The weather is still miserable, but the mood has brightened up to some extent. Nice response to the Steve Irwin tribute song last night. If truth be told Im still a little sad over his untimely death. For someone who seemed so invincible, its incredibly hard to believe hes gone. To have his life taken away by the things he loved for a man that gave so much to the natural world, it just doesnt seem right. Trawling around the web this morning, the amount of tributes is staggering. Steve Irwin has touched the lives of millions around the world, and will never be forgotten. Personally, the guy has given me hours and hours of endless entertainment (even infotainment) over the last number of years, and he'll always have a spot in my heart. Im sure some people find it hard to take on board that Im sad about a celeb passing on. Maybe it IS bizarre, but I felt the same way when Richard Pryor died, particuarly because I used to talk to his wife mainly, and Richard on occasion via email. I felt the same when Rodney Dangerfield passed away and I felt the same when Johnny Carson moved on. Certain celebs mean things after admiring them for so long. Having admired Steve Irwin for so long, its hard to comprehend what happened to him. Theres a group of aussies living in cork, who text the show from time to time, and they text in last night calling me a legend for the tribute song. I replied "Its Steveo is the legend"

Onto things that are not so morbid. We followed up on the Clonakilty public disorder meeting last night, and will be touching it tonight again, as it wasnt entirely finished when we went to air last night. One suggestion was that parents have to take a more active role. To be honest, Ive never heard such rubbish in my life. Everyone knows parents need to take a more active role in their little darlings activities. What difference does it make if its announced at a public meeting. Nada. Water off a ducks back. It'll be interesting to see what else has hatched out of this meeting last night.

Another topic that cropped up last night, was Debs and Grads. Some callers were only spending €200-€300 for the night. Some were borrowing dresses and the bling bling, while some were getting their dress made. Yup, getting the bloody thing made. At first, I thought the individual was getting married, but they kept insisting that it was their Debs. For anyone that gets anything made, be it a kitchen cabinet or a debs dress, its not cheap. At least with a kitchen cabinet, you get to use it more than once. Imagine spending a fortune on a kitchen cabinet and using it on the 1st of October, and then smashing the thing up and throwing it in the back of a wardrobe. Its all about value for money. Some callers were harping that its a very special night, and its the result of 6 years of hard schooling. Look, the result of 6 years of hard schooling is what your doing now. Be that in college, in a job or scrounging around on the dole. A special night me arse. More people were calling for blood at this stage and saying its the last time you can be together with all your friends. Maybe things have changed since my day (all 12 years ago) but most schools are riddled with cliques. The debs/grads are the same. Most of these people couldnt care less about if they see you again. Now, theres probably someone thinking "Christ what kinda grads did Vic have?". To be brutally honest, it was a nice night. I wasnt wandering around the street at 7 in the morning, vomiting or donning a road cone on my head. Did I spend a mortgage payment for the whole thing, nah. And what is it with people who MUST go to the leisureplex to go bowling at 3 in the morning. Are these people in bowling there any other nights. Nah! To cap off a grads/debs night bowling, isnt exactly rock n roll now is it. Come to think of it, wandering up and down the western road looking for a B&B isnt exactly Keith Moon either. But combine the B&B and running up to the ESSO wearing grad shoes with no socks and your pants half hanging off and your into the roadie at a Phil Collins gig, at the very least!

I woke up early this morning, but lounged in bed for a while. Around 11 (ish) I strolled into the computer and, upon loading up my personalised google home page I discovered that Steve Irwin was dead. I even thought it might have been a hoax, ala Johnny Knoxville, but soon discovered it wasnt. I cant remember when I started watching the Crocodile Hunter, but I have had satellite tv for years and years, so it is a long time. It was one of the first shows I got hooked on, on Discovery. Reading and watching this earlier on today, has made me very sad! The guy, in pure Cork terms, was an absolute legend. The man has done more for conservation by bringing the subject at hand to the masses, and has really made an impact on peoples views around the world. While some might have questioned the risks he took, you cant escape the fact that he has done so much and touched the hearts of millions around the world. My thoughts go out to his family!

We'll miss ya Stevo, big time!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

RIP The Crocodile Hunter

I cant believe this, I really cant. The Living Legend is no longer living. RIP Stevo!!!!!

World-famous Australian naturalist Steve Irwin has died in a marine accident - killed by a barb from a stingray that pierced his chest.

He was filming an underwater documentary off Australia's northeast coast when the accident took place.

John Stainton, a friend and colleague, said Irwin swam too close to the ray while he was diving off his boat Croc One near Batt Reef, northeast of Port Douglas.

