Travel & Leisure

Italy sees visitors in their droves from all over the world ock there year-round, and for good reason: the country is home to azure beaches just miles away from snow-capped mountains, a vast artistic heritage, and one of the most celebrated cuisines in the world.

Yet, each season in Italy is great for di erent reasons.

Summer is by far the busiest travel season in Italy. It’s perfect for families in search of a beachside vacation and for those who can’t wait to discover the nightlife in lively cities like Rome, Milan, and Naples. Summer’s when everything moves outdoors in Italy, from restaurant tables to live concerts and lm festivals.

Spring and fall are great times to enjoy the Italian countryside. Couples will love the romantic vibe of the changing landscape, and more adventurous travelers will want to hike through the country’s national parks as temperatures get milder.

From late November to early March, while ski resorts are enjoying their peak season, you’ll have most destinations across the country all to yourself. Events like the Fall/ Winter Milan Fashion Week take place during this time of year, which is also when you’ll nd some of the best shopping deals.

May-September

Best for walking, nightlife, and hitting the beach

Italy is jam-packed with visitors at the end of spring and throughout the summer months. Temperatures range between the high 70s and the high 80s — plus, thanks to the country’s Mediterranean climate, most days are quite sunny.

What’s more, since the sun doesn’t set before 9 pm, locals and tourists tend to gather at bars and plazas well into the night. If you don’t mind the heat during the day, catch the world-famous Palio horse race in Siena, which takes place on July 2 and August 16 every year.

In May, Florence and the majestic gardens across the city are in full bloom. e Boboli Gardens, the Bardini Gardens, and the Iris Garden (which opens only one month a year) are teeming with colour and life.

Easter o cially kicks o beach season in Italy and it’s a wonderful time to tour sundrenched Sicily and its capital Palermo. Meanwhile, countless sagre (local festivals) pop up throughout the countryside.

Summer in Italy

Looking for the ultimate deals on those designer threads you’ve been eyeing? You’re in luck. Brands o er major discounts for six weeks starting in early July.

July is also the busiest month for travel in Italy, so expect everything to cost more. Italian summers have one peculiarity: locals travel to the coast en masse, leaving behind closed shops and quieter cities for two weeks or even the whole month of August. Museums, parks, and other points of interest usually remain open, but you’ll miss all the hustle and bustle in both big cities and tiny villages. If you’d like to follow in the footsteps of the locals and explore the coast, you should be prepared for higher prices and heavy tra c in typical summer fashion.

September

In September, on the other hand, seaside destinations are less crowded, and temperatures are milder than at the height of summer. is is the best month to explore Genoa, home to Italy’s busiest port and imposing palaces overlooking the sea. Genoa is also the closest major city to Cinque Terre, a cluster of ve villages that make up the centrepiece of the jagged Italian Riviera.

March-April, OctoberNovember

is time is best for hiking and enjoying nature e shoulder season in Italy is made up of two di erent periods: late winter and early spring on one end, and fall on the other. Both are perfect for venturing out into nature, as you can easily walk around wearing as little as a light sweater on warmer days. But you should expect more rainfall than during summer and even winter.

December-February

e low season is best for winter sports and end of year festivities

Outside its alpine regions, Italy isn’t known for particularly harsh winters; temperatures usually range between the low 30s (mostly at night) and the low 50s, and even colder cities like Turin and Milan hardly get more than a few days of snowfall a year. But since most folks seem to favour vacationing in Italy in the warmer months, you can hardly see crowds in the major cities during winter.

Ski resorts in Cortina d’Ampezzo, as well as spas and bathing facilities in spa towns like Saturnia (in Tuscany) are of course an exception, as thousands of locals and tourists seek both the adrenalinefuelled activities and the relaxing retreats that the Italian countryside has to o er come wintertime.

Winter is also a great time for scoring incredible shopping deals, since the o cial sales for the season run between January and early March.

