The "Pat Courtenay Drops by..." thread

[patdj1]

An old friend of mine (Ernie Gallagher) pointed me to this site and I've happily wasted about two-and-a-half hours on it, now! I read the comment about "all the good jocks" leaving 98fm and was SO proud to be at the head of a list that included Jim O'Neill, Mark Byrne and Liam Q.

God, I was at the station 7&1/2 years!

We had some craic, didn't we??

[Removed Member]

Pat Courtenay!

Is it you?

If so,yes you da man.

Thanks for all the brilliant radio you did there and at NRG103,Sunshine and Nova.

Great stuff.

[patdj1]

You're very good! The '80s/90s were sooo my favourite time; not fashionable, I know, but I was havin' more fun than a Bishop in a nude Playschool! I get a bit of info about what Liam Q's up to from time to time. I'm living in the Tropics in Darwin, (28 deg WINTER days!) doing Breakfast (as usual - Jaysus!) on an 90s/today rocker. It's the smallest market I've ever worked; only 70,000!
The last three years were in New Zealand; last year on a newstalk/current affairs (B'fast again) and the previous two years on a Classic Hits format (Auckland plus 25-station network) on Drive, (Yay!) getting paid SHITloads for waking up at 10:00 in the morning!
Still, 4 a.m.'s a lot more inviting here in the Tropics; we've been complaing that the nights are really cold....'cos they're getting down to a "raw" 17degs!

[KJ]

Sweet heart of jaysus ........... is that Pat Courtney?!

Pat "finest DJ ever to grace Irish radio" Courtney?

:)

KJ

;)

[patdj1]

Ah, now you're takin' the piss!....and it's "Courtenay." Any news of Tom Dunne? And Jim, for that matter.

[Brian O'D]

Kelly isn't extracting anything Pat! You are sorely missed in this part of the world, would you ever consider coming back?
Time for me to also pay homage and thank you for entertaining us, I'm especially fond of your Energy days.
What's the name of the station you're on in NZ. Is it streaming?

Not sure how up to speed you are...Tom Dunne left 98 to join Today FM (may have been called Radio Ireland when you left). He does an evening show "Pet Sounds", indie and Irish. He's just been voted as best jock ahead of Dave Fanning by Hot Press. Visit www.todayfm.com for more.

[patdj1]

Hey, Brian!

Tell Tom Dunne I was asking for him if you're talking to him. I'll never forget his first night on 98, when I was doing Drive. I've seen enough First-Shift-Shock faces to know that Tom needed me to hang on to "hold his hand," but he didn't want to "impose" by asking. I got as far as, "Would you like me to..." and he nearly fell over with relief. His grin was wider thanhis face! I hung on for an hour, then gave him the mobile numbber just in case and he was cool. AND THIS IS A GUY FOR WHOM THW ROLD HAS NO AUDIENCE TOO BIG TO SING TO! Weird, eh? The rest of us would rather make a fool of ourselves in front of thousands of people who CAN'T see us!
You're very good remembering the Energy stuff. I have trhee hours of a "Best of" that I did at the end of, was it '87? Good ideas, I must say; the result of hours spent in the Leeson Lounge and good, mad company!
I don't think Radio in Ireland really WANTS me back. I sound like a full-blooded Kiwi/Aussie now anyway, plus the weather's good and Mum and Dad live in NZ now: even though I'm currently in Aust., the parents like it better than a 40,000km separation.

[KJ]

Pat delivered nothing but the finest radio Ireland has ever heard;

Energy 103

Nova International

(Pat was at his upmost "I couldn't give a b*llix cheekiness" on air here .......... I have air tape checks somewhere)

and 98 FM

(Fond memories of heading to school listening to this guy simply *dominate* the breakfast airwaves. He had (and always had) an on air style about him that made you stop whatever you're doing and reeeeally listen on air. That's an incredible gift)


Pat; as far I'm concerned you're the man. The yardstick from which all other DJs on Irish legal shall be judged with my ears. End of story.

KJ

;)

[Removed Member]

Does anybody else remember just how much fun it was to listen to Pat,Bob and Lisa on NRG?

