Weeknight Late Date

Anorak34c

It has been confirmied today that cathel murray will be taking over late date sunday - thursday from from this sunday night.

Joe_ Public

Anorak34c wrote: »

It has been confirmied today that cathel murray will be taking over late date sunday - thursday from from this sunday night.

Not a bad choice. Liked him on Weekend on One well enough.

Trebor176

I never heard Cathal, but I've heard good things about him, so he'll no doubt be a welcome addition to Late Date. Fiachna will be doing Friday and Saturday nights, but I had guessed that already.

Joe_ Public

He's quiet and unassuming and knows his music. I liked how he'd play tracks for specific reasons and relate interesting and purposeful stories behind them, you knew he'd spent quite some time putting the tracklists together. I didn't think anybody would fill that morning slot after the great and still missed Donal Broughan but I got used to Cathal very quickly. Hope he gets a good long stretch and gets away from the infernal requests business.

Anorak34c

Meh.... It would have been more interesting if they gave cathal murray lunchtime and booted ronan collins to late date,

Oscar Bravo

Cathal Murray the new man on Late Date, Sunday-Thursday, first show on now

ford fiesta

new tagline 'into the music, into the night' for late date. Is the still using the old signature tune?

wonder is he getting abusive texts from the old listeners who adored alf ?

Anorak34c

RTE r1 seems to have an no oap music presenter policy now, maxi, balfe, alfie all shown the door on their 65th birthday.

serfboard

Anorak34c wrote: »

RTE r1 seems to have an no oap music presenter policy now, maxi, balfe, alfie all shown the door on their 65th birthday.

Yeah it's a terrible thing they don't keep on all these pensioners, particularly since there's a dearth of young(er) people ...

You're wrong about Maxi, by the way:

Maxi fronted Risin' Time for more than a decade until October 2011, when she took extended leave from the gruelling show after a severe stomach bug and chronic exhaustion.
Shay Byrne took over the 5.30am-7am show.
But Maxi was kept busy with several TV projects after she confirmed she would not return to early morning radio.

So Maxi voluntarly left the radio before she retired.

In relation to Alf, IMO they should have got rid of him several years before - he was painful.

And RTE still employ two very old presenters - Larry Gogan, who's in his late 70s and Gay Byrne who's in his 80s!

Joe_ Public

Val Joyce and Ciaran MacMathuna were both well past 65 when they finally finished. MacMathuna, I think, was still broadcasting when he died a few years ago. Is Donnchadh O Dulaing still doing the ceili stuff on Saturdays? He must be pushing 90 now. I thought Val could have gone on for another 10 years, I still miss him terribly to this day.

serfboard

Joe_ Public wrote: »

Is Donnchadh O Dulaing still doing the ceili stuff on Saturdays? He must be pushing 90 now.

No, they finally got rid of Donnacha.

And while we're on the topic, Sean "Og" O'Ceallachain was still presenting in his 90s - in the end it got too much for him. I think he dropped the "Og" from his name sometime after his 90th birthday!

Joe_ Public

ford fiesta wrote: »

wonder is he getting abusive texts from the old listeners who adored alf ?

Ha, I'm sure he probably is, just as Alf got them when he first took over the gig. I should know because I sent one myself (mildly critical rather than abusive) which he then proceeded to read out on air. I gradually warmed to him after that.

ford fiesta

Joe_ Public wrote: »

Ha, I'm sure he probably is, just as Alf got them when he first took over the gig. I should know because I sent one myself (mildly critical rather than abusive) which he then proceeded to read out on air. I gradually warmed to him after that.

Well maybe abusive was a strong word!!. Last night Cathal kept putting the listeners at ease saying that Fiachna would be doing the shows at the weekends and then played Friends in Time by the Golden Horde, introducing it by saying how 'we should be all friends here on late date'

I know when Alf retired late last year, Lillian who then filled in, was getting so many texts that she had to tell listeners that the decision for Alf retiring was not hers or RTE's and to only text in requests!

Joe_ Public

ford fiesta wrote: »

Well maybe abusive was a strong word!!. Last night Cathal kept putting the listeners at ease saying that Fiachna would be doing the shows at the weekends and then played Friends in Time by the Golden Horde, introducing it by saying how 'we should be all friends here on late date'

I know when Alf retired late last year, Lillian who then filled in, was getting so many texts that she had to tell listeners that the decision for Alf retiring was not hers or RTE's and to only text in requests!

