Andrew Looby (born February 20 1944) is an Irish radio presenter. He was born in Tipperary, Ireland. Looby currently works at Clare FM.

Born in Upstate Tipperary Town in 1944 (during the emergency) to Ma and Pa Looby, Andrew Shostakovitch Looby has lead a colourful life. Newspaper reports in the 'Lisvernane Intelligencer' (slogan: 'All Lisvernane - All The Time') claimed that his mother only got up the duff to secure another ration book.

Award winning Andrew joined Tipperary Mid West Radio in the 1990's where he presented a selection of programs before moving to TippFM Radio in Clonmel to present an afternoon show. His departure from Tipperary Mid West Radio was not without controversy. He had advocated a move to a Zoo radio type format with the music leaning Hot AC. However at a fraught meeting between station staff and Looby he was outvoted by 75 to 1 and the potential to turn the powerhouse that is Tipp Mid West in to a WPLJ clone died. To this day Tipp Mid West has stayed with it's 'Hot Nothin' format.

His TIPP FM programme evoked emotional responses from some of the world's leading radio veterans. John Peel described Andrew Looby as 'wicked to god' whilst Alan Fluff Freeman claimed that Looby was a major influence on his career. Freeman, interviewed by Peadar O'Donnell on TMWR just before his death claimed that Looby was ' a right larry altogether'. Freeman claimed that he had three people in mind everytime he opened the microphone at the BBC - Andrew Looby, Howard Stern and PJ Cummins. Vincent Hanley was unavailable for comment.

After spending almost 18 years in the radio business Andrew is no stranger to awards ceremonies. Just last Tuesday night he watched the 'British Soap Star Awards' on ITV with his wife after they had put the kids to bed. Andre Poulenc, his publicist of many years, claims that Andrew has also videoed the MTV Movie Awards from last Sunday night but just can't figure out where he left the tape.

Whilst with Tipp FM he won one significant award - 'The Jacinta Drohan / Gala Minimarket Customer of the Year Award' succeeding John Keane as the recipient of the award. Looby received a golden trophy and a pack of broken biscuits that Maureen had just swept off the floor.

All this success is not without some misery and Looby encountered emotional turmoil in late 2003 when he walked into his office at Tipp FM only to discover colleague Brian Cleary eating his cheese and onion Tayto's. The ensuing fight left Cleary and Looby hospitalised. Onlookers described the attack as vicious and fierce. Aidan O'Doherty described it as like 'watching a caged lion with a thorn in his horn get trapped in a chip shop'. Cleary was left permamently injured. Following life saving surgery Brian Cleary is now permanently 5feet 3inches and all his trousers need to be cut off at the knees. Both parties sued for damages. Cleary accepted an 'out of the CD drawer' settlement of a 'Style Council' and 'Picturehouse' CD whilst Looby received a big box of tayto's as a peace offering from Brian, just like the one's me Ma buys at Christmas. Pat Murphy and John Keane who ran to the scene to break up the argument are still being treated by psychoanalysts because of the language they heard. Insurance assessors called to the scene after the 'set to' estimated that the damage to the office would run into tens of thousands until someone pointed out that the furniture had been untouched and that all the stuff in Tipp FM was in a cruel state altogether.

In more recent years he has become the Irish High Commissioner to the UN Council for Canadian Singer Songwriters. His work with purveyors of the six string art is renowned in Ottawa. A recent New York Times story stated that as a result of Looby's patronage of Canadian miserabalists the sales of acoustic guitars had risen by 400% in Quebec.

He announced his departure from Tipp FM on Valentines Day 2005 in what was known as 'Valentines Day'. Following his departure local food companies Fair Oak Foods and Manor Produce closed with the loss of 6500 jobs.

Andrew Looby is barred from entering Cuba (the country) and 'The Jasmine Court' Chinese take away in Limerick.

His current show on Clare FM is broadcast 12 - 9 Monday to Friday and is Clare FM's most popular afternoon radio programme on a station called Clare FM.

Mel Karmazin from US Satelite broadcaster Sirius recently confirmed that his company was not in negotiations with Andrew Looby, nor were they ever.

Looby is married to Elaine and together they have two children named Drew and Harry.

The Looby's employ a phalanx of staff at their Tipperary home. At last count they had 25 staff to cater to their every whim, including a crumb catcher.

There was considerable consternation a number of years ago when planning permission was granted. Local councillors believed that they were giving planning permission for a hotel, when in fact it turned out to be a large house.

Such is the size of his property that it was recently revealed that his downstairs toilet is twinned with the City of Chicago.

All residents, staff and horses transport themselves around the house on souped up golf carts. Andrew has vowed to look at more eco friendly means of operating these vehicles and thereby reducing the carbon foot print of the house. This is a topic that keeps him thinking as he drives to Wexford 6 times a week in diesel car.

I don't know where he gets the time.

External links

Clare FM