Fond memories of hot records like "Funky Town" by Pseudo Echo,SAW's"Hey Roadblock!",Wet Wet Wet's "Wishing I was lucky" and many more great tunes in the morning like "Right on Track" by The Breakfast Club.

A couple of years later I was lucky enough to come by a tape of Rick Dees in the morning from Dec. 1st '89 on 102.7 KIISFM and I have to say that Pat was the NRG103 version of Rick Dees.

I remember a link that always sticks out in my mind - I think I was just tying me shoelaces in my room with the radio on before school... It was a pun Pat did on bizarre Book titles by strange named authors (cant remember all of it) but there was some book on Sex by "Ivill Havitoff" V. Funny - I always laugh when I think of that one!

Also who remembers "Nixer" or "Adrian The Windowdresser" and there were other characters too!!
And the Parody of "I wanna be a drill instructor by Abigail Mead" - "I wanna be a dress designer by Adrian" Soo funny!!!!

The jingles,music and atmosphere of NRG 103 with Pat and many other great jocks "in their field" like Cass Jones,Tony Mc Kenzie,John O'Hara (for flumps sake EVEN Gareth O'Callaghan sounded great at this period in his career - great jock,wish he'd get a call from Des from Leinster House one of these days though!)

U2 - With or Without You - there's an NRG memory now playing somewhere else in this world :-)


All in all a great great station,will we ever see the like of it again?

[BillyBob]

Mr Courtenay.... you have been missed....

Good to hear you're still alive and well... still wearing the headphones on the back of your head?

My favourite silly Courtenay gag - was on foggy mornings when you'd have the birds running into the window....

Anywhoo... good to hear you are well and on the air....

(By the way Jim O"Neill is on Today FM as well as Tom - he does a Sunday gold show - and is also their station voice)

[John Fleming]

Great to hear from you Pat. I, and many others here, have been trying to track you down for years (don't worry, nobody's after you, it is purely just to hear your voice on the radio again) and always seem to be one step behind. The last search i personally ran came up with Canterbury on Air!

Can you tell us what station in Darwin you're on and whether they have an internet presence?

You're very good remembering the Energy stuff. I have trhee hours of a "Best of" that I did at the end of, was it '87? Good ideas, I must say; the result of hours spent in the Leeson Lounge and good, mad company!

The Energy stuff is very fondly remembered here, and tapes of the Breakfast Crew in action are much sought after. Everything about the show was sheer class...i woke up to it at 7 every morning - and i wasn't even working at the time!!!

I have a copy of the "Best of Energy" as it went out on air over that Xmas, but unfortunately my tape deck was dire and the previous recording on the cassettes weren't erased by the heads! Still, it is great to listen to...

You probably know about your co-presenters:
Bob Gallico resigned from East Coast earlier this year and he can be seen and heard on www.irelandlivetelevision.tv

Last i heard "Lisa" was on CNN International from London.

Irish radio is crying out for your talent. I hope the people of Darwin (all couple of hundred of them!) realise how lucky they are.

[timkelly]

Hey Pat it's great to see you on, it has been a while! I hope things are going well for you down there... I am at Today fm with a load from 98 including J. Larkin. . Working on a few interesting projects at the moment and have only come on here a few weeks ago.. Well again great to see you on, and it's true, YOU ARE MISSED ON AIR IN DUBLIN. Talk to you soon!





Best Wishes TK.

[Brian O'D]

Tell Tom Dunne I was asking for him if you're talking to him.

Ah sure, the likes of Tom Dunne wouldn't be asking the likes of me to hold his hand! He has a wondrful on-air persona now, amazing to hear your story of when he first went on!
Tim Kelly will tell him you were asking I'm sure!

Websearches for your latest employers are proving unfruitful. If Darwin is that small it is perhaps unlikely to have streaming. Tell us where you are Pat!

I did find this from April 2002: Some movements from Darwin - Pat Courtenay is no longer with Hot 100, Richard Clarke and Symone Wilson are "The new Hot 100 Morning Crew with Clarkie and Symmo". Leroy "Brownie" Browne is new at Hot 100 to do the 10 till 2 shift and APD/MD Peter "Davo" Davidson moves to drive from 2 till 6.

