Gareth O'Callaghan
Encyclopedia
Gareth O'Callaghan is an Irish
author
, radio presenter and former television presenter. He can currently be heard on 4fm
, having presented shows on RTÉ 2fm
for much of his career until 2005 and then a show on Galway Bay FM
.
O'Callaghan is an outspoken supporter of suicide
and depression
-related topics, having had previous personal experience of these throughout his adult life. He has written books dealing with such topics, and is a supporter of the Irish suicide charity Console
, representing them in Dáil Éireann
debates on at least one occasion. O'Callaghan is a qualified clinical psychotherapist
.
In 2010, O'Callaghan spoke out against cocaine
use following the death of Gerry Ryan
, a former colleague and friend. He acknowledged that he had known of Ryan's cocaine use for 16 years and received criticism and intimidation after speaking about this in public.
in the early 1980s, followed by Sunshine Radio
(briefly), later Energy 103FM and Q102(briefly). He spent a few years on UK radio, after his spell with Sunshine Radio in 1983, starting with offshore pirate Radio Caroline
. After Q102, Gareth joined legal Irish radio with Millennium Radio and then in 1989 he moved to the newly relaunched "2fm" - an attempt by RTÉ to steal some of the thunder of the recently departed Superpirates.
Gareth then presented the very popular "Gareth O'Callaghan in the afternoon" show which was similar in theme, tone and content to The Steve Wright in the afternoon show on BBC Radio 1 of the late '80s and early '90s.This show was a huge success gaining O'Callaghan widespread popularity all over Ireland by offering a brand and style of commercial radio that was more reminiscent of Radio Nova
in Dublin at the very height of its popularity.
O'Callaghan left RTÉ 2fm's afternoon show, having previously presented the breakfast show on the station (replacing Ian Dempsey
). His afternoon slot is now occupied by Rick O'Shea
's eponymously named show. After leaving 2fm, Gareth took some time out from radio to pursue a career in psychology before being named presenter of the breakfast show on Galway Bay FM
. On 27 February 2009 Gareth launched Ireland's newest commercial independent Quasi-national radio station 4fm
where he was the morning show host before moving to the afternoon slot.
Before Gay Byrne
's retirement from The Gay Byrne Show
in 1998, he was helped a bit by O'Callaghan but O'Callaghan left him after getting fed up and went to RTÉ 2fm instead. Des Cahill
had to help Byrne after that.
O'Callaghan is a regular contributor to many of the national newspapers in Ireland, having written regularly for The Irish Times, the Sunday Independent and the Evening Herald. He is currently writing a sequel to A Day Called Hope, and is also said to be working on a new novel.
He has three daughters called Kerri O' Callaghan, Katie O' Callaghan and Aibhín O' Callaghan
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
author
Author
An author is broadly defined as "the person who originates or gives existence to anything" and that authorship determines responsibility for what is created. Narrowly defined, an author is the originator of any written work.-Legal significance:...
, radio presenter and former television presenter. He can currently be heard on 4fm
4fm
Classic Hits 4FM is an independent multi-region radio station broadcasting to Dublin and commuter belt, the cities and counties of Cork, Limerick, Galway and County Clare. Reception is also possible in parts of several other neighbouring counties...
, having presented shows on RTÉ 2fm
RTÉ 2fm
RTÉ 2fm, or 2FM as it is more commonly referred to, is Raidió Teilifís Éireann's second national radio station. It broadcasts popular music programming aimed at a young Irish audience.- History :...
for much of his career until 2005 and then a show on Galway Bay FM
Galway Bay FM
Galway Bay FM is an Irish independent local radio station and operates under a license from the Broadcasting Commission of Ireland. Established in 1989, the station broadcasts from studios in Galway, serving the city and County Galway.-Programming:...
.
O'Callaghan is an outspoken supporter of suicide
Suicide
Suicide is the act of intentionally causing one's own death. Suicide is often committed out of despair or attributed to some underlying mental disorder, such as depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, alcoholism, or drug abuse...
and depression
Depression (mood)
Depression is a state of low mood and aversion to activity that can affect a person's thoughts, behaviour, feelings and physical well-being. Depressed people may feel sad, anxious, empty, hopeless, helpless, worthless, guilty, irritable, or restless...
-related topics, having had previous personal experience of these throughout his adult life. He has written books dealing with such topics, and is a supporter of the Irish suicide charity Console
Console
- Computing and video games :* System console, a physical device to operate a computer** Virtual console, a user interface for multiple computer consoles on one device** Command-line interface, the typical use of the computer console...
, representing them in Dáil Éireann
Dáil Éireann
Dáil Éireann is the lower house, but principal chamber, of the Oireachtas , which also includes the President of Ireland and Seanad Éireann . It is directly elected at least once in every five years under the system of proportional representation by means of the single transferable vote...
debates on at least one occasion. O'Callaghan is a qualified clinical psychotherapist
Clinical psychology
Clinical psychology is an integration of science, theory and clinical knowledge for the purpose of understanding, preventing, and relieving psychologically-based distress or dysfunction and to promote subjective well-being and personal development...
.
In 2010, O'Callaghan spoke out against cocaine
Cocaine
Cocaine is a crystalline tropane alkaloid that is obtained from the leaves of the coca plant. The name comes from "coca" in addition to the alkaloid suffix -ine, forming cocaine. It is a stimulant of the central nervous system, an appetite suppressant, and a topical anesthetic...
use following the death of Gerry Ryan
Death of Gerry Ryan
The sudden death of RTÉ broadcaster Gerry Ryan occurred on 30 April 2010. He was 53. Ryan had been presenting The Gerry Ryan Show since 1988 and at the time of his death had the largest audience on RTÉ 2fm...
