Radio presenter deaths

ATC110

I was shocked to hear of the sudden death of Marian Finucane; this was soon replaced with feelings of dread over the inevitable coverage overkill by RTE Radio One.

There was effectively a news blackout from 5pm Thursday onwards.

Marian seemed to be a thoroughly good person but was a woeful presenter and should have been put out to grass years ago - she was satire gold.

To listen to learned people queuing up to utter gushing plaudits was bizarre and downright annoying - were they trying to be ironic? Ergo for Gay Byrne and Gerry Ryan.

Why can't these deaths just be announced in the news bulletins rather than this navel gazing indulgence by RTE about its own untalented presenters?

hawley

ATC110 wrote: »

I was shocked to hear of the sudden death of Marian Finucane; this was soon replaced with feelings of dread over the inevitable coverage overkill by RTE Radio One.

There was effectively a news blackout from 5pm Thursday onwards.

Marian seemed to be a thoroughly good person but was a woeful presenter and should have been put out to grass years ago - she was satire gold.

To listen to learned people queuing up to utter gushing plaudits was bizarre and downright annoying - were they trying to be ironic? Ergo for Gay Byrne and Gerry Ryan.

Why can't these deaths just be announced in the news bulletins rather than this navel gazing indulgence by RTE about its own untalented presenters?

She was very popular with the public and a lot of people are upset about her passing. She has been on RTE for over 45 years so giving her some recognition is well deserved in my opinion. She helped change the country. Without her and people such as Mary Robinson and Nell McCafferty we'd still be living in an oppressive Gilead type society. Is her funeral being broadcasted live?

ATC110

hawley wrote: »

She was very popular with the public and a lot of people are upset about her passing. She has been on RTE for over 45 years so giving her some recognition is well deserved in my opinion. She helped change the country. Without her and people such as Mary Robinson and Nell McCafferty we'd still be living in an oppressive Gilead type society. Is her funeral being broadcasted live?

Point taken but mention it in a news bulletin and do a ten minute tribute but leave the rest to the Sunday newspaper magazines

Mysterypunter

She went from overpaid part time has been to iconic Queen of the airwaves as soon as she died, sad loss, RIP

robertpatterson

hawley wrote: »

She was very popular with the public and a lot of people are upset about her passing. She has been on RTE for over 45 years so giving her some recognition is well deserved in my opinion. She helped change the country. Without her and people such as Mary Robinson and Nell McCafferty we'd still be living in an oppressive Gilead type society. Is her funeral being broadcasted live?

You were doing so well until you mentioned Mary Robinson...

end of the road

she was a long serving, very popular, well respected, talented in a number of people's opinion, broadcaster, therefore she was going to get quite a bit of coverage.
if you are unhappy with the amount of coverage she is getting, then you can of course not listen, that is all that can really be said tbh.

Comhrá

All I can add is that I listen to RTE Radio 1 mostly and I did enjoy Marian's weekend broadcasts. She had a fairly unorthodox style but I thought she was a far far better interviewer/presenter than any of the current bunch with the possible exception of Pat Kenny and Sean O'Rourke.

Whatever about the big salaries (fair play to them if they were able to negotiate them) she was very talented and seemed a nice person without any air of self-importance that I could discern anyway. May she rest in peace.

Larbre34

Have you an alibi for yesterday OP?

Riskymove

Larbre34 wrote: »

Have you an alibi for yesterday OP?

Has Joe Duffy?
FBI required

robo

Riskymove wrote: »

Has Joe Duffy?
FBI required

I really think Duffy should go visit Trump - he tweeted again this morning about visiting Larry recently, as he did with Gay, Brendan Grace (I know he is not a DJ) and seeing Marian recently too :rolleyes:

hawley

Marian's funeral is on RTE News Now at twelve.

robo

robo wrote: »

I really think Duffy should go visit Trump - he tweeted again this morning about visiting Larry recently, as he did with Gay, Brendan Grace (I know he is not a DJ) and seeing Marian recently too :rolleyes:

He tweeted a picture of Marian photographed beside his book the other day. No doubt he’ll associate Larry in some way with it, now that his death is news.

Odyssey 2005

[Deleted User] wrote: »

He tweeted a picture of Marian photographed beside his book the other day. No doubt he’ll associate Larry in some way with it, now that his death is news.

All I can say is I hope the cnut never visits me

nedkelly123

RTE are really going overboard with the cutbacks

NIMAN

Thats more material for this weeks LLS.

