RTE Gold discussion thread

odyssey06

I would say reluctant to promote it over their ad supported channels ... and even may be reluctant they could get backlash from competing commercial stations.

its_steve116

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123647408#Comment_123647408

...or Sananda Maitreya as he now prefers to be known.

Interesting life story of his of recent years, he seems to have Tyler Durden syndrome. He claims TTD died in the late 80s and was reborn as a different person.

GSF

So Aidan Leonard is leaving Rte Gold next weekend

ford fiesta

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123655307#Comment_123655307

I heard this from someone a few weeks back.

Aidan is retiring from RTE.

He joined RTE in spring 1992.

I wonder who will take over as the Head of RTE Gold?

GSF

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123655413#Comment_123655413

Michael Cahill would be an obvious choice?

ford fiesta

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123655625#Comment_123655625

as long as the diverse and varied playlist remains on presenter and automated shows…… and not the usual predictable music that michael plays.

Perhaps amanda fennelly?

Wonder what shows will replace Aidan's saturday and sunday shows ?

GSF

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123655671#Comment_123655671

I’m sure Rte need to shunt some older producers over from 2fm so putting one on Gold would be the obvious choice. 2fm is still so over staffed that they will have plenty of choices

Declan A Walsh

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123655307#Comment_123655307

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123655413#Comment_123655413

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123655700#Comment_123655700

Aidan Leonard actually first got involved with RTE in late 1988, presenting on 2FM. This has been mentioned in previous posts or threads. He left during 1989 to go to the new licensed commercial station Capital Radio (now called FM104). During 1991, Aidan moved to the then national commercial station Century Radio, and was there when it suddenly shut down in November that year. Aidan returned to radio (and 2FM) in early 1992.

Are there any current presenters on 2FM that would fit the bill for RTE Gold? Maybe they could look at music presenters on Radio 1, such as John Creedon for example. Remember that Ronan Collins had been with Radio 1 before he came to RTE Gold. Of course some of the presenters on RTE Gold were not previously presenters on RTE at all so that is another angle worth exploring.

GSF

He’s mainly in a management role with 2 shows at weekends being voice tracked in probably 1-2 hours. I’m not sure they’d replace him with John Creedon!

Declan A Walsh

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123656024#Comment_123656024

Maybe someone who would like a very part-time gig as presenter could replace Aidan Leonard as presenter. I forgot about his more onerous position as Head of RTE Gold. That would have to be replaced by someone else that would work with RTE Gold in a fulltime capacity. Michael Cahill was a name mentioned in another post above.

ford fiesta

I was aware Aidan was on 2FM in 88 / 89 and this was mentioned by Will on the breakfast show this morning when he acknowledged Aidan's departure, however I cannot seem to recall him on 2FM. When I think of Aidan I always think of Spring 1992 and remember listening to his 'first' show.

I have looked through few RTE Guide schedules (on the "Classic RTE Guides" facebook page) from late 1988 / the first half of 1989 - no mention of Aidan on 2FM. What slot did he present?. I would assume weekends mornings / afternoons or overnights.

There was a show called New Voices on Saturday mornings around this period, did he feature on this on a few occasions?

This would have been the era when ex-pirates were briefly on the station such as Scott Williams, Nails Mahoney, Philip Cawley and for around 1.5 years Colm Hayes.

EDIT: Declan Meehan also returned briefly to 2FM in 1989.

Declan A Walsh

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123656175#Comment_123656175

There is a post somewhere which suggests that Aidan did some night time slots, but I first heard him on 2FM on a weekend in that period. I think it possibly was the New Voices slot. When Aidan went to Capital Radio, he would have known some of its presenters from his last pirate Q102/SuperQ, such as Scott Williams, Dave Kelly, Chris Barry, Liam Coburn, Jason Maine, Al Dunne and possibly Colm Hayes.

RTE Gold has a number of presenters that started on pirate radio. Besides Aidan, they include Ronan Collins, Dave Fanning, Eric Moore, Michael Cahill and Al Dunne. If you include past presenters of RTE Gold, that list would include John Clarke, Colm Hayes, Mike Maloney and Karl Tsignidos.

GSF

RTE must know who is replacing him - presumably he is taking the voluntary redundancy package

ford fiesta

I get the feeling it will be an existing RTE Gold staffer.

