Every time Manchester United are mentioned or reference is made to Sir Alex Ferguson, I think of the journalist Gerald Barry. We knew him as Gerry.   At least one generation now working in our reporting trade probably never heard of him. But anyone fortunate enough to share the space with him quickly realised he was exceptional.  Gerry started working in RTÉ during the 1970s when the organisation was in a golden phase. Radio was more powerful than television then, driven by the News Features radio team, started by Mike Burns and Seán Duignan. The new unit was a magnet for talent, the likes of Gerry, Kevin…