And we can’t mention winter in Italy without bringing up Christmas, which is always a magical experience throughout the country.

Best time to visit Italy

Fewer crowds, great deals, and blissed-out weather

ere’s a dream job to be had for the taking in the Maldives at Soneva Fushi Resort which is, once again, looking to hire a ‘barefoot bookseller’.

Located at the Maldives’ idyllic Baa Atoll, the luxurious ve-star establishment needs someone to run its on-site bookstore. And while the gig pays a relatively paltry £620 ($1,080) per month, accommodation is included — a deluxe villa that’d usually set you back £30,000 ($52,300) per night. For 12 whole months. We can’t imagine Soneva Fushi would be charging their own employee for associated living costs, either. e role of Soneva Fushi Resort’s barefoot bookseller, however, won’t just entail slinging a few John Grisham novels to bored trophy wives. According to the job listing, it’ll entail everything from running point on the bookshop’s marketing and customer engagement to blog posting, newsletter creation, as well as hosting creative writing workshops.

Activities, duties, and responsibilities include:

Day-to-day running of the bookshop including sales management, engaging guests, hosts, and visiting authors

Responsible for all stock management and reporting back on sales + stock updates Hosting experiences for Soneva guests such as creative writing classes, bibliotherapy sessions, and tutoring

Running the Barefoot Bookseller social media Instagram account and engaging with the online community

Writing monthly blog posts and creating entertaining and informative newsletters Liaising with Ultimate Library & Soneva marketing teams on potential events and collaborations e candidate is required to live in the Maldives for the duration of the job period (up to 12 months)

Excellent written and verbal English skills

A love of reading and indepth knowledge of both classical + modern literature Experience in bookselling/ publishing is essential

Strong knowledge of running social media pages and following online trends Experience writing blogs, newsletters, and online content

To be a team player/selfstarter with a sense of fun and creativity

To be able to e ciently organise and work to your own schedule and deadlines e successful candidate will undertake pre-departure training with the Ultimate Library team conducted remotely before embarking on an unforgettable experience.

Soneva Fushi’s Barefoot Bookseller programme was rst established in 2018 when the resort partnered with Ultimate Library. Unsurprisingly, multiple custodians of the onsite bookshop have come and gone ever since with no shortage of interest.

As outlined by the JD, this is a Robinson Crusoe-style laidback luxury meets the ultimate vacancy for a desert island bibliophile located at “one of the most beautiful places in the world”.

A barefoot bookseller: the ideal holiday job

Furthermore

Gerry Moran Ode to the passing of Johnny Barry

Like most Kilkenny people I was saddened to hear of Johnny Barry’s passing. I soldiered brie y with Johnny back in the old KCR (Kilkenny Community Radio) days; following is a poem I recited at a KCR party one year. Johnny was quite chu ed with it.

Johnny Barry’s an awful man He goes to bed with my mother each night Now my mother’s a widow of seventy- four My God but it doesn’t seem right Come eleven bells and mam trips up the stairs With Johnny held in her arms en into the bed the two of them op What’s the secret, John, of your charms? Now my mother’s a God-fearing woman So who knows what’s got into her head at she lets a late-night Deejay Lie beside her for hours in the bed! Well I told the P.P. all about it How my mother had gone to the bad Said he: “Son your mother’s morals are safe Sure John’s a grand Catholic lad” Well Catholic lad he may well be But the eld he’s well able to play And with women from Clogh, Coon, Kells & Mooncoin Every night now he’s having his way. Indeed now and I’ve heard some stories Of three in a bed late at night e wife in the middle, hubby on the left And Johnny blazing away on the right! Now I’ve heard of cohabitation And living in mortal sin But how to describe Johnny Barry’s carry-on I wouldn’t know where to begin So how does Johnny Barry do it? What’s the secret of his success? at women allow him into their rooms In various states of undress? Well I honestly don’t know the answer But it must be his winning ways His decent, down-to-earth charm And, of course, the great music he plays. (Rest in peace, Johnny, and thanks for the memories)

is being Arts Week methinks I should nish with something ‘cultural’ although the poem is actually more horticultural! In 1785 the Scottish poet Robbie Burns wrote: “To a Mouse”, after turning up her nest with the plough. Several hundred years later this poet penned: “To a Worm”, after turning her up with a sprong in the back garden!

