Musicians Turned Broadcasters on Irish Radio

Declan A Walsh

Musicians Turned Broadcasters on Irish Radio -

I’m resurrecting the thread that I had on the radiowaves forum.

There are quite a few musicians who have become broadcasters full-time or part-time.Here are some examples (most are still on the radio).

Irene McCaubrey, aka Maxi, used to be a regular on Radio1. She used to be a singer with Sheeba and, before that, Maxi,Dick and Twink.

Tom Dunne, presenter on Newstalk and former presenter of Pet Sounds on Today FM, used to be a full-time singer with Something Happens (now very part-time). He first got has big broadcast breakthrough as presenter of Totally Irish on 98FM - anyone remember that program?....

The original presenter of that program was Jim O'Neill, now with Today FM. Of course, he is also well-known for his time with 2FM. At various times, he took breaks from radio to pursue a career as a musician - guitarist I believe.

There is Cormac Battle, former lead vocalist with Wilt and Kerbdog, who is now with 2FM, after doing some work with Phantom during its pirate days.

Philip King, solo singer and former member of Scullion, has done some work for RTE Radio 1.Ronan Collins, who is a regular with Radio 1, used to be a showband drummer and a singer.One of the Hanrahan brothers from Stockton's Wing hosts /hosted (?) some kind of traditional Irish music program on Radio 1.

Paddy Cole has cropped on various stations at different times, including Dublin's Country Mix and, if I'm not mistaken, Radio Ireland (now Today FM). He is a veteran of the showband era and plays clarinet and sings.

Tim Hannigan of 2FM has been (or maybe still is) a dance musician/producer.

Marc Roberts of Eurovision fame hosts /hosted (?) a weekly Saturday show on Galway Bay fm. Also on GBfm, Jimmy Higgins hosts /hosted (?) a 60s show and has been a trumpet player with Horizon and the Black Magic Big Band.

There's Paul McLoone of The Undertones, of course, on Today FM in the evenings. Today FM also has Dave Couse, singer with A House, on Sunday nights hosting his own show.

Peter Devlin of the Devlins hosts his own show on Saturday evenings on Radio Nova.

Any more – especially, those still on Irish radio?

P. Breathnach

Two members of Horslips, Barry Devlin and Jim Lockhart, turn up fairly often on RTE, although they don't have regular slots. Jim Lockhart's day-job is as a producer in RTE.

P. Breathnach

Another comes to mind: Kieran Hanrahan, host of Céilí House, is a traditional musician.

DownBeaten

Many of the Lyric presenters are also musicians. Ellen Cranitch, Liz Nolan, John Kelly to name just a few.

He-that-shall-remain-nameless of morning infamy certainly doesn't qualify.

roy rodgers

Dave couse of a house does a slot with today fm and I've also head john spillane on RNG a couple of times

trad

Ronan Collins was a drummer - does that count?

John Creedon has been known to play the odd trad tune

Maritn Donohoe is a box player and presenter on Northern Sound

Peadar O Riada presents on RnG

It's a bit like retired cyclists or footballers becoming commentators, they have an excellent insight into the music

jossys_giants

Ash Keating from the frank and walters has a show on red fm

Patrick Freyne from NPB does a tv type slot on today fm

washiskin

I think having Ciaran Hanrahan at the helm of Céilí House is to the benefit of the show. First off I love his voice & secondly his wealth of knowledge on the craft, tradition and history of the players is amazing.

Better him than some unfunny knows-feic-all "comedian" blathering on like it's a showcase. :rolleyes:

Ronan Collins is still gigging around with his Showband Years band.

Greyham

trad wrote: »

It's a bit like retired cyclists or footballers becoming commentators, they have an excellent insight into the music

Exactly, sometimes people resent musicians getting shows (they do it on the satellite channels in the US a lot) but it really does provide industry experience and insight that others might not have

Radio5

Weren't some ex-Westlife members presenting some show on 2FM at some stage?Not sure who, they all seemed the same to me.

wnolan1992

The only one I know is Paddy McKenna. 2FM presenter with Ruth Scott, lead singer in the band Storyfold (Delphine Wakes is probably their most well known song, I also quite like The Sweetest Silence myself)

bureau2009

One of the Hothouse Flowers works from time to time on RTE Radio 1 and Today FM - Fiachna O'Braonain.

Twink - of Maxi, Dick & Twink fame! - did a short series on Radio 1 a long time ago. She was quite good - she sure knows how to talk!

Charlie McGettigan of Eurovision fame did some shows on Radio 1.

And Eileen Reid - showband veteran from Eileen Reid and the Cadets did a few shows on Radio 1.

squonk

Clare FM have a big lineup of traditional musicians for their Mon-Fri Traditional show, The West Wind.

Ronan Burke, Joan Hanrahan, Claire Keville & Eoin O'Neill. I'm missing a presenter.

All shows are excellent, made all the better by the presenter's knowledge of their subject. You really benefit from them being musicians themselves.

paulbok

Yer one from Ham Sandwich used to fill in on Phantom before the last cull

Declan A Walsh

Thanks for the additions. I'm laughing away to myself because a number of posters are giving examples of presenters that I already referred to in my original post! Have another look!! Sorry - I know it's childish!

I think the Ham Sandwich singer is Niamh.

A poster referred to Charlie McGettigan, Eurovision winner. His lead singing buddy from that time - Paul Harrington - used to present a "Music from the Movies" show on Lite FM/Q102.

Red Fred

Paul Harrington presents weekend breakfast on Sunshine 106.8

Aonghus MacAnally was lead guitarist with the band mushroom and also had his own band. He used to produce and occasionally present "Mooney" and now regularly covers on Late Date on RTE1

armchair fusilier

Neil Toner - Roots Freeway on RTE Radio 1.

Jack L and Julie Feeney presented a 26 part series for Lyric fm which was later aired on RTE Radio 1 - High Fidelity: A Century of Recorded Song.

trad

I'm waiting for the "Jedward" contribution

Greyham

wnolan1992 wrote: »

The only one I know is Paddy McKenna. 2FM presenter with Ruth Scott, lead singer in the band Storyfold

Yea but is he not kind of doing the two simultaneously?

Like is he not a broadcaster by trade anyway as opposed to getting a job purely because of being in a band?

He's also a good solid broadcaster