The Late Date RTÉ Radio 1

pappyodaniel

This show can be hit or miss when it comes to good tunes on the radio Friday and Saturday nights. Unfortunately when it's presented by the main host, a certain Fiachna Ó Braonain, him of the Hothouse Flowers, I have to say his music choices in the main are awful middle of the road stuff. It seems as if he's giving some of his local musician mates a leg up by playing them on the radio but 90% if it is just so dull.

On the odd night we get a replacement host, the quality goes right up, especially when Ray Cuddihy, Nadine O'Regan or Cathal Murray are on the decks.

morphy87

Late Date it was a show I used to really like, my favourite presenter was Alf Mcarthy, I thought he played great music which really suited the hour of the night and I thought it was a better format when the book on one used to start immediately after the news compared to now it starts at 11.25

Lilian smith was also a great host at the weekends

lucalux

Cathal Murray has been consistently great on Late Date imo

Lovely manner, voice, interesting playlists and tempo to the show he does

I very much agree that the show with Fiachna is a different thing, and I completely think the same thing about the 'mates of mine' thingy. He seems to be always blowing his own trumpet somehow and thus irritates me, but mainly I don't listen to his nights because the music tends towards boring for me

Jizique

Cathal is excellent, used to fall asleep to it midweek but now listen to it on headphones on the Web the next days; as said, FOB is horrifically self-indulgent, you would know he has strong family connections in RTE - even when he fills,in for Creedon on his absences, the shows are dull

Brian Scan

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121551253#Comment_121551253

FOB has family connections in RTE? That would explain a lot. Who are they?

RINO87

Got to say I agree with all here. Cathal is fantastic, as is Ray when he stands in, always has an interesting selection. Have not heard much of Nadine.

Fiachna is absolutely insufferable...as was said it just seems like you are gatecrashing a party of him and a few of his mates all blowing smoke up each others holes. This carries over to when he fills in for Creedon. The same bunch of people all texting in and chatting to each other via a radio show. Same music, same people....

On that note, he must have internal connections. In what other world would an active touring musician, who mostly works weekends with his main job, be given a weekend night time radio slot??

lucalux

In the interest of fairness.. Cathal Murray is the nephew of the late RTE presenter Colm Murray

It's RTE, par for the course but I don't think that's an issue in and of itself. Some people are insufferable with or without family connections in life

FOB is just both, connected and an absolute bore to listen to

Jizique

https://tuairisc.ie/anrai-o-braonain-gael-geanuil-go-smior-ar-shli-na-firinne/

as gaeilge, ach "ag obair lu cúrsaí riaracháin" means he was the accountant so must know where plenty of bodies were buried

Brian Scan

Alf McCarthy, an RTE employee was forced to retire at 65.

On the other hand, FO'B, the son of another RTE employee, who presumably was also forced to retire at 65 at least 25 years ago, was able to use that family connection to hold on to his Late Date role. Now that his father has died will FO'B's contract be terminated? After all there must be many offspring of people currently working in RTE who would covet the Late Date gig.

morphy87

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121554237#Comment_121554237

It’s such a pity as he was great at the job

gluppers

When I hear "New Irish music" I run a mile

gluppers

Heard a bit of Leftfield last night on Late Date last night while out in the car. Fair play Cathal. Always a good mix guaranteed