured by IRMA". RTÉ. 10 March 2005. Retrieved 5 September 2008.
  25. "Industry Award for RTÉ 2fm's Larry Gogan". RTÉ. 13 December 2006. Retrieved 5 September 2008.
  26. "Meteor Ireland Awards Nominees". RTÉ. 7 January 2010. Archived from the original on 17 January 2010. Retrieved 7 January 2010.
  27. "Larry Always Wanted To Be A DJ 1987". RTÉ Archives. 7 January 2019. Retrieved 5 March 2021.
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