Marian Finucane

elperello · 30-09-2018 04:46PM

Oops69 wrote: »

he sounded particularly peevish this morning.

No wonder he is peeved. Never made Taoiseach and then had to endure Kenny's success.

Anyway we are lucky to be able to hear him for nothing, some have to pay -

https://www.personallyspeakingbureau.com/speaker/alan-dukes/

Oops69 · 30-09-2018 07:19PM

elperello wrote: »

No wonder he is peeved. Never made Taoiseach and then had to endure Kenny's success.

Anyway we are lucky to be able to hear him for nothing, some have to pay -

https://www.personallyspeakingbureau.com/speaker/alan-dukes/

unfortunately we are paying via the licence fee , there's no way he's turning up at RTE on a Sunday morning to altruistically pass on his words of 'wisdom',and we're paying the pension/s on top of the appearance fee... just to rub it in .

elperello · 30-09-2018 08:07PM

Oops69 wrote: »

unfortunately we are paying via the licence fee , there's no way he's turning up at RTE on a Sunday morning to altruistically pass on his words of 'wisdom',and we're paying the pension/s on top of the appearance fee... just to rub it in .

News Alert - Radio is free to air

01-10-2018 08:13AM

elperello wrote: »

News Alert - Radio is free to air

That's an interesting point!

You might argue that although RTÉ does spend licence-fee money on radio, including broadcaster' salaries/fees, you can't reasonably use the cost of your TV licence to complain about a different service, on a different medium.

However, it kinda ignores the point that radio and TV are not separate organisations operating at arms' length from one another. It's a unitary organisation. And that the overwhelming majority of users of RTÉ services are also TV-licence holders, which licence effectively obliges RTÉ to commit to a radio service.

It's a bit like subscribing to Spotify, then complaining about paying for an aspect of the application which is available even to 'free users'. Although you're technically only paying for the 'premium' content, it's entirely valid to consider whether or not your money has been well-spent, considering the service as a whole.

elperello · 01-10-2018 02:21PM

Yes but you still don't pay if you don't have a TV licence.

That's the beauty of the medium, you can have a house full of radios and pay nothing for all that entertainment and information.

Nothing to stop you complaining either but I doubt in the case of RTE that anyone is listening to the listeners.

serfboard · 01-10-2018 04:50PM

elperello wrote: »

I doubt in the case of RTE that anyone is listening to the listeners.

In terms of radio, the only thing that RTE, or indeed any other radio station, listens to is the JNLR.

And in the last period for which detailed figures are available (2017 Q1), Marian's programme was the third most popular in the country, behind Liveline and Morning Ireland.

Of course, the JNLR does not ask take podcasts into account - in so far as they could measure it, that would be accounted for by overall listenership - but that's not within its remit.

Oops69 · 06-10-2018 10:24AM

Palin is like the David Attenborough of travel writing , an amateurs modicum of knowledge but went to an ox-bridge college and the BBC love them so they could write or speak drivel and it'll be a great success .

Beechwoodspark · 07-10-2018 10:11AM

They have some manic mcgregor super fan on now.

By the sounds of it he’s been mainlining Red Bull (or other substances perhaps...) since 2 am

honeybear · 07-10-2018 11:31AM

Not Marian mcKeown again

applehunter · 07-10-2018 12:21PM

Marion McKeown once again presented as an impartial US correspondent.

A Hillary Clinton campaigner in the studio and the rest all nod away in agreement at the one sided discussion.

Don't think Marian even tried to play devil's advocate this week.

two wheels good · 07-10-2018 08:39PM

Oops69 wrote: »

Palin is like the David Attenborough of travel writing , an amateurs modicum of knowledge but went to an ox-bridge college and the BBC love them so they could write or speak drivel and it'll be a great success .

David Attenborough studied geology and zoology. He has a degree in Natural Sciences from Cambridge - and decades of experience of field-work.

alaimacerc · 08-10-2018 12:31AM

Oops69 wrote: »

Palin is like the David Attenborough of travel writing , an amateurs modicum of knowledge but went to an ox-bridge college and the BBC love them so they could write or speak drivel and it'll be a great success .

David Attenborough is a odd benchmark for "an amateurs modicum of knowledge" of natural history. He's been dedicated to the topic for 80 years, his actual primary degree is in the topic, and a Fellow of numerous societies, and he can barely move for honorary degrees at this point, advanced doctorates included.

A person could go far on such modicums.

Oops69 · 14-10-2018 10:08AM

John Fitzgerald .... could he not just have gone into a graceful retirement .

Oops69 · 14-10-2018 10:10AM

alaimacerc wrote: »

David Attenborough is a odd benchmark for "an amateurs modicum of knowledge" of natural history. He's been dedicated to the topic for 80 years, his actual primary degree is in the topic, and a Fellow of numerous societies, and he can barely move for honorary degrees at this point, advanced doctorates included.

A person could go far on such modicums.

honorary doctorates and fellowships , wheres his doctorate through research ?

batgoat · 14-10-2018 10:18AM

Oops69 wrote: »

honorary doctorates and fellowships , wheres his doctorate through research ?