Ah no, I'd say you are probably right. He has sounded a little bit uncertain, but it's a new role and it takes time to bed in. And that slot is very much built on the (often unspoken) rapport between presenter and audience for whom change puts a little out of whack. No doubt by the time Cathal finds his feet and people begin to warm to him, some genius in Montrose will decide its time for the shephers crook!

Trebor176

The usual 23:25 weekday start seems to be gone out the window now. After sport, it seems to be a bit of music and then The Book On One, rather than starting with the extract and then launching into the music at 23:25 or thereabouts. I'm not a fan of the change, if it's for the foreseeable.

serfboard

Trebor176 wrote: »

The usual 23:25 weekday start seems to be gone out the window now. After sport, it seems to be a bit of music and then The Book On One, rather than starting with the extract and then launching into the music at 23:25 or thereabouts. I'm not a fan of the change, if it's for the foreseeable.

I suppose that as part of Cathal getting the job, it was decided to freshen up the format a little bit to see if it works. Maybe they'll revert if it is found not to be.

I'd agree with you though - I preferred the talk (news->sport->book) followed by music approach than the new one. They had changed it slightly before Cathal started with the Late Date presenter taking over immediately after The Late Debate, and effectively acting as continuity until the programme proper started. I could see the benefit in that alright.

As an aside, I think your man (Marcus Lambe?) is doing a great job on Great Expectations.

dixiefly

Does anyone know why Lilian Smith did not get the job as permanent weeknight or weekend presenter. I accept that Cathal Murray did a good job as presenter of Weekend On One and I believe that he could / should replace John Creedon who could take over a revamped midday slot.

However, maybe its because we are used to her but I feel that Lilian's voice and choice of music is more suited to Late Date than Cathal (and I prefer her to Fiachna for that matter).

I just feel that, unless there was some good reason for it, that Lilian shouldnt have been dropped from the slot. Sexism shouldn't come into it but RTE Radio 1 is dominated by male presenters.

Trebor176

dixiefly wrote: »

Does anyone know why Lilian Smith did not get the job as permanent weeknight or weekend presenter. I accept that Cathal Murray did a good job as presenter of Weekend On One and I believe that he could / should replace John Creedon who could take over a revamped midday slot.

However, maybe its because we are used to her but I feel that Lilian's voice and choice of music is more suited to Late Date than Cathal (and I prefer her to Fiachna for that matter).

I just feel that, unless there was some good reason for it, that Lilian shouldnt have been dropped from the slot. Sexism shouldn't come into it but RTE Radio 1 is dominated by male presenters.

Was she dropped, or did she leave for personal reasons? It has been pointed out that she has a young family, so maybe it's something to do with that. Anyway, I do believe that she is recording another series of Sisters Are Doing It For Themselves with Sandy Harsch, so at least she will still be doing work for RTE.

I do agree that she's great to listen to, and she has a great choice of music. I have always looked forward to her presenting, even though when she was a more permanent fixture, I didn't hear much of Late Date back then anyway. But, I guess we won't hear her on the slot for another good while now that Cathal Murray has taken over, and Fiachna remains in his weekend slot, bar Sundays, which he used to do.

Lilian did get a good run the last few months, to be fair. But, she never knew at the end of her runs when she'd be presenting again, as tends to be the usual case whenever she is finishing up filling in.

P. Breathnach

Trebor176 wrote: »

Was she dropped, or did she leave for personal reasons? ...

In a sense, I think it's neither. She is not on staff, and is contracted in when RTÉ find it convenient. A precarious situation for her. I presume that is why she doesn't complain - because she doesn't want to alienate anybody who might give her a gig.

It might not help her cause that she is based in Cork.

Joe_ Public

I think she's been hard done by alright, though whether that's due to sexism or even placeism, I wouldn't want to say. Generally I think others play better music - or at least music I prefer - but I still like her in that role. She has the kind of low, quiet, dreamy voice that soothes, almost the perfect delivery for that time of night. Conversely, I could not take her on the early morning slot at all.

P. Breathnach

I have to say that I liked Alf's music choices - but not enough to enjoy Alf as a presenter. I like Lilian's voice and manner, but am not quite so keen on her music preferences. On balance, I'd prefer Lilian.

