Adrian central to success of sports media platform

His dulcet tones familiar to many on the numerous Off The Ball (OTB) streaming platforms, Athlone native Adrian Barry is fast approaching his one-year anniversary as Managing Editor with the leading sports media brand.

Adrian has been a focal member of the company since his appointment as OTB Sports Operations Director in February 2018, graduating to his current role in November of last year.

His sports journalism career to date, he said, has been filled with "sliding door" moments and it is one which has been a source of much fulfilment.

With career progression comes more responsibility and in his capacity as OTB Managing Editor his aim is to "get the best" from the colleagues with whom he works on a daily basis.

"As Managing Editor you're continuously mentoring and guiding your colleagues so they can perform to their capabilities. I am there as a support for them and always available for words of advice when needed," Adrian said.

The OTB sports media brand continues to grow in popularity offering listenership content on numerous streaming platforms.

"There is a serious appetite for sports content. It can provide a form of escapism from the harsh news that we are hearing continuously. We are on air five nights weekly and with radio programmes on Saturday and Sunday we have created a space for our listenership to grow," Adrian said.

While OTB has created a multi-platform dynamic, Adrian, who is the son of the late Sean and Mary Barry, said it is all about diversification and ensuring the most interesting and relevant content is provided for the listeners.

Although he primarily works in a managerial capacity, Adrian sits in behind the microphone on a Sunday afternoon where he holds discourse with fellow journalists in the weekend paper review slot.

"Although I work more behind the scenes these times, going live on Sunday afternoon allows me the opportunity to return to sports presenting mode. Once that red light goes on in studio, it's a trigger for calmness and I find the experience to be thoroughly relaxing," Adrian said.

That calmness comes from a sports journalism career spanning four decades having 'cut his teeth' with Midlands 103 as anchor of the radio station's weekend sports programme, getting his "big break" with FM104 in Dublin in 2003 as a full time sports anchor and reporter.

"At that time FM104 was investing in sports journalism and sending their reporters to the major international games in Dublin which allowed me the opportunity to become more comfortable and confident in such an environment," Adrian said.

February 2007 saw Adrian take up the role of breakfast sports anchor and desk editor with 98FM. During his time with the company, he presented at Ireland's Six Nations games and regularly reported from Croke Park on Dublin's senior football championship fixtures.

His progression continued when he took up a role with Setanta Sports in 2010. There he produced the iTalk Sport weekly sports debate show working in tandem with host Eoin McDevitt and renowned sports journalist Paul Kimmage gaining "invaluable experience" in the role.

It was during his time working with Setanta Sports that Adrian met Ger Gilroy. That working relationship flourished and ultimately was the rock on which OTB Sports was founded.

"We saw a gap in the market for a 24/7 sports media platform and that is how OTB Sports evolved," Adrian said.

Gilroy fills the dual role of chief sports anchor and Managing Editor of the OTB breakfast show which is approaching its eighth anniversary. On air from 7am-10am daily, it has been a success for the sports media company.

"We discovered through the years that the public would welcome a sports conversation in the morning. As it was, sports news was piecemeal at that hour of the day. We could light a furnace with the potential to burn until our evening programme started. Thankfully, the breakfast show has been extremely successful," Adrian added.

Podcasts have played a central part in the OTB journey and Adrian lauded the support of the media brand's sponsors whose financial contributions have enabled the company to make engaging content across numerous sporting disciplines.

"Our podcasts bring in a wider audience. Brands often approach OTB and we discuss what opportunities there might be to promote both companies in a multi-platform setting. Ultimately, it's the sponsors who sustain OTB, without whom we would not be able to bring our sports journalism ideas to reality," Adrian said.

Having had such a successful sports journalism career to date, Adrian has no preference for his producer or presenting roles, but the latter has afforded him the opportunity to interview some sporting luminaries on his journey.

He described one particular interview with Chris Eubank as a "wild ride".

"Eubank just landed into Dublin and I was offered the opportunity to meet and interview him. I put some research into the interview but in typical Eubank fashion he just went off in a number of different directions during the interview. Ultimately I was there as a platform for him to tell his story so I waited for the 'nuggets' and followed his direction. You can do all the preparation deemed necessary for an interview but you must also be aware when to ditch that research when necessary," Adrian added.

Another interview which still resonates with Adrian is one with former Republic of Ireland senior football captain Kenny Cunningham.

"We were speaking about sports memorabilia in studio one say and Kenny just opened up about the regrets of his professional career. He said he had all his sporting possessions in a back bag in the attic of his home yet he never once brought himself to look at the memorabilia. Kenny said he had massive regrets about his playing days. I couldn't understand his thinking at all and told him that he had lived the dream of so many schoolboys growing up in Ireland," Adrian stated.

Similar to the interview with Eubank, preparation for the discussion with Cunningham was pre-planned but it diverged into a "25 minute conversation on his career regrets - it was astonishing content".

Adrian said there remains an onus on sports journalists to pose thought-provoking questions to their interviewees and not just "be their friend".

"Journalists should not just give their opinion on a particular issue. Use your time to put forward questions which you feel will 'hit the mark'. You are the connection between the interviewee and your audience. Too many footballers, in particular, take an affront to being asked awkward questions. Journalists must push back on all these commonly used clichés that are a regular part of interviews. They are becoming bland and boring," Adrian said.

Sport pulses through Adrian's veins and in his spare time "when it allows", he is to be found in Kilmacud Crokes GAA where he acts as hurling lead for the club's under-9 group with whom his son Con (8) plays. The Mount Merrion resident also has daughter Annie (6) and son Guy (3) with his wife Wing.

"Overseeing 140 players at that age group comes with layers of logistical mayhem but ultimately it is a fulfilling experience," Adrian added.

As he looks towards the future, Adrian one again references those "sliding door" moments.

"Jobs in the sports journalism industry were not as plentiful when I was looking to get into the media and there were always opportunities in different fields of work, but opportunities fell my way at the right time in my life. Thankfully, I was able to grasp those chances when they arose and have enjoyed a rewarding and fulfilling career to date," Adrian concluded.