Have police spoke to Tubs yet?

mikeym

People get old.

And people die unfortunately.

Harry Palmr

A whole generation are heading for their exits be it retired or dying - Ronan Collins, Pat Kenny, Brendan Balfe, John Bowman and few more. For those of us who grew up with them it'll all seem a little bit strange. Who are these 40-somethings on the radio?!

BarryD2

What the recent deaths of Gaybo, Marian and Larry show is that some of these radio presenters just hang on too long. All had the 'bus pass' and in case of Gaybo & Larry for a good many years, yet still had their hand in the game. Everyone has their day and should recognise the time to move on and retire gracefully.

BarryD2

BarryD2 wrote: »

Everyone has their day and should recognise the time to move on and retire gracefully.

And isn’t the best person to determine when they have ”had their day” the person themselves?

Max Headroom

Deleted User wrote: »

And isn’t the best person to determine when they have ”had their day” the person themselves?

Not if youre Colm Hayes.........;)

irs

The tributes are fine up to a point but the claims that certain presenters transformed Ireland are way over the top.

Max Headroom

irs wrote: »

The tributes are fine up to a point but the claims that certain presenters transformed Ireland are way over the top.

Think you're reading too much into it tbh..a lot of DJ's made their name by being brave and not playing the normal stuff....unlike today where they play what they're told...JohnPeel, Bob Harris, ..we had/have Pat James..the man that introduced U2 to us (not Dave Fanning)....We all know Larry just loved music..all types..

fermanagh_man

A very well known radio presenter from Northern Ireland passed away yesterday
Very sad story

https://m.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/fans-flood-airwaves-paying-tribute-to-one-off-stephen-clements-on-radio-ulster-show-38844702.html

end of the road

BarryD2 wrote: »

What the recent deaths of Gaybo, Marian and Larry show is that some of these radio presenters just hang on too long. All had the 'bus pass' and in case of Gaybo & Larry for a good many years, yet still had their hand in the game. Everyone has their day and should recognise the time to move on and retire gracefully.

agest guff.
they delivered an audience and that is the name of the game and is all that matters.
it's brilliant they stayed in the game and hung on as long as they did, that is how it's done where the state broadcaster is concerned and rightly so.
it's not a presenter's job to recognise anything, move on or retire gracefully to suit agist types, in fact that is why they are right to stay as long as they can, if the broadcaster want them gone, then that is their call, as long as they follow the law.
these 3 presenters had their day right to the end, modern, up to date and relevant to their audience.
rip.

irs wrote: »

The tributes are fine up to a point but the claims that certain presenters transformed Ireland are way over the top.

they aren't over the top as they are accurate.

BarryD2

Deleted User wrote: »

And isn’t the best person to determine when they have ”had their day” the person themselves?

That's fine if they run their own business, are self employed like many farmers etc., work until you drop.

But I firmly believe that if you work as an employee for a private company or as a public servant and/or have a contract funded by the public purse that you should retire at the prescribed time and give someone else a go.

In the news tonight that RTE were found against in a case involving a TV producer I think who had reached retirement age and who was let go for what was stated as promotion of a younger employee. I hope they appeal this.

I say this as someone at the wrong end of my 50s and with adult children looking to make their way in the world. Every dog has his day.

SmartinMartin

De Grim Reaper of de Peepul

end of the road

BarryD2 wrote: »

That's fine if they run their own business, are self employed like many farmers etc., work until you drop.

no it's fine full stop, while an individual continues to deliver what is required of them.
if they don't, there are processes and in certain jobs a medical, which will determine whether one is fit to continue their work.

BarryD2 wrote: »

But I firmly believe that if you work as an employee for a private company or as a public servant and/or have a contract funded by the public purse that you should retire at the prescribed time and give someone else a go.

not ones job to do that, as already said.
the someone else is not entitled to a job, and if the existing, more experienced operator of the job is delivering what is required and the employer wants them then quite rightly they will be going nowhere.
the existing operator of the job owes someone else nothing, and they rightly have no obligation to give up to give it to someone else.

BarryD2 wrote: »

In the news tonight that RTE were found against in a case involving a TV producer I think who had reached retirement age and who was let go for what was stated as promotion of a younger employee. I hope they appeal this.

if they were found against, then my gut instinct would suggest that it would be for good reason.

