Broadcaster Gareth O’Callaghan has announced his intention to return to a regular slot on Irish radio four years after his retirement after being diagnosed with a serious neurodegenerative illness.
The DJ is re-joining Classic Hits to present a four hour programme each Saturday morning from 10am.
O’Callaghan spent 15 years with RTE presenting an afternoon show in 2FM whihc, at its peak had a listenershop of almost 300,000. He was instrumental in launching Brendan O’Carroll’s radio play Mrs Brown’s Boys before moving to Classic Hits in 2009.
The broadcaster is also a qualified psychotherapist and the author of seven books.
He announced his retirement from broadcasting in 2018, following his diagnosis with the neurodegenerative illness, ‘Multiple System Atrophy’, (MSA). It is a progressive, degenerative, and ultimately fatal neurological condition for which there is no known cure.
However nearly four years on the perennially popular DJ is back.
“I can’t wait to get back to the studio and get back on-air,” he said.
“I’m invigorated, feeling great and positive about the future. I want to share this positivity with all the listeners and am so looking forward to getting behind the mic once again”.
The chief executive of the Classic Hits Kevin Branigan described O’Callaghan as one of the “most influential voices in modern Irish radio and it will be a pleasure to hear his voice gracing our airwaves once again. His enthusiasm is Infectious and we’re looking forward to welcoming him back”.