To A Worm

(To be read wi’ a wee Scottish accent) Wee, sleekit, slippery creature Hope you don’t mind if you feature In this brilliant poem of mine Beats dangling from a shing-line Indeed has it nae to you occurred at I could be the early bird Ready to slide you down his throat Ach, but here relax, I’m just a poet Inspired to verse by your pink gure All curled up here, beside my digger Forgive me if I stop and stare But you look so vulnerable lyin’ there Also I hope I’m nae being rude But how do you cope down there, in the nude? Aye, what’s it like having to commute Underground in your birthday suit? Wriggling about in the dark in your pelt Cannae be healthy, d’ya never get felt By a randy ant or centipede Whose pedigree’s not guaranteed? Maself, I cannae understand Just how you cope with ne’er a hand Sure you cannae touch or squeeze or hug A fellow worm or friendly bug Can’t pick your nose or pull a pint Can’t write a poem or roll a joint Can’t sign a cheque or shoot a gun Mmmm — perhaps yer having better fun. Still, you nae got snooker, darts, football What do you do for sport at all? No massage parlours, disco bars No motor bikes or ashy cars. Hey, tell me you lyin’ in that drill How does a worm get a thrill? Now I don’t mean to embarrass, pry or vex But what do worms do for sex? An’ tell me if this is nae a lie But I heerd yer sort of girl AND boy One end of you they say’s female e other end’s all macho male! My God but that’s a right wee laugh You’re really stuck with your “other half” Ye better stick to the same old course ‘Twould be right painful to have a divorce. But here, I think I’m only wasting time Prattling on in rhythm and rhyme A single word you cannae hear Sure you don’t even have an ear! Ach and I dinna suppose that you heerd that MY “other half” wondering what I’m at If she nds out I’ve been chattin’ wi’ a maggot I’ll be locked up — I’ll really have had it. So, I’m away in now to watch the telly O you go there on yer belly And here, keep o the lettuce and cabbage seeds Aye, and keep an eye out for centipedes!

Lonely Planet paints a pricey picture of Ireland for tourists

A Lonely Planet article about the cost of visiting Ireland will get “ampli ed” across the world amid a “low but consistent number of complaints” about rising bills for holidaymakers visiting here, according to Tourism Ireland. ere has been a steady level of complaints online from visitors to Ireland on social media, with 55 of 68 issues raised in a single week relating to costs, and 42% of all complaints speci cally about car hire. e State agency, in a special report on the sector, said that there was continuing “lowlevel feedback” on the cost of renting a car as well as hotel room costs from trade partners and on social media.

However, Tourism Ireland said this had so far largely escaped negative coverage in mainstream media in a briefing paper. e country-by-country special report on rising costs said trade partners in France were particularly concerned about “ongoing price and availability issues”.

Operators in France were seeing hotel room allocations cancelled as well as “very high weekday rates for Dublin city centre hotels”.

“Price increases in restaurants have also been agged as a concern,” the report stated. “In addition, some tour operators have reported that key attractions no longer take group bookings — a critical component of a group tour for holidaymakers.”

In Belgium and the Netherlands, tour operators reported issues with cancelled hotel rooms due to their reallocation for refugees from Ukraine.

However, other operators said group bookings were doing “very well” and that, so far, they had been able to nd alternative accommodation. e feedback from Germany was also “still very positive” with high interest in holidays in Ireland and the German travel industry actually unable to meet demand for July and August. e special report said: “Tour operators have reported that additional costs are frequently being borne by themselves and hotels, as a proportion of these sales were booked in advance by consumers [when rates were lower]. Rental cars are a challenge in terms of cost and availability.”

