RIP: Longford mourns death of legendary magician, newspaper editor and hypnotherapist Derek Cobbe

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The late Derek Cobbe, who once said that ‘being a magician could be very handy when you’re running a local newspaper’, has been remembered as ‘a consummate newspaper man’. READ MORE BELOW PHOTO

Also read: Longford's Derek Cobbe in tribute to the late Gay Byrne

Derek, of Gurteenorna, Longford and formerly of Rialto, Dublin, was a former editor of the Longford Leader and subsequently was proprietor and editor of the Longford News. 

Derek, who died on Friday, January 30, 2026  following a prolonged illness, was part of many families’ everyday life through his work as ‘Uncle Larry’ over several decades. 

He also practised as a consultant hypnotherapist and served the community as a Commissioner for Oaths and Peace Commissioner.

Also read: A National Treasure: Longford journalist Derek Cobbe recounts fascinating story behind rare 'Ryan's Daughter' Guinness bottle

Paying tribute Senator Joe Flaherty described Derek as ‘arguably the greatest media, marketing and PR mind that Longford ever knew and one of the best in the world’.

Senator Flaherty said of the late Derek. He was ‘a consummate newspaper man, he edited the Longford Leader and later established the Longford News as one of the most innovative regional newspapers of the day’.

Senator Flaherty, who is also a former editor of the Longford Leader, added, “But there were so many facets to the man. He launched the famed Uncle Larry children’s page which went on to be the longest running children’s page in a newspaper worldwide. He was also a consultant hypnotherapist and helped thousands to lose weight and stop smoking.

“One of his great passions was the circus and he managed two well known Irish circus families from his quiet and unassuming Earl Street office.

“He helped develop and inspire some of Ireland’s best reporters – Stephen Collins, John Donlon and Paul Williams amongst them. The media was a natural amphitheatre for him and he was equally at home in the newsroom or on one of his several Late Late Show experiences with the Gay Byrne.”

The late Gay Byrne and Derek G Cobbe ‘grew up as neighbour’s children in Rialto’. Their paths crossed on many occasions at various charity concerts in parochial halls and theatres around the city with Derek recalling, “Gay was a very popular compere. I was a young teenage magician using the stage name ‘Zonda’.” 

Derek previously explained, “I appeared a number of times on ‘Telefis Eireann’ as a young magician, in the early days of the national television service, but never on the Late Late Show - well, that was until one day, when Bridget Ruane, a researcher from the show, rang me at the Longford News to say that Gay had been watching my progress in the provincial newspaper business, at the Longford Leader and the Longford News, and he was wondering was I still a magician!

“My days of magic were long over, although being a magician could be very handy sometimes, especially when you’re running a local newspaper!”

Never one to miss an opportunity, Derek outlined, “I was starting off a badge business in Longford, and when on air, I produced a Longford News badge for Gay to wear, he refused to put it on - but laughed with the refusal and that took the sting out of it!”

Derek had two further Late Late Show appearances in Gay’s time and they kept in touch. 

Derek, in his own words, “When I presented stage shows at Coole Hall for Fr Sean Slattery’s Boherquill Parish fundraising efforts, and at the new Ardagh Community Centre, Gay came down for me and performed on stage. Apart from the annual Rose of Tralee in Kerry, and the Housewife of the Year, he seldom appeared on stage in those days, but he did for me and the audiences loved him.

“When Eugene Prunty opened his ‘Stage Door Restaurant’ on Killashee Street, he thought it would be nice to have autographed photos of various TV and stage stars on the walls, and he asked if I could help out. Gay was first on my list and first to oblige with a big signed photo, wishing Eugene all the best at the Stage Door.

“A few years ago, when sending Gay his Christmas card, I included an old copy of Vincent Gill’s Longford News. He was fascinated by it and read articles from the paper over the air, much to the enjoyment and amusement of his Lyric FM listeners.”

Indeed, Derek’s brilliantly produced Christmas cards were much anticipated every year and the pages within contained a treasure trove of wonderful memories. 

Expressing sympathy, Humans of Longford curator Tiernan Dolan, remembered Derek’s ‘Uncle Larry Page’ which was legendary and a huge hit with generations of children across counties Longford and Leitrim. Tiernan wrote, “Uncle Larry provided a weekly, magical rainbow for hundreds of Longford children.” 

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The late Derek Grante Cobbe was predeceased by his parents David and Ada and his brother Stuart (Sandy) and he is survived by his brother Ivan (Maria).

He will be deeply missed by Sarah Strange (Aaron) and Noel Strange Jnr. (Linda) and by their parents Noel and Carmel Strange, who were family to him in every meaningful sense. Held in great affection by Aoife, Róisín and Méabh Quinn and by Ellie and Leo Strange, who cherished him as a grandparent.

He will be sadly missed by the Turner family and his lifelong friends in the circus world: Mona, Jacqueline, Stephen, John and Tommy Courtney and Peggy and Conor Kelly and his close neighbours Eithne and Dick Rafferty and many local friends.

His removal takes place to Saint John’s Church, Battery Road, Longford on Monday evening, February 2 arriving at 7:30pm. 

Funeral service will take place in Saint John’s Church, Battery Road, Longford, on Tuesday, February 3 at 12 noon, followed by burial in Saint Paul’s Church Cemetery, Newtownforbes. House Private Please.