BarryD2 wrote: »

I say this as someone at the wrong end of my 50s and with adult children looking to make their way in the world. Every dog has his day.

irrelevant.
in rte, every dog has their day when they no longer deliver what is required.
experienced broadcasters who bring in the audience and deliver what is required, will quite rightly be kept as long as they continue to do what is required of them, and that is how it should be.

fritzelly

ATC110 wrote: »

I was shocked to hear of the sudden death of Marian Finucane; this was soon replaced with feelings of dread over the inevitable coverage overkill by RTE Radio One.

There was effectively a news blackout from 5pm Thursday onwards.

Marian seemed to be a thoroughly good person but was a woeful presenter and should have been put out to grass years ago - she was satire gold.

To listen to learned people queuing up to utter gushing plaudits was bizarre and downright annoying - were they trying to be ironic? Ergo for Gay Byrne and Gerry Ryan.

Why can't these deaths just be announced in the news bulletins rather than this navel gazing indulgence by RTE about its own untalented presenters?

It's Ireland's morbid fascination with death or maybe that is something that is propogated by RTE
Anywhere else in the world you get a couple of minutes on the news - RTE (especially with their own - no self interests here...) pump the crap out of it on live TV

BarryD2

end of the road wrote: »

no it's fine full stop, while an individual continues to deliver what is required of them.

I simply don't agree, it has to be for the greater benefit of society, institutions and companies that employees pass on their skills and retire at prescribed age. Of relevance to this thread, is that it's reported that one of the grounds quoted in the case is that RTE allowed some employees inc radio presenters to work well past retirement age. And that would include Larry Gogan and Gay Byrne, no disrespect to Larry but having a man who was in his 80s spinning discs on 2FM, a station supposedly geared towards a demographic a fraction of that age was just plain mad.

Naggdefy

70 would be a fair cut off point. I think this ethos of having octogenarians working in rte, while they wouldn't be in any other public sector job, is partly responsible for rte's feeling of entitlement and privilege. larry Gogan was an absolute gent. But would a competent County Chief Executive Officer be allowed stay on working into his 80s if he was a gentleman and still competent at his/her work?


Like the rest of us they can pursue hobbies in retirement. It's different for family run businesses, farming.

You have to create opportunites for younger people coming through also. There are plenty of occasions when older presenters can be guests on talk shows etc.

JoeA3

Larry was already in his 40's when 2FM (Radio 2) started! Imagine a 40+ year old getting a gig on the likes of iRadio / Spin SW today...

And he managed to ride it out for 40 years. More power to him.

Strumms

Deleted User wrote: »

De Grim Reaper of de Peepul

Are ya dead ?ahh yeah, listen very good, yeah yeah yeah, is it collllld down there ? Go on, yeahhh ?

end of the road

BarryD2 wrote: »

I simply don't agree, it has to be for the greater benefit of society, institutions and companies that employees pass on their skills and retire at prescribed age. Of relevance to this thread, is that it's reported that one of the grounds quoted in the case is that RTE allowed some employees inc radio presenters to work well past retirement age. And that would include Larry Gogan and Gay Byrne, no disrespect to Larry but having a man who was in his 80s spinning discs on 2FM, a station supposedly geared towards a demographic a fraction of that age was just plain mad.

agism is never a benefit to society.
broadcasters are correct to keep experienced content creators while they continue to deliver an audience for their operations, especially when it comes to the state broadcaster.

Naggdefy wrote: »

70 would be a fair cut off point. I think this ethos of having octogenarians working in rte, while they wouldn't be in any other public sector job, is partly responsible for rte's feeling of entitlement and privilege. larry Gogan was an absolute gent. But would a competent County Chief Executive Officer be allowed stay on working into his 80s if he was a gentleman and still competent at his/her work?


Like the rest of us they can pursue hobbies in retirement. It's different for family run businesses, farming.

You have to create opportunites for younger people coming through also. There are plenty of occasions when older presenters can be guests on talk shows etc.

no they can continue to work while they deliver the audience for rte.
the opportunities for younger people coming through will exist when there is a slot available, younger people are not owed anything by a broadcaster, one is only entitled to the ability to work, which the entitlement exists whether older people continue to work or not.

Naggdefy

end of the road wrote: »

no they can continue to work while they deliver the audience for rte.
the opportunities for younger people coming through will exist when there is a slot available, younger people are not owed anything by a broadcaster, one is only entitled to the ability to work, which the entitlement exists whether older people continue to work or not.