In Spain, costs were a “hot topic”, but concern there primarily centred on their own tourism industry rather than what was happening elsewhere.

From the US, there was feedback about the supply of accommodation and car rental. ere had also been highpro le coverage of the queue and baggage issues that have dogged Dublin Airport for the past number of months.

In the UK, coverage of costs was mainly con ned to a newspaper for the Irish diaspora, with national media there more focused on “rail strikes”.

Online monitoring had seen an increase of weekly complaints during mid-June from 56 to 68 with the level deemed “low but consistent”. e report said: “ e markets with the highest number of messages received around these topics were from Italy, Benelux [Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg] and the US. Complaints currently represent only around 2 per cent of weekly engagements.”

On car hire, the report said rental prices were an issue in many countries and continued to get widespread media coverage.

However, while high car prices here were occasionally used as an example, Ireland had not been identi ed “as an outlier on the topic”.

Tourism Ireland were also worried about a Lonely Planet article that warned tourists of “soaring hotel costs” and how renting a car would make a “signi cant dent” in a visitor’s budget.

An internal email said: “It came up as a top story alert for me on Twitter so will keep an eye on that — danger of it getting ampli ed across countries as a tourism topic.”

A colleague responded to say: “ anks, we’ll ... keep an eye out for whether this is picked up in non-Irish media.”

In an information note, Tourism Ireland said the country-by-country report — which was released under Freedom of Information — was one in a weekly series prepared by their in-house strategy and insights team.

Travel chaos ‘to last another year’, says Ryanair

Ryanair has warned holidaymakers that they face a year of travel disruption across Europe. Chief Executive Eddie Wilson said air tra c control delays across the continent were the “worst ever” despite the number of ights being as much as 15% lower compared with the years before the pandemic.

“ e underlying problem across Europe — even if you have the aircraft, you’re not cancelling [ ights] and you’ve got the crew — is air-tra c control,” Wilson said. “It is the single biggest delay for all airlines by a country mile.” e aviation sector has been hit by months of chaos since international travel resumed in the spring. British Airways has cancelled 27,900 ights this summer and this week suspended the sale of all short-haul ights from Heathrow until August 15.

EasyJet has cut more than 15,000 departures, partly as a result of a capacity cap at Gatwick. Heathrow has capped passenger numbers at 100,000 a day after several setbacks, including a severe baggage system malfunction in Terminal 2. e boss of Manchester airport was forced to resign after passengers faced weeks of misery.

Data by Eurocontrol, which manages European airspace, reported that air tra c delays, caused by problems such as weather, sta ng or capacity shortages, have soared since the start of the summer season.

In the week to July 31, European airspace handled an average of 30,718 ights a day, with a combined delay of 116,624 minutes each day on average.

Almost 90% of those delays were picked up en-route, with capacity and sta ng problems the root cause of 51% of disruption. Weather was a factor in 28% of delays.

“ ere is a chance this will go on into next summer unless they get their acts together now,” Mr Wilson said.“Because there is about 10 or 15 per cent less tra c this summer in Europe compared to 2019, yet they still can’t handle it and we’ve got the worst delays ever.”

He said the “invisible roundabouts in the sky” were coming under increasing strain, causing knock-on delays throughout the day. “ e French upgraded their systems in the summertime, which wasn’t a great idea. And there is a German facility in Karlsruhe that isn’t properly sta ed and that is a major roundabout.” e Russian invasion of Ukraine and the closure of swathes of airspace had “squeezed an awful lot more tra c south”, exacerbating the delays, he said.

Ryanair has emerged as the most popular carrier this summer. e airline, Europe’s biggest, operated an average of 3,008 ights a day in the week to yesterday, a 14% increase on 2019. By contrast, British Airways ew 700 ights, down 27 per cent compared with pre-pandemic levels. EasyJet ew 1,621, down 15% from 2019.