[KJ]

Pat wrote;

"I don't think Radio in Ireland really WANTS me back"

Are ye maaaaad?!

Ok; you and Denis O Brien dont exactly send Christmas cards to each other any more and you're supposed to be a perfectionist to work with. But don't perfectionists always reach the top of their profession ............. you've done that and then some.

Apart from 98 FM (I believe you ended on bad untenable terms?) there's not a station in Dublin that wouldn't bend over backwards to get your name on a contract

Its amazing that you're on the site Pat. There's maybe 7-10 DJs who have defined what I regard as good radio, interesting radio ......... something I wanted to get involved in ...... and you're at the top of the tree

Keep us posted


KJ

;)

[patdj1]

I have to stop reading these; not because the head's getting big but 'cos it's making me hugely happy and a touch sad by turns! (I cracked up laughing remembering the fog-fuddled birds!)
Energy music? Remember Wang Chung? "Everybody Have Fun Tonight." Gr88888888! Then U2 put out "Joshua Tree" and it was the first time I'd ever used CDs on-air.

Some of the weirdest shit at Energy happened OFF-air! Like the morning I rolled in at 5:30 to find Tony Allen (is his liver in a jar somewhere? Has the Corpo placed a 'Deviation' sign on his septum?) collapsed all over the swivel armchair in my Prod. studio, embracing the final stages of slobbering alcoholic unconsciousness, WITH MY METHO BOTTLE EMPTY BESIDE HIM!!!!
(Cleaning purposes only, y'understand...)

Then there was the day downstairs when Tony went horrifyingly psycho at Sybil about something (chemically-induced?) before turning his attention to me, attacking me with the World's Largest Ashtray and a microphone stand with a lead weight in the bottom! I had to lock myself in the cupboard in the back of Production and ring the Guards. Mr. Allen was banned from the building after that. He'd lasted about a month, which I'm told is quite good for the evil old bastard.

One morning, 'Lisa Moore' (Fionnuala Sweeney. I was SO proud to see her doing that fine job on the Eurovision that time!) and Bob came up from the Newsroom with a "how-are-we-gonna-tell-him?" face. They nervously told me to look up at the security monitor. On any other morning, my big ol' Citroen ('Kermit') could be seen on the monitor, snoozing quietly, parked pointing in towards the footpath: now, however, I could only see the arse-end of him 'cos half of him was IN THE BUILDING! A Beamer-load of Leeson Street's hardiest had forgotten about the corner at the end of the bridge, crash-tackled Kermit, smashed him through the window into my Prod. studio and legged it! Damage???? Jaysus!! Funny enough, the Guards found the car only 8 hours or so later, by which time it had been completely hammered out and repainted a new colour! All that achieved inside 8 hours and they weren't even Northsiders!!!

'Adrian Featherstone' is 'Damian Featherstone' these days; (BTW, his 'band' on 'I Wanna be your Dress Designer' was 'The Full Velvet Jackets,') I have a 'boss' sort of a character called 'Brice Bubbles' (my favourite) who has more speech impediments than Quasimodo; 'The Right Honourable Sir Patrick Courte-nay' is a right-wing lush who knows everybody who's anybody, has a sec'y called Miss Goodbody and routinely sets the dogs on charity collectors. Sir Patrick also remains alcoholically unaware that his wife's lover isn't the gardener but an illegal immigrant hiding out in the mansion. I've recently invented (although I haven't a BREEZE how I'm going to work him yet) a sports commentator called 'Scoring Freeley.' So far I have no voice to give him but I think he'll have a sexual identity problem which will keep 'slipping out' during his comments.

I still write dumbass sketches (although nothing on the scale of 'Star Sick;' after all, I WAS the Prod. Dept. so I had the TIME to do those things). I still re-write songs and use the phones as much as I can: not only is the phone a wonderful spoof weapon but I've always maintained that to tap into the well of talent on the OTHER side of the radio is cool when you can do it. All you have to do is make them realise that if they think THEY'RE a bit off-the-pier, they just met their brother!