Whoever it is as long as the excellent wide playlist and presenter line-up is kept - basically that they don't ruin the station.

It will be sad to see Aidan depart, end of an era. A solid presenter.

ZaK23-54

Aidan made an impression on Irish Radio.

Well done !!

GSF

Funny that there is nothing about it on RadioToday website

cml387

Does anyone know what version of "A Hard Day's Night" Ronan played yesterday (23rd)? It definitely wasn't the single/album version.

ford fiesta

Will's classic countdown was the singles from this week in 1992.

He played Was (Not Was) "Shake your head" with vocals by Kim basinger and Ozzy osbourne, no mention by Will of Ozzy's recent passing - so definitely the show was recorded over a week ago !!

Will is off for the next 2 weeks on breakfast and Al Dunne will be filling in, John Kenny will be filling in on the final day Monday 11th August.

Incidentally, no mention from Micky Mac acknowledging Aidan's departure at the end of his 70s show this morning where he "hands over" to Aidan at 10am. - probably recorded a few weeks ago.

Aidan is still listed on the schedule for the next few weekends - no announcement yet on who will be taking over his slots or who will be the new Head of RTE Gold (if this is actually still going to be a job for someone).

The Top 100 this bank holiday Monday 4th August is Top 100 Yacht Rock songs - this I am looking forward to.

GSF

Pretty sure the same Classic Countdowns come around every year at the same time.

ford fiesta

Aidan's final show on now and he is live

GSF

strong suggestion that he will reappear somewhere again soon either Rte or elsewhere

ZaK23-54

Any news who is on the Juke Box next Sunday..?

ford fiesta

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123675226#Comment_123675226

Where would Aidan fit in on RTE if he returned?. I would love to hear Aidan on RTE again, but I can't see it happening. Radio 1 for example seem to get presenters aged under 45 (especially females) to cover their music shows when the main presenter is off. Most of these do not have a background in radio presenting and the ex-RTE (or non-RTE) experienced presenters we knew from the 80s and 90s don't get a look in.

I have only known Aidan on RTE, so it would be strange hearing him on independent stations such as Classic Hits or Nova should secure some cover work or is given his own show.

Declan A Walsh

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123677072#Comment_123677072

Aidan Leonard was with Capital Radio (now FM104) from 1989 to 1991, and then with Century Radio from April/May 1991 to November 1991 when it was abruptly shut down. After a stint in pest control (!), Aidan returned in early 1992 to 2FM (and RTE), where he had been briefly before Capital Radio. It is true that he has been part of the RTE organisation for a long time now - 33½ years unbroken service.

GSF

I wouldn’t rule out him doing either the odd cover slot or doing something on say Classic Hits. Could easily see him turn up on Christmas FM too

ford fiesta

Aidan also used to be a continuity announcer on RTE TV in the early - mid 90s while on 2FM, in the days where the announcer was on camera, not just audio.

Gerry Wilson also 2FM, used to do TV continuity.

GSF

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123676991#Comment_123676991

Michael Cahill doing both weekend morning shows with Amanda Fennelly taking Cahill’s Sunday afternoon show

ford fiesta

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123678504#Comment_123678504

hopefully this isn't a permanent situation

ford fiesta

It's 10 years (and one week ago) since it was announced that Aidan's predecessor John Clarke finished up with RTE Gold and retired from RTE after 30 years.

From what I recall John departed RTE quietly with Larry taking over the jukebox in the interim and then Colm Hayes in Dec 2015 while also presenting 2FM weekend breakfast !!

Colm left RTE 7 months later. Hard to believe he was with RTE for 10 years (not including his late 80s stint).

Aidan has been presenter of the jukebox since and I think it was Mike Moloney who covered for Aidan while he was out sick in 2019 for a year or so.

Declan A Walsh

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123682041#Comment_123682041

John Clarke did not retire straight away as he was with Radio Nova after RTE. It must have been strange for him to move to the commercial sector at the time after 30 years in the RTE organisation (mainly 2FM). John has kept his hand in radio with online stations since retiring. Colm Hayes, who is some years younger than John, is of course still an active player in radio since leaving RTE: first with Radio Nova and now with its sister station Classic Hits.