The thing with Debbie

is week, e Kilkenny Observer welcomes Kilkenny student Keela Ayres as she presents a short story for our readers. As a newspaper, we attempt to cover as much news as possible on various topics. e inclusion of a young writer, such as Keela, with aspirations in that eld, is something we are happy to promote.

“I need to be back in time for maths or Mr Murphy will tear the head o me!” Marky pu ed as the rest of the group rushed alongside him.

Marky insisted on moving their daily smoke to lunch instead of after school, desperate to show o the lighter he had ‘borrowed’ from his father.

“Well it wouldn’t be a surprise if he did it anyway!” chimed in Harriet as they all slowed to a halt in front of the bike sheds. Harriet and Marky always teased each other, usually doing so with blushing faces. James and Frances sat on top of the bins as Marky took his spot in the corner. Debbie began spluttering against the bikes, causing everyone to look over in concern. She was out of breath already?

“You alright Deb?” began Harriet before being cut off by the flick of Debbie’s hand. “I’m grand Har, honestly” Debbie smiled, in a way she hoped was reassuring. It wasn’t. Harriet wasn’t easily fooled.

Everyone dived into their pockets for a leftover cigarette, causing Marky to excitedly unveil the famous lighter. He had every right to be enamoured with it. It was jet black with a carved golden clover.

Frances balanced her freshly burning cigarette to examine the lighter. “Won’t you be in serious bother when your Da finds out?” Marky proudly puffed out a cloud of smoke that engulfed the shed.

“Since he started working nights, he can barely remember his own name. He never noticed.”

James and Harriet stuck their cigarette butts into the scarlet flame before passing it on to Debbie, who nodded gratefully and did the same.

While taking a drag, Debbie’s sleeve fell, revealing a zig-zag row of navy bruises.

Harriet’s eyes widened into green saucers.

No one noticed through their surging flow of chatter.

The world around her fell silent as she focused on Debbie, who she’d known since first year. She watched her lean into her cigarette with a halfsmile, the only source of heat on an October afternoon that stopped her legs from buckling.

She has never been this quiet.

Her eyes couldn’t lie.

Debbie was the furthest thing from ‘fine’. Harriet then locked eyes with Marky, who was in his usual bumbling babble. He cracked a flushed grin until he followed her thumb, directing him to Debbie’s bruises that Harriet hoped she wouldn’t spot. James and Frances picked up on Marky’s sudden frozen frame. James began teasing him: “You’re floating away into space when we couldn’t get you to shut up this morning!

Dragging us out here just to gawk at that stupid lighter!” trying to mimic the tone of a tutting teacher. Frances crumbled from cackling into concern when she noticed why the attention was focused on Debbie.

It wasn’t until he looked down that even James had finally copped it. Silence suffocated the shed.

They all avoided each other except for Debbie. What would they even say? She finally broke it with a heavy glare. “If ye want something to stare at, it should be the lighter. Quit gawking at me!”

She cautiously slid her arms behind her back. A dead giveaway.

Harriet cleared her throat, beginning shakily: “Deb, is everything alright? We’re just worried that you’re acting differently lately.”

Debbie’s glare wavered as her maroon eyes began to well.

The dark circles underneath were an obvious sign of many sleepless nights.

She inhaled a final puff before smashing the burning cigarette against the wall.

She slapped on a grin that was comically strained.

Debbie Brenann never asked for anyone’s help.

She would have to be broken many times before she ever cracked. Her tone turned eerily cheery.

“I told you before I’m grand, stop the sappy talk!

See you all inside!”

She then evaporated around the corner without a goodbye or explanation, as if she wasn’t there at all.

The group were left with a choked sob that echoed against the walls. They all stamped out their cigarettes, silently agreeing that something was wrong.

Debbie running from them was taking the truth away with her. Her life, they now suspected, could be in serious danger.