Your comments here have brought back great memories of a very cool time and made me feel really good. In this business you usually only hear the shite! If a jock ever tells you he gets fan-mail, a] he gets one a week from a paranoid schizophrenic who believes the Jesuits are using Joe Duffy to tell her the exact whereabouts of bin Laden; b] he gets a dozen a week from 60-year-olds who've confused him with Larry Gogan; c] his Mammy lives in Clonakilty and doesn't understand e-mail; d] he's lying.

The sunshine of a 30-deg WINTER day beckons beyond my balcony. Happy Friday!

Ernie G., I owe you one for tellling me about this site!

[patdj1]

Forgot to say to you, Kelly' yeah, it was a pity about 98fm. After more than seven years in a place it woulda been nice not to leave with a lawsuit.
I guess Denis O'Brien could have given the instruction from on-high but I'm more inclined to believe it was not so much Denis as....another guy. Anyway, I got such a shitload of money I was able to take the next two years off!

Anyone got any comments about the Strawberry?

Soon. Over and Under.

Pat

[Guest]

\\\Anyone got any comments about the Strawberry?\\\

Are you a fan, Pat? I assume you listen over the internet. The show has been thru a few ups & downs but I think it is ace at the moment. Have you listened to Today fms breakfast show? Thats the closest thing to what you & Bob had at nrg in my book.

[KJ]

That last post by pat is anorak gold.

Keep 'em coming ;)

KJ

[Guest]

Would you come back if the money was right Pat?

[lazerweb]

Hi Pat,

Was always wondering what happened you! Didn't know you'd end up living up the road from me (by comparison!). I'm in Sydney. Having problems getting this message to post so if you see more than one version of this, sorry! What station are you working on in Darwin Pat?

George Long

[bobg]

So there you are then, young Patrick Courtenay - how many years has it been since we voyaged together through the endless depths of space and plumbed the depths of dubious taste at the same time. Yes, tis I- Pettigrew. Now as I am a semi-illiterate with this new-fangled gadgetry, I don't know where this will end up - don't understand how these "!hreads" are supposed to work. Hopefully someone will enlighten me.

[Slicklink]

Wait hold on we'll have the whole Nova and Sunshine crew in here yet, Mr Gallico.

[bobg]

Yup- even including possibly Tony Allan. T. is in London- he's OK and we speak now and then.

[Euan Roberts]

Hi pat, the real Pat Courtney of 98. I always listened to you at 98 in the mornings from day one. Talked to yoy once on the telephone via Cash Call. I didn't win that time. It didn't matter. Hey man, you gave us darn good radio, only the best i guess. I tell ya, radio in Dublin ain't the same no more. We need you to come back to Dublin to give Radio a serious makeover. Some Radio station needs to get you back on the air, by offering you a great financial package that will make it worth your while. Sure, if a bidding war amongst radio stations happens so be it. I guess you always struck me as a younger more refined version of Johnny Walker ( BBC Radio 2) or even Jonathan Ross in a strange kind of way. You were very quirky and had this very unique spontanous approach to radio which set you miles apart from your fellow colleagues or competitors of that era.

Whatever i think of 98 now, you certainly gave me one sure reason to tune in. oh by the way How does Australian commercial radio compare to Dublin radio, better or worse in your opinion? You may not know this, but three new radio stations are on the air now, aside from the existing ones such as 104, 98, Today FM. Lite FM, Came on May 25, 2000, a 35 - 54 plus easy- listening station, Spin 1038, its meant to be a dance station, but its getting there, 15-34 plus April 19, 2002. And finally Newstalk 106 25- 54 plus April 9 2002. All my fellow radio friends wish you all the best in Australia, and would like back in Dublin one day.

All the Best Pat

[KJ]

You're still out there Pat aren't ye? ;)

Anyone care to share their favourite PC on air moment? Im going to have a look for my Energy 103/Nova International tapes and make up my mind then

Maybe Pete & Ger could give us a few air checks on an upcoming Anorak Hour?


KJ

;)

[Brian O'D]

Looks like Mr Coutenay has deserted us! Just like him to get us all worked up and leave us gasping for more!

Even if he doesn't return, it was a pleasure reading some of his thoughts on his time amongst us.

