YOU’RE ONLY A SCUMBAG ADDICT IN IRELAND IF YOU ARE POOR
Dec 29th, 2010 by Conor McCabe
President Mary McAleese led tributes to Ryan, describing him as “an extraordinarily talented broadcaster whose unique communication skills and larger than life persona entertained and enlivened a national audience over many years”. (Irish Times, 30 April 2010)
Senator Prendergast described the popular presenter as a man with amazing confidence, a larger than life persona and a deep sense of his own value, as well as being an exceptional listener and communicator. (The Nationalist, 6 May 2010)
Tragically the larger-than-life shock jock was dead one year later, having suffered a massive heart attack at his rented home in Dublin. (Irish Independent, 28 December 2010)
Gerry’s maverick, larger-than-life image attracted listeners and advertisers, which earned money for everyone. If he paused or took things more gently, the money supply might falter too. (Irish Independent, 11 December 2010)
“I believe the shake-up over cocaine will all die down and people will reassess their view of Gerry Ryan. Back to the funny fellow that he was. Larger than life. One of the funniest people I ever met and tremendously generous.” (Irish Independent, 24 December 2010)
An inquest verdict implicating cocaine in the death of the bright, part-child, part-adult, larger-than-life Gerry Ryan leaves him in the second category. (Irish Times, 27 December 2010)
My overriding feeling is complete sadness. It’s an awful waste of talent, he was a very inspiring person, he was larger than life as everyone says. (Evening Herald, 16 December 2010)
http://img842.imageshack.us/i/largerthanlifegr.jpg/
If I may disagree slightly, those who didn’t know about his use of cocaine can be forgiven for using the cliche. However, those who know this, and then sing his praises while denigrating other drug users are indeed hypocrites.
For “larger-than-life” persona, read, “coked-up.”
My general impression is that he was the most brash of the so-called celtic tigers. Overpaid for what he did. I doubt there was a charitable bone in his body.Another vulgar type a la Jeremy Clarkson. I don’t count buying a round and patronising people in the pub. I accidentally tuned in to him where he was advising people to develope a relationship with the wine waiter (sommilier?), what pretencious crap. I have heard nothing of him doing charity work. I hope the next government puts a cap on public sector pay and there is no exception for those on so called contracts.
This elite of builders, speculators, politicians and media types genuinely makes me so angry.
Your list of quotes also illustrates the never-ending linguistic inventiveness of Dublin’s chattering (/middle) classes
I’m sure the l-t-l mantra got lodged in their brains through one of those bloody talk-radio shows though…
Good luck to youse all in 2011
sommelier is the word/profession Jim - though I can’t see any earthly reason to use the word outside France - especially for someone in a monkey suit in Dublin foisting off the overpriced vinegar that gets passed off on the poor Irish.
Fairly representative of the ‘money don’t suit us’ vibe I got generally when back in Emerald Tiger Dublin.