And if they wanted to save it, they had to start now.

Seventeen year old Keela Ayres is from Kilkenny City and currently attends Presentation Secondary School.

Get Back To School Ready…

Autumn is on the way and that means its back to school time. At MacDonagh Junction Shopping Centre, their stores have everything you need to take the stress out of prepping for a new school year. Get all your stationery essentials at Eason, where you’ll find all you need from schoolbooks to colouring pencils and everything in between! Need a new look for the new school year? Regatta have an array of jackets that are both practical and stylish, making sure your little ones look the part on their first day back! Complete the look with a pair of comfy trainers from Skechers and a funky schoolbag from TK Maxx. Heading back to college? Check out these chic notepads from Carraig Donn for a sophisticated look, on trend Pu er Jacket from Pamela Scott and don’t forget to avail of your student discount in a range of stores including River Island, Life Style Sports, H&M, Jump Juice and Peter Mark. Looking for an after school activity? Art It are now taking reservations for their new term of children’s art classes commencing in early September- book now to avoid disappointment! For the latest o ers available in the Centre, give MacDonagh Junction Shopping Centre a follow on Facebook and Instagram.

www.macdonaghjunction.com * All prices correct at time of print

Skechers from €40 q p Eason Crayola Twistables

Pamela Scott €29.99 u

t Carraig Donn €6.95

p Regatta from €25

t TKMAXX Backpack set €12.99

e death of Johnny Barry leaves family and friends in mourning

By Ger Cody

e death was announced last week of Stephen street resident Johnny Barry. His love and promotion of Irish country music, his easy going ways, his good humour and above all his daily acts of kindness made him a legend to family, friends and fans. Irish country music was Johnny’s true love and passion . What is it about these singers and musicians that is so appealing to the thousands of fans who pack out halls and hotels week in week out?

Well, there are a few reasons. It goes without saying of course that audiences love them for the quality of their voices and their choice of songs.

After that it is the special relationship that artists have with their fans. e presentation of the singers and band members is second to none and of course time given by performers to their fans at the end of a night’s entertainment is legendary.

It is probably fair to say that although Irish country music and its stars are adored by hundreds of thousands of people the length and breadth of Ireland, the air time allocated to this genre of music on the national radio and television falls short of the expected mark.

And therefore it falls to local radio stations to take up the slack.

And boy they do that in style.

THIRTY YEARS PROMOTING COUNTRY MUSIC

A case in point would be the Johnny Barry show that lasted all of thirty years, eighteen of them on local radio station KCLR.

Johnny was asked to present a thirty minute programme a couple of times a week. “When I asked what I should play, I was told they would leave that to myself. So I started playing Irish tunes by Irish artists and I haven’t stopped since,” said Mr Barry. “ at was twenty eight years ago explained Johnny”,when he spoke to e Kilkenny Observer, earlier this year. As a young man Johnny was a member of the Kilkenny re Brigade. He was later to become apprentice projectionist at the Regent cinema, then later at Stallards on Patrick Street. Following the closure of Stallards, Johnny joined Jackie Parle at e Savoy as assistant projectionist.

A love of music was always part of Johnny’s make up and especially Country and Irish.

Today, it is probably fair to say that there isn’t a country singer in Ireland who hasn’t reached out to Johnny to give his or her song a spin on his late night radio show on KCLR.

Having entertained the masses for thirty years, Johnny hung up his microphone last Easter, much to the disappointment of his thousands of fans.

IT ALL STARTED IN THE ARCADE

Johnny’s journey as a radio presenter started in the

Pictured at a recent celebration for Johnny Barry, Brothers Kevin and Johnny. Johnny is sporting the veteran fire hat presented to him by Joe Traynor.

Arcade on High Street, when along with John Walsh and Seamus Brophy they started a radio station called AMS, (Astra Media Services).

