RADIO presented John O’Hara has been remembered as a “man of many talents” following his death aged 80.
In a career spanning more than four decades, John worked first as a continuity announcer for UTV before migrating to Downtown Radio where he spent close to two decades entertaining his affectionally known ‘night owls’.
The Ballymena native later presented ‘The Wireless Set’ on U105 before finally hanging up his radio DJ microphone in 2008.
Broadcaster Ronan Kelly described John as “a man of many talents” who had one of the best voices in the history of Northern Ireland radio. “May he rest in peace,” he added.
His fellow Downtown DJ John Rosbrough added this was sad news for the broadcasting world.
“John made the Downtown Late Show his own, with a huge listenership known as the ‘Night owls’, and years later presented ‘The Wireless Set’ for U105,”
“He enjoyed being referred to as ‘The Voice’, and what a distinctive one to remember,” Mr Rosborough said.
Eugene Diamond, a fellow Ballymena man, said he was very sorry to hear of his passing.
“John was the man with the dulcet tones....a man of many talents and a decent human,” he said.
Outside of his DJ career, Mr O’Hara was a voice for television and radio commercials while also creating his own audio of fairy tales for children and entertained kids touring schools and community centres.