I don't think she is a victim of sexism. She might lose out because of her location. But I think the main reason she didn't get the Late Date job is that she is not on staff. There is an argument to made for using staffers that are already paid rather than contract in an outsider and under-utilising salaried employees.

Joe_ Public

Its funny how these things go. I really disliked Alf at the start, found his manner and style hard work and grating. I recall tuning in one night and he had a punk special going and, while I'm a fan of punk, I found that a bit out there for late night listening. But have to say, I did warm to him gradually and even began to like him towards the end. Those comedy slots were a bit cliched, but I found myself looking forward to them of a night.

I understand the staffing/contract argument. But I thought a lot of those guys, especially the high earners, were contracters rather than staffers these days. RTE is probably over staffed anyway, but perhaps that's an argument for another day.

dixiefly

P. Breathnach wrote: »

I have to say that I liked Alf's music choices - but not enough to enjoy Alf as a presenter. I like Lilian's voice and manner, but am not quite so keen on her music preferences. On balance, I'd prefer Lilian.

I don't think she is a victim of sexism. She might lose out because of her location. But I think the main reason she didn't get the Late Date job is that she is not on staff. There is an argument to made for using staffers that are already paid rather than contract in an outsider and under-utilising salaried employees.

Were Cathal and Fiachna both on staff before taking over their Late Date slots? Lilian was on board before both of these afair.

Surely location couldn't be an issue as Lilian has often broadcast perfectly from the Cork studio.

foxtrot101

dixiefly wrote: »

Does anyone know why Lilian Smith did not get the job as permanent weeknight or weekend presenter. I accept that Cathal Murray did a good job as presenter of Weekend On One and I believe that he could / should replace John Creedon who could take over a revamped midday slot.

However, maybe its because we are used to her but I feel that Lilian's voice and choice of music is more suited to Late Date than Cathal (and I prefer her to Fiachna for that matter).

I just feel that, unless there was some good reason for it, that Lilian shouldnt have been dropped from the slot. Sexism shouldn't come into it but RTE Radio 1 is dominated by male presenters.

I thought at the time it was really petty on RTE's part. There are no ads on Late Date. It doesn't generate any revenue. JNLR figures aren't an issue. Only the presenter is working on the show, no producer. Any savings made by having it based in Montrose instead of Cork would be minimal. She was doing a good job and should have been left there. Is Fiachna Ó Braonáin somebody's mate?

Joe_ Public

dixiefly wrote: »

Were Cathal and Fiachna both on staff before taking over their Late Date slots? Lilian was on board before both of these afair.

Surely location couldn't be an issue as Lilian has often broadcast perfectly from the Cork studio.

Don't know about Cathal, but no way Fiachna is or could ever have been staffed by RTE given how little he does. Isn't he still full time with his band anyway? I think he does a reasonably good job myself, but understand why Lillian Smith might feel a little hard done in the way she's been treated.

dixiefly

I agree, to me looking in from the outside it seems to be an "anyone but Lilian" policy.

Trebor176

As I pointed out in an earlier post, although Lilian hasn't got the Late Date gig, she will still be contributing to RTE with the series Sisters Are Doing It For Themselves with Sandy Harsch.

Location shouldn't be an issue. I heard John Creedon refer to the River Lee earlier, as he was looking out over it. So, I don't see any reason why Lilian broadcasting from Cork being an issue. I can only conclude that she has work on the show I mentioned above, so can't do Late Date.

foxtrot101

Trebor176 wrote: »

Location shouldn't be an issue. I heard John Creedon refer to the River Lee earlier, as he was looking out over it. So, I don't see any reason why Lilian broadcasting from Cork being an issue. I can only conclude that she has work on the show I mentioned above, so can't do Late Date.

She was dropped. Why, I don't know.

Trebor176

I do remember reading that when she did her last show, she left without any fuss being made. I wasn't a listener to Late Date at the time, so I don't know how long in advance her last show was announced, or if it was just announced on the final night, or if at all. It's an awful shame that she was dropped.

Oscar Bravo

Having listened in for some time, years i suppose, Alf was by far the best with the music, ok he waffled a bit but music was top job. Lillian for sure was good to, Fiachna is very quite but im afraid Cathal's voice is the most annoying thing on the radio now at night, like a kid talking into the mic and playing all his own selection.