"He came on top of the stingray and the stingray's barb went up and into his chest and put a hole into his heart," said Mr Stainton, who was on board Irwin's boat at the time.

A helicopter took paramedics to nearby Low Isles, where Irwin was taken for medical treatment, but he was dead before they arrived.

Prime Minister John Howard, said he was shocked and distressed at the death.

"It's a huge loss to Australia. He was a wonderful character. He was a passionate environmentalist. He brought joy and entertainment and excitement to millions of people."

Irwin's daredevil antics, which saw him go face-to-face with deadly creatures such as crocodiles and poisonous snakes on camera, won him a global following.

The 44-year-old was known for uttering the word "Crikey" when confronted with a particularly deadly animal.

Nicknamed 'The Crocodile Hunter', he triggered outrage in 2004 by holding his then one-month-old baby while feeding a snapping crocodile at his Australian zoo.

He is survived by his American wife Terri, their daughter Bindi Sue, eight, and two-year-old son Bob.

Elvis Lives on Cork Talks Back with Victor Barry

Elvis Lives on Cork Talks Back with Victor Barry

Elvis Lives on Cork Talks Back with Victor Barry

Microphone feed only!

Elvis Lives on Cork Talks Back with Victor Barry

Microphone feed only, no backing track!!!!!

In a complete nutshell!!!

Kevin, the guy who was a recovering alcoholic, and seriously down on his luck came got sorted out late last night. He came on the air looking for advice, and told the tale of how he owned 500 quid to a loan shark and needed by this morning, otherwise he was going to get a serious hiding. That was it, he told his tale, and the people of cork blew our switchboard, nearly clean off the desk. For security reasons, I couldnt announce, until now that a Taxi company offered to bring Kevin out to the studio to collect the money from a generous listener. To be honest, I was blown away by the genoristy of Cork people, AGAIN last night. I know people say Cork is full of begrudgers, well last night was definitely not the case! Legends!!!!!

Speaking of legends, we had reports for most of last night of people spotting a guy in a cape and black jumpsuit. Someone rang and told Dave that they saw this guy in the car park, late last night. So doing his producer job, he wandered off to see what or who was going on. And unbelieveably, he came back into the studio with Elvis Presley...from Kanturk. And hes on the net too...amazing!!!

The Elvis Xperience.com

Videos to follow!!!!

Tonight is the night that we give away premium level tickets for the All Ireland hurling final, on Sunday. Tonight is the night that we will follow up the hundreds of comments about Clonakilty last night.

Much to the shock of some of the listeners the other night, the reasons for me taking a night off was to take the woman who puts up with me, out to dinner. Plain and simple. Nothing more, nothing less. Chicken wings, prawns, burgers, noodles, pork etc.etc.etc.etc. Contrary to popular belief I do have a heart.............sometimes. Its been a mad busy few weeks, hence the lack of proper blog updates. My PPI radio award submissions are completed, so we'll see what happens. Third time lucky maybe.

My humblest apologies, as this is the last time, there will be a mundane and quite frankly rubbish blog update. It might well be worth checking back tomorrow though, for some video!!!!!!

Another weekend rolls by and its 119 days to bloody Christmas! That probably explains why certain UK Supermarket chains have Xmas decorations up on the shelves. We've had a couple of people moaning to us about this, so it may well manifest into a topic!

Onto something else though! Thursday saw the latest JNLR figures come out, and 51% of radio listening done between 7pm & 12pm is done on RedFM, which means myself and Stevie are Number 1 at night. Basically 1 in 2 people are listening to Cork Talks Back, which is really, really, really, really fantastic!!!!

My Xbox 360 arrived in Germany early Friday morning for repair, and was back in a UPS van early that same evening. It remains to be seen if the thing will work, or just explode when its plugged in! With Madden 07, Saints Row and Dead Rising all out in the next 2 weeks, its an expensive month ahead.

After many months of waiting, my life is now complete again. I havent found the holy grail nor have I found the answer to the question, where is Paris Hiltons brain? I havent even found that fiver I lost down the back of the couch. The new season of American Chopper kicks off tonight, and all I can say is god help Sky if the Sky+ box comes back with a failed to record message!
Speaking of Sky, I had the misfortune to see Sky HD running on Friday night. Its misfortunate that I saw it running, because now its going to cost me money. Ive only recently dumped aload of Sky channels because we werent looking at them, and now the thought of getting High Def is really appealing. More channels, with a "look at the hairs in his nose" picture quality, that we'll never look at. Either way I was impressed!

Thats me lot for today, as soon as my PPI submissions have been finished, the blog shall return to the usual bitterness!!!!!