[tonystar]

Can I add that I have great memories of Pat on Energy, one sketch i loved was to do with a spittoon when he wanted to see if he could beat the world record for spitting pips, you could hear him going up the stairs, spit the pip and a few seconds later hear it land. I loved his show and he's been a big influence on me with my show. Thanks Pat for the Happy mornings travelling into Dublin and listening on walkman.
Tony H.

[KJ]

Its a shame Pat never got back to us but his legend and classic links live on. There's a segment on the latest Anorak Hour if anyone hasnt spotted it yet. Not great to be honest as Pat only speaks 2 or 3 times in a chopped down 5 min segement but its still classic Courtney


KJ

[Anorak]

So if Pat is no longer with Hot in Darwin, what station is he with now?

[patdj1]

Hey! It's Courtenay.

Wot a BUZZ!! I've just heard my demo on The Anorak Hour clip and I'm crackin' up laughing! It's not like I don't know the material at this stage, but it's a HUGE kick to sit here and realise that it's, like all over the planet on Radiowaves? Ya gotta love that thought!

Thanks Ger. Thanks John.

If you listened to it, how'd you cope with the accent???

Any questions?

Pat.

[Ger Roe]

Hi Pat,

It was great to be able to put out some new material from you.
The airchecks went down well locally with lots of calls from listeners afterwards saying how much they enjoyed it. Most were asking if you would ever consider heading back to Dublin.

The worldwide aspect of the internet is something I still get a kick out of too. John has opened up a whole new forum for 'The Anorak Hour' through his site and the general level of interest is much bigger as a consequence.

Thanks again for the contact.
Over and under....

Ger Roe.
Phantom FM, Dublin.
anorak@phantomfm.com

[The Real Stuttering John]

well done. that is perhaps the best bit of radio I have heard in years. I actually cried laughing at one point. Compliments where they are due.

[Anorak]

Indeed. Absolutely great stuff and it served as a reminder of what we're missing.

Pat Courtenay, get your ass back to Ireland - if only for the sake of your thickening accent!

[Billy Dane]

As they say in all the best establishments...

MORE...MORE...

You must have more stuff lying around Pat...

[patdj1]

Hey! It's Courtenay.

Anorak, should "thickening accent" really read, "thickening akthent?"

Tony H. I was proud to read that my work (even on 98fm) had a positive influence on your own Radio work.

Now, that could come out all wrong: what I mean is, we all have some Broadcast Performer in our past who made us think, "I'm gonna do that for a living!" and if any one of us has had that influence on someone, that's a win.

That leads me to a note to established Broadcasters: When someone admires your work and you're lucky enough to hear about it, ENCOURAGE! Don't let 'em down! If you get the chance, maybe even help them to find a style that suits them - Mucho importanto....

....which leads me to a note to Up 'n' Comers: DON'T COPY!

"Adapt," by all means; emulate work principles and methods, but always search for that way to make it your own, and if that means admitting that you're never gonna sound the SAME as your Radio hero, GOOD!

WORK like him/her, but remember, there's already one out there and once a clone, always a clone.
I read the thread about Steve Wright/Gareth O'Callaghan, and, thanks to my knowledge of the fundamental principle of Defamation Law - "The Truth is No Defence" - I refrained from entering any discussion concerning Garbage O'Calor-gas. However, I might say that when I first heard Wright using FX in '85, I thought I was listening to an English copy of the 60s/70s San Francisco jock, Dr. Don Rose. IN THE MID-80s IT DIDN'T MATTER - only those of us in The Business would have that kind of historic knowledge, but in 2002, your actual AUDIENCE can possibly hear the person you're copying, on the 'Net.

So don't.

Besides....ain't it embarrassing when you get caught out???

Cheers!

Pat.


Oh! Pettigrew! You dumbarse. I left you a note in your personal folder. It gives you my e-ddress. Retire the pigeons and e-mail me. Brandy.

[KJ]

Nearly 2 years since we heard from Pat. Whats he upto these days?

[kiss103]

Check out


http://waikato.thebreeze.co.nz/

[KJ]

Cheers, shame its not streaming!