I first met Larry Roddy at a Woods Band Gig in Liberty Hall in Dublin in 1972. My wife, Moira, and I were both introduced to Larry and John Weir on the same occasion by Terry Woods, another true and mutual friend, and a fine musician to boot. I would have to say that Larry and I liked each other right from the start. I think I could describe us both as 'softies', and that's a quality I find irresistible in another person. As I say, we hit it off right away, and although we might not see each other for long periods of time, each occasion we met, it always seemed as thought there had been no gap at all. In 1973, John Weir produced an album called First Thrust, which was a kind of Folk Sampler of the time, and Larry played a huge role in that project, acting as Designer, Publicist, Manager, Booking Agent, et al, and he is featured in the sleeve notes of that rare and somewhat collectible Vinyl Album. When I first began to broadcast on RTE Radio One with shows like Country Heartland and Sunday Best, and later with Roots Freeway, Larry always stayed in touch with me to maximise any publicity he could get for the many and varied artistes he promoted on his [ usually]small but vital tours in Ireland. Some of my own most memorable gigs with Larry in Ballymore Eustace with NTB were often in venues that were never intended for live music in the first place, but with Larry in charge, there was always a sense of immense artistic satisfaction, and true audience appreciation. I'm sure I speak for many other performers who worked with Larry, when I say that he will be greatly missed in live music circles in Ireland. R.I.P. Niall Toner, Coolasnaughta, November 5, 2010.