Speaking about his colleague, Radio presenter John Walsh had this to say about Johnny. “My observations are that what made him so popular is the common touch. He connected with the music community, what they like and what they want. It’s been a pleasure knowing Johnny all these years and in a world gone mad it’s great to see people like Johnny holding on to that simple understanding of what real people want”. Mr Walsh said that he was deeply saddened, as all in KCLR were, at Johnny’s passing.

PROGRAMME WAS MASSIVE

His audience numbers were huge and his programme was heard all over Ireland as well as a devoted listenership in parts of the UK.

Of course his hard work has not gone unnoticed. In 2018 and 2020 Johnny was awarded the Hot Country award for his contribution to Irish Country Music.

For a radio station to receive this award twice in three years was some achievement and one which no other radio station has matched.

THE MAYORS AWARD

Recently in city hall Johnny was to receive another award.

For his contribution to Irish music in general and the promotion of Iris Artists, Johnny received the Mayor’s award.

Mayor Mc Guinness congratulated Johnny, saying his recognition was well deserved.

Speaking on the announcement of the sad news, Chief Executive of KCLR John Purcell said; “Johnny Barry was an absolute legend in Irish radio and all in KCLR along with his many thousands of fans in Kilkenny, Carlow and beyond are shocked and deeply saddened by the news of his sudden passing. He was in the station for a meeting during the past week and in great form, discussing plans for the future. We are comforted by knowing that in June he had the opportunity to hear what he meant to people of all ages from all backgrounds.”

Message from Mayor of Kilkenny Cllr David Fitzgerald

“Johnny Barry’s unique music collection and his friendly presentation style endeared him to a huge audience of loyal listeners and genuine fans. I’ll never forget attending his 70th birthday show in Springhill Court hotel where a thronged audience came from far and wide to celebrate with him. Kilkenny has lost one of its great characters whose warmth radiated from the radio. He will be greatly missed. RIP.” Mayor Fitzgerald with Johnny’s long-time friend and driver, Des McGrath. Des drove Johnny to gigs across the country for years.

Message from Irish country singer Trudi Lalor

“ I was so very sad to learn of the passing of my great friend Johnny Barry. Johnny was such a wonderful friend and a huge support to everyone in the Irish Country Music Family. is photo was taken in Nowlan Park when I recorded the video for e Rose of Mooncoin which Johnny joined me in,along with the Kilkenny Senior Hurling Team . We had many wonderful days over the years and all over the country at various concerts and shows and would meet regularly for our lunch catch ups in Kilkenny. Johnny was the rst man to play me on local Radio , he was an incredible ambassador for our music and I cannot thank him enough for that … I only spoke to him on Wednesday and I am deeply saddened to hear this sad news.”

Mr Purcell went on to say that Johnny was unique in all that he did on local radio. “Johnny was a man who knew what he wanted to deliver and nothing has ever stood in his way, said Mr Purcell”.

Recently Mr Purcell also announced that Johnny was to be Irish Country music ambassador for KCLR.

RADIO PRESENTER WAS NUMBER ONE

One quick story to nish.

I remember one night of Country music at the Watergate eatre when the entertainment was complete and the artists gathered in the foyer to meet their fans. We wondered what the problem was, as the singers waited to sign autographs, but there was no sign of the audience leaving the auditorium. I went into the auditorium to see what the issue was and could only smile at what I saw. e audience of about two hundred were queued up alongside the wall and at the main door signing autographs was none other than Johnny Barry. Priorities, I guess.

In an interview with the Kilkenny Observer recently Johnny was asked what the secret of his longevity and popularity as a radio presenter was. Johnny replied, “believe in what you’re doing, don’t be afraid to show your passion for your work, and stick to your guns”.

And, that sums up Johnny Barry. Rest in peace Johnny.

Johnny Barry and Daniel O’Donnell. The two Johns: Johnny Barry pictured with C.E.O. of KCLR John Purcell at a presentation night in June 2022.