, a former colleague and friend. He acknowledged that he had known of Ryan's cocaine use for 16 years and received criticism and intimidation after speaking about this in public.
Radio
O'Callaghan started with small pirates such as Radio Dublin. He then was a presenter on "superpirate" Radio NovaRadio Nova
Radio Nova may refer to one of several different radio stations, among them:*Nova , a network of radio stations in Australia:** Nova 96.9 , Sydney 96.9 FM** Nova 100 , Melbourne 100.3 FM** Nova 106.9 , Brisbane 106.9 FM...
in the early 1980s, followed by Sunshine Radio
Sunshine Radio
Sunshine Radio may refer to:* Sunshine 855, a radio station station covering South Shropshire, North Herefordshire and North Worcestershire* Sunshine Radio , a radio station based in Hereford...
(briefly), later Energy 103FM and Q102(briefly). He spent a few years on UK radio, after his spell with Sunshine Radio in 1983, starting with offshore pirate Radio Caroline
Radio Caroline
Radio Caroline is an English radio station founded in 1964 by Ronan O'Rahilly to circumvent the record companies' control of popular music broadcasting in the United Kingdom and the BBC's radio broadcasting monopoly...
. After Q102, Gareth joined legal Irish radio with Millennium Radio and then in 1989 he moved to the newly relaunched "2fm" - an attempt by RTÉ to steal some of the thunder of the recently departed Superpirates.
Gareth then presented the very popular "Gareth O'Callaghan in the afternoon" show which was similar in theme, tone and content to The Steve Wright in the afternoon show on BBC Radio 1 of the late '80s and early '90s.This show was a huge success gaining O'Callaghan widespread popularity all over Ireland by offering a brand and style of commercial radio that was more reminiscent of Radio Nova
Radio Nova
Radio Nova may refer to one of several different radio stations, among them:*Nova , a network of radio stations in Australia:** Nova 96.9 , Sydney 96.9 FM** Nova 100 , Melbourne 100.3 FM** Nova 106.9 , Brisbane 106.9 FM...
in Dublin at the very height of its popularity.
O'Callaghan left RTÉ 2fm's afternoon show, having previously presented the breakfast show on the station (replacing Ian Dempsey
Ian Dempsey
Ian Michael Dempsey is an Irish presenter of television and breakfast radio. He is the long-running presenter of the breakfast show on Today FM, self-titled The Ian Dempsey Breakfast Show, which runs from 07:00 - 09:00 each weekday morning...
). His afternoon slot is now occupied by Rick O'Shea
Rick O'Shea
Rick O'Shea is an Irish radio personality. He was born in Drimnagh, Dublin 12 and attended and later University College Dublin . He is a DJ on RTÉ 2fm.-Radio:...
's eponymously named show. After leaving 2fm, Gareth took some time out from radio to pursue a career in psychology before being named presenter of the breakfast show on Galway Bay FM
Galway Bay FM
Galway Bay FM is an Irish independent local radio station and operates under a license from the Broadcasting Commission of Ireland. Established in 1989, the station broadcasts from studios in Galway, serving the city and County Galway.-Programming:...
. On 27 February 2009 Gareth launched Ireland's newest commercial independent Quasi-national radio station 4fm
4fm
Classic Hits 4FM is an independent multi-region radio station broadcasting to Dublin and commuter belt, the cities and counties of Cork, Limerick, Galway and County Clare. Reception is also possible in parts of several other neighbouring counties...
where he was the morning show host before moving to the afternoon slot.
Before Gay Byrne
Gay Byrne
Gabriel Mary "Gay" Byrne is a veteran Irish presenter of radio and television. His most notable role was first host of The Late Late Show over a 37-year period spanning 1962 until 1999...
's retirement from The Gay Byrne Show
The Gay Byrne Show
The Gay Byrne Show was an Irish radio programme, which ran from 1973 until 1998. The programme was presented by Gay Byrne, and aired Monday to Friday for two hours each day. It was a favourite of Irish housewives...
in 1998, he was helped a bit by O'Callaghan but O'Callaghan left him after getting fed up and went to RTÉ 2fm instead. Des Cahill
Des Cahill
Desmond 'Des' Cahill is an Irish sports presenter and commentator with national broadcaster Raidió Teilifís Éireann. He presents a daily radio programme called Drivetime Sport on RTÉ Radio 1, while on television he has presented The Sunday Game, The Road to Croker, Play It Again, Des, and Up for...
had to help Byrne after that.
Writing
O'Callaghan has been writing since 1995. To date, he is the author of six bestselling works - five novels and a memoir. He has contributed two stories to the New Island Open Door series, entitled Joe's Wedding and Stray Dog. New Island publishes literary fiction, poetry, drama, biography, politics and social affairs. He wrote A Day Called Hope: A Journey Beyond Depression about his own personal experience of severe depression. The book detailed how, as soon as left his radio job each day, he would retreat to his bed, sometimes with thoughts of suicide. It became one of the biggest-selling books in Ireland in 2003, and continues to sell in huge numbers. It has been published in 15 countries, and translated into 10 languages.O'Callaghan is a regular contributor to many of the national newspapers in Ireland, having written regularly for The Irish Times, the Sunday Independent and the Evening Herald. He is currently writing a sequel to A Day Called Hope, and is also said to be working on a new novel.
Personal life
O'Callaghan is quite a private individual. He has experienced a failed marriage. He lives in Dublin, dividing his time between Dublin and London, and has three daughters.External links
- Gareth O'Callaghan at 4fm4fmClassic Hits 4FM is an independent multi-region radio station broadcasting to Dublin and commuter belt, the cities and counties of Cork, Limerick, Galway and County Clare. Reception is also possible in parts of several other neighbouring counties...
He has three daughters called Kerri O' Callaghan, Katie O' Callaghan and Aibhín O' Callaghan