A question of taste with PJ Coogan

PJ Coogan is from Ballinlough in Cork, and presents the Opinion Line on weekdays on Cork’s 96fm.

Best recent book: The Jolly Roger — Pirate Radio in Cork, by two old friends of mine, Trevor and Noel Welch.

I was interviewed for the book, so maybe I’m a little biased — but it’s a great tribute to the pirate era in Cork.

Best recent film: I took my son to see Spectre. He has inherited my fondness for James Bond.

Best recent show/exhibition/gig you’ve seen: Aslan at the Savoy. It was great to see Christy looking well and in fine voice again. Long may it last.

What formats do you access music? I’m a fan of Spotify, and I buy from iTunes a lot — but there’s something very interesting on the horizon that I’ve been reading about — the YouTube Music streaming app.

Best piece of music you’ve been listening to lately: I managed to get my hands on a ticket for the ELO gig in April, so I’m listening to a lot of their classic stuff.

I’ve also become a fan of Jess Glynne.

First ever piece of music or art or film or gig that really moved you: Queens Bohemian Rhapsody is still among the most perfectly crafted six minutes of music I’ve ever heard.

I was ten when it came out, so I’ve pretty much grown up with it.

The best gig or show you’ve ever seen: A few years ago, as a Christmas gift, I took the Queen Bee to see Classical Spectacular at the Royal Albert Hall.

A full orchestra, a 150 strong choir, tenors, sopranos and even a couple of cannons!

TV viewing: Apart from being a news & current affairs ‘junkie’, I love crime shows — the Blacklist, Criminal Minds and SVU in particular.

My all time favourite TV programme, however, is Casualty, on BBC.

Name three of your broadcast heroes: Gaybo, the ‘Master’ himself.

Quite simply the most skilled all-round broadcaster of any generation.

Anyone I know who has ever set foot in a studio, uses Gay as ‘the standard’.

His opinions and his attitudes have infuriated many over the years — but in terms of how to prepare and deliver a show for an audience, he is simply peerless.

Another guy who never fails to impress is Channel 4’s John Snow.

And as someone who, in my pirate radio days presented a Top 40 show, I’d have to tip my hat to the late great Casey Kasem.

Nobody ever did a countdown like Casey!

Your best celebrity encounter: I’m not a fan of celebrity culture but my good friend, the singer/songwriter Roy Buckley, invited me in 2014 to introduce the great Phil Coulter on stage, for his Song Collector Sessions.

That takes some beating, in my book.

Most expensive item of clothing you’ve ever bought: I remember buying a black leather jacket in the mid-80s, and wearing it until it literally fell off me. It was the first genuine luxury item of clothing I bought with my own earnings.

It cost £150.

Tech habits: I’m an Apple fan.

I have an iPhone and an iPad Mini. Between them, they’re my office.

I also have two laptops, an android TV box, and goodness knows what else.

Unsung hero: As a member of the Lions Club, I have to at least mention them.

However, there’s an incredible young Corkman, called Garry McCarthy, aka GMC, who really should get some kind of award for his work with the youth of our city and county.

He runs the most extraordinary workshops, teaching youngsters to express themselves and have their say about the issues that concern them, through the medium of hip-hop music. He’s a gifted entertainer, a wonderful teacher and a really fine young man.

You are king for a day — what’s your first decree? Nowhere that could potentially be lived in by an individual or family who is currently homeless shall remain unused.

NAMA properties, disused hotels, vacant buildings — anywhere that somebody could lay their head and be warm and dry, then it shall be so.