And ultimately I don't think that matters. I would suspect his fifty years plus of nature documentaries has inspired generations to pursue doctorates in it. So you can complain about pop nature documentaries or travel documentaries by Palin but they are ultimately education and increase interest in their respective areas.

elperello · 14-10-2018 10:55AM

John Fitzgerald wants an electric car that will take him to Kilcrohane on one charge.
I heard him say this before, why Kilcrohane?

alaimacerc · 14-10-2018 11:05AM

Oops69 wrote: »

honorary doctorates and fellowships , wheres his doctorate through research ?

I did once hear a writer describe their doctorate in physics as their "union card". I don't think the natural sciences still operate a closed shop.

Oops69 · 14-10-2018 11:08AM

batgoat wrote: »

And ultimately I don't think that matters. I would suspect his fifty years plus of nature documentaries has inspired generations to pursue doctorates in it. So you can complain about pop nature documentaries or travel documentaries by Palin but they are ultimately education and increase interest in their respective areas.

most of the stuff he has narrated for the last 20 years he has had very little editorial or production involvement with , he has just been the voice that adds kudos to the production because of 'life on earth' , which was a ground- breaking series ,yes, but he does seem to be living off the glory of that ever since .

Ursus Horribilis · 14-10-2018 11:14AM

You could apply the same analogy to Marian.

batgoat · 14-10-2018 11:17AM

Oops69 wrote: »

most of the stuff he has narrated for the last 20 years he has had very little editorial or production involvement with , he has just been the voice that adds kudos to the production because of 'life on earth' , which was a ground- breaking series ,yes, but he does seem to be living off the glory of that ever since .

This doesn't negate the fact that he still inspires people to enter the field. Pop science et al is incredibly influential and Attenborough is of huge influence.

Ursus Horribilis · 14-10-2018 11:24AM

batgoat wrote: »

This doesn't negate the fact that he still inspires people to enter the field. Pop science et al is incredibly influential and Attenborough is of huge influence.

Being academically brilliant and being a good communicator don't necessarily go hand in hand. Attenborough has helped make what can be dry subject matter into something people enjoy.

alaimacerc · 14-10-2018 12:00PM

Oops69 wrote: »

most of the stuff he has narrated for the last 20 years he has had very little editorial or production involvement with , he has just been the voice that adds kudos to the production because of 'life on earth' , which was a ground- breaking series ,yes, but he does seem to be living off the glory of that ever since .

So, stuff he's done since he was around 70, in other words?

That's not being an "amateur", that's "slowing down a little when others would have long retired".

bossdrum · 14-10-2018 12:07PM

I know the area very well. There aren't many places in Ireland that are further away from Dublin.
I also remember a few years back that he said he used to go on holidays there.
But probably the real reason is that Ivor Callely has a little bolt hole there. :-)

alaimacerc · 14-10-2018 12:07PM

elperello wrote: »

John Fitzgerald wants an electric car that will take him to Kilcrohane on one charge.
I heard him say this before, why Kilcrohane?

Not sure!

My theories...

It's a long way away from Dublin;
It sounds like it's a long way away from Dublin;
It's even on a peninsula, so it's a pretty good hint to stop driving before you get very wet;
It has the good taste not to go to the excessive extremes of actually being in Kerry;
It has a nice ring to it;

And maybe the FitzG family have a holiday home or other habitual haunt down that way?

padd b1975 · 14-10-2018 06:18PM

Oops69 wrote: »

John Fitzgerald .... could he not just have gone into a graceful retirement .

Those corduroy trousers, tweed jacket and check shirt combos don't pay for themselves you know!

alan partridge aha · 14-10-2018 07:41PM

padd b1975 wrote: »

Those corduroy trousers, tweed jacket and check shirt combos don't pay for themselves you know!

I just love when wealthy prigs like him insist on an increase to carbon tax. Diesel as increased a lot in the last few months without an extra tax. Oh I drive a hybrid which is less efficient than a diesel.Fook off.

elperello · 14-10-2018 08:31PM

Oops69 wrote: »

John Fitzgerald .... could he not just have gone into a graceful retirement .

Ah now that's a bit harsh.
He is a very good radio show guest.
I never heard him getting hot under the collar or making nasty comments.
He sticks to the facts and is polite.

Having said that I'm intrigued by the suggestion above that he may have a holiday home at such a remote distance from Dublin.
If he has and is driving there in any car it's hardly good for the environment never mind the carbon footprint of a second house.

alaimacerc · 14-10-2018 11:35PM

elperello wrote: »

Having said that I'm intrigued by the suggestion above that he may have a holiday home at such a remote distance from Dublin.
If he has and is driving there in any car it's hardly good for the environment never mind the carbon footprint of a second house.

Fair point, but having said that, it's about 100k away from the nearest train station. I was going to say "and he's hardly getting the bus", but public-transport directions just tells me:

Google Maps wrote:

Sorry, we could not calculate transit directions from "Dublin" to "Kilcrohane, Co. Cