13th
October 2008 - It
was with great sadness that I
learned of the passing of Hugh
Hardy. Hugh was a man who strolled
into my life in the last weekend
in May 1978 while I was working
in a Dublin radio station called
Big D Radio.
He
walked into the station in Chapel
Lane
and casually asked if anyone was
interested
in
working
on his radio station, which
was located in Dundalk Shopping
Centre, Dundalk, County Louth. I
volunteered, as did John Paul and
Eric Vaughan. It was Hugh who gave
me the chance to officially
open
his
radio
station
- Radio Carousel. The station's
theme tune "Don't
Stop The Carousel"
was
appropriate.
I
worked for Hugh Hardy from May
1978 for 7 years right through
to 1985. I am forever
grateful to Hugh Hardy for
giving me my
first
ever paid job in radio. A true
gentleman who treated everyone
fairly, Hugh was a man of vision who
saw his dream fulfilled to eventually
become The
Radio Carousel Network.
A
great entertainer and a true showman,
Hugh was an avid country music
fan and his regular twice-daily
'Country Call' shows were legend.
Ending each programme with the
catchphrase "Mooooooooooooovin
On" - no Irish presenter has ever
presented a
show like
Hugh
has
done - and
none ever will. Hugh was unique.
I am sure everyone who
listened to his shows and everyone
who had the privilege of working
for him will join me in saying:
"Hugh, thanks for the memories
and Don't Stop The Carousel"