Well that's positive aegism. Keep the older people into their 80s and don't give younger broadcasters a go is just as bad. 70 is a fair age for anyone. Also when you think of the money the likes of Marian Finucane was on for a few hours. You'd make a great farmer.. keep the same pigs with their heads in the trough creaming big salaries. They are all replaceable.

Naggdefy

Keeping people on too long is bad in any field. Take sport, Mick O'Dwyer stayed with the tried and trusted Kerry players of the 70s and 80s up to 1989. Kerry had an 11 year gap between all-irelands as a generation of player didn't get blooded. Poor succession management at Man Utd after Ferguson leaves in 2013, On their 4th manager since then.

Pope John Paul II a leader of a church of over a billion people. From 2000-2005 he basically couldn't move or speak with Parkinsons, dies aged 84. Succeeded by 2 elderly men who don't have the energy to sort out the Curia and scandals that have rocked the church. It probably needs a committee of men in their 50s to reform it.

Eamonn DeValera wins a second term as president which takes him right up to his 90th birthday. Blind and partially deaf he was pretty inactive. What good did that do anyone...

rdwight

BarryD2 wrote: »

That's fine if they run their own business, are self employed like many farmers etc., work until you drop.

But I firmly believe that if you work as an employee for a private company or as a public servant and/or have a contract funded by the public purse that you should retire at the prescribed time and give someone else a go.

In the news tonight that RTE were found against in a case involving a TV producer I think who had reached retirement age and who was let go for what was stated as promotion of a younger employee. I hope they appeal this.

I say this as someone at the wrong end of my 50s and with adult children looking to make their way in the world. Every dog has his day.

In its ruling, the WRC noted the significance of the employee in question going from a salary of €100000 to a pension of €1200.

She appears to have worked for RTE for 30 years. Does this mean that (a) RTE have no pension scheme and (b) despite her high earnings she has made no provision for retirement?

end of the road

Naggdefy wrote: »

Well that's positive aegism. Keep the older people into their 80s and don't give younger broadcasters a go is just as bad. 70 is a fair age for anyone. Also when you think of the money the likes of Marian Finucane was on for a few hours. You'd make a great farmer.. keep the same pigs with their heads in the trough creaming big salaries. They are all replaceable.

the talents of mf, gay byrne etc are going to be very hard to replace.
sure, any broadcaster can be replaced with another but broadcasters with exceptional talent will be hard to replace with similar talent. not impossible, but not easy

either.


where broadcasting is concerned, the age the person wishes to retire is the fair age. as long as the broadcaster wishes to keep them and they continue to deliver the audience, that is what ultimately matters.

Naggdefy wrote: »

Keeping people on too long is bad in any field. Take sport, Mick O'Dwyer stayed with the tried and trusted Kerry players of the 70s and 80s up to 1989. Kerry had an 11 year gap between all-irelands as a generation of player didn't get blooded. Poor succession management at Man Utd after Ferguson leaves in 2013, On their 4th manager since then.

Pope John Paul II a leader of a church of over a billion people. From 2000-2005 he basically couldn't move or speak with Parkinsons, dies aged 84. Succeeded by 2 elderly men who don't have the energy to sort out the Curia and scandals that have rocked the church. It probably needs a committee of men in their 50s to reform it.

Eamonn DeValera wins a second term as president which takes him right up to his 90th birthday. Blind and partially deaf he was pretty inactive. What good did that do anyone...

football and the church are not comparable to broadcasting.
Eamonn DeValera was

was voted in as president because it was the will of the people. him being a bit inactive at the end didn't matter, the roll is just a figurehead anyway.

Naggdefy

end of the road wrote: »

the talents of mf, gay byrne etc are going to be very hard to replace.
I'm sure Marian Finucane will be replaced. Both for quality and quantity. 4 hours a week?


where broadcasting is concerned, the age the person wishes to retire is the fair age. as long as the broadcaster wishes to keep them and they continue to deliver the audience, that is what ultimately matters.


Short term gain for long term loss when replacements are expected to fill their shoes with little experience. They should be phased out and a replacement given time to bed in from 68-70. Johnny Giles, Eamonn Dunphy were/are phased out and the younger analysts are being given a chance and well up to task. It's a form of nostalgia thinking presenters of the past were way superior to now. The highlights reel may look good but they had plenty of gaffes too.



football and the church are not comparable to broadcasting.
I think all these areas are comparable. All organisations and institutions go stale without an infusion of young blood. And I think Mary Robinson, Mary McAleese and Michael D were more active in visiting foreign countries, promoting Ireland than Dev was. Yes he was voted in for a second term but the choice was poor. T.F. O'Higgins had even less charisma than Dev and was associated with his uncle's Civil War executions, Kevin O'Higgins. Dev hardly beat much opposition.

Personally I think (and here I go, living in a dreamworld, I know) that a meritocracy is the fairest way - just because you reach the age of (insert here any age that you fancy to suit your particular argument) it doesn't mean you have lost the ability to work any more, or lost your experience, or skills, or knowledge.

People are living longer - when the state pension was introduced in the UK - in 1908 - the retirement age was 70. It was dropped to 65 in 1925 (and the employer and employee started to contribute at this point) Life expectancy in 1910 was around 50 years - it's close to 80 now. Go too far down the road of "clearing people out" at a certain age and we're into Logan's Run or Soylent Green territory. Now, that's showing my age!

end of the road

Naggdefy wrote: »

end of the road wrote: »

the talents of mf, gay byrne etc are going to be very hard to replace.
I'm sure Marian Finucane will be replaced. Both for quality and quantity. 4 hours a week?


where broadcasting is concerned, the age the person wishes to retire is the fair age. as long as the broadcaster wishes to keep them and they continue to deliver the audience, that is what ultimately matters.


Short term gain for long term loss when replacements are expected to fill their shoes with little experience. They should be phased out and a replacement given time to bed in from 68-70. Johnny Giles, Eamonn Dunphy were/are phased out and the younger analysts are being given a chance and well up to task. It's a form of nostalgia thinking presenters of the past were way superior to now. The highlights reel may look good but they had plenty of gaffes too.



football and the church are not comparable to broadcasting.
I think all these areas are comparable. All organisations and institutions go stale without an infusion of young blood. And I think Mary Robinson, Mary McAleese and Michael D were more active in visiting foreign countries, promoting Ireland than Dev was. Yes he was voted in for a second term but the choice was poor. T.F. O'Higgins had even less charisma than Dev and was associated with his uncle's Civil War executions, Kevin O'Higgins. Dev hardly beat much opposition.

long term gain and growth is what broadcasting relies on, hence experienced broadcasters being kept for as long as possible. it insures experience and the audience remains and grows.
for rte that isn't going to change as more is expected from them compared to other broadcasters, in terms of their current affairs output at least.
an experienced broadcaster is not going to be replaced with someone inexperienced, but with someone experienced, and only when the existing experienced broadcaster is no longer able to deliver for the audience.

Naggdefy

end of the road wrote: »

Naggdefy wrote: »

long term gain and growth is what broadcasting relies on, hence experienced broadcasters being kept for as long as possible. it insures experience and the audience remains and grows.
for rte that isn't going to change as more is expected from them compared to other broadcasters, in terms of their current affairs output at least.
an experienced broadcaster is not going to be replaced with someone inexperienced, but with someone experienced, and only when the existing experienced broadcaster is no longer able to deliver for the audience.

You avoid a lot of the questions posed. A lot of these long term broadcasters are over rated. Marian Finucane, 69, she's no better than Claire Byrne, 44. There are plenty of late 20 somethings who could do Marian's job. Sacred cows..

There are once off's like Gay Byrne, but he had plenty of Annie Murphy moments and nostalgia clouds judgement. I'm 43 but would wager that your a person of older vintage. For a lot of my age group and older Maradona was the greatest footballer, for those who remember the 1970 WC it's probably Pele. Messi and Ronaldo for the 20 and 30 somethings. We are greatly influenced by the stars of our era in every field.

Christy Ring had a great saying about himself and older hurlers 'never let it be said that the greatest hurlers are in the past, they are with us now, and better still to come'. That can be applied across a lot of fields. A compulsory retirement age mightn't be all that bad. 70 is hardly ageist. If these broadcasters are so brilliant they'll turn their hands and voices to something else, not publicly and tax payer funded. let them live by the same rules as the rest of public sector and company employees. God knows the RTE love in is bad enough, as witnessed on the LLS, Darcy Show etc without giving them an exalted status of jobs for life.

This is nothing to do with Larry Gogan, Marian Finucane or Gay Byrne personally. When Gay retired from the LLS he was 65 in 1999. Then appointed to the Road Safety Authority, without any qualifications and plenty of projects like Gaybo Laughs Back, Millionaire, and The Meaning of Life, essentially ego boosting projects for his dotage. I don't see fair play at work here. It's cliques perpetuating a very good wage.

end of the road

Naggdefy wrote: »

end of the road wrote: »

You avoid a lot of the questions posed. A lot of these long term broadcasters are over rated. Marian Finucane, 69, she's no better than Claire Byrne, 44. There are plenty of late 20 somethings who could do Marian's job. Sacred cows..

There are once off's like Gay Byrne, but he had plenty of Annie Murphy moments and nostalgia clouds judgement. I'm 43 but would wager that your a person of older vintage. For a lot of my age group and older Maradona was the greatest footballer, for those who remember the 1970 WC it's probably Pele. Messi and Ronaldo for the 20 and 30 somethings. We are greatly influenced by the stars of our era in every field.

Christy Ring had a great saying about himself and older hurlers 'never let it be said that the greatest hurlers are in the past, they are with us now, and better still to come'. That can be applied across a lot of fields. A compulsory retirement age mightn't be all that bad. 70 is hardly ageist. If these broadcasters are so brilliant they'll turn their hands and voices to something else, not publicly and tax payer funded. let them live by the same rules as the rest of public sector and company employees. God knows the RTE love in is bad enough, as witnessed on the LLS, Darcy Show etc without giving them an exalted status of jobs for life.

This is nothing to do with Larry Gogan, Marian Finucane or Gay Byrne personally. When Gay retired from the LLS he was 65 in 1999. Then appointed to the Road Safety Authority, without any qualifications and plenty of projects like Gaybo Laughs Back, Millionaire, and The Meaning of Life, essentially ego boosting projects for his dotage. I don't see fair play at work here. It's cliques perpetuating a very good wage.

a set retirement age for broadcasting is unviable and is not required, the state broadcaster the same as any other has to be able to keep talent as long as they deliver the audience and revenue.
a 20 something is not going to deliver the audience someone like mf delivered, that's not saying they aren't good, but we must deal with reality. experience and familiarity are what delivers audiences for rte.
even on some commercial radio it is the same thing.
that's just the way it is, broadcasting is a hard industry to get into for good reason.
if rte could replace all of their broadcasters with 20 somethings and keep the same audience and grow them they would be doing it, they aren't.
in 2fm's case, any of the broadcasters who have come from commercial radio would have to have something to show before they would be given the opportunity, as in a record of success in terms of building an audience.

Naggdefy

end of the road wrote: »

Naggdefy wrote: »

a set retirement age for broadcasting is unviable and is not required, the state broadcaster the same as any other has to be able to keep talent as long as they deliver the audience and revenue.
a 20 something is not going to deliver the audience someone like mf delivered, that's not saying they aren't good, but we must deal with reality. experience and familiarity are what delivers audiences for rte.
even on some commercial radio it is the same thing.
that's just the way it is, broadcasting is a hard industry to get into for good reason.
if rte could replace all of their broadcasters with 20 somethings and keep the same audience and grow them they would be doing it, they aren't.
in 2fm's case, any of the broadcasters who have come from commercial radio would have to have something to show before they would be given the opportunity, as in a record of success in terms of building an audience.

MF had to start somewhere, same with her replacement. Easing in a successor isn't difficult. State legislation on retirement should apply across the board. No radio or TV on a pedestal.

You'll never be replacing all at the one time.

Naggdefy

Naggdefy wrote: »

end of the road wrote: »

MF had to start somewhere, same with her replacement. Easing in a successor isn't difficult. State legislation on retirement should apply across the board. No radio or TV on a pedestal.

You'll never be replacing all at the one time.

Ah look I'm done with the argument. I've stated my point of view. That's the worst of internet fora, posters want to have the last post even if it's only repetition. An I won kind of mentality. Besides long arguments with equally valid points of view go nowhere and are a waste of time. Plenty more productive activities to do

Utopia Parkway

irs wrote: »

The tributes are fine up to a point but the claims that certain presenters transformed Ireland are way over the top.

RTE have a grossly over inflated sense of the importance of their own employees. The only one that probably deserved tributes such as "transformed Ireland" was Gay Byrne as the Late Late really was that influential on the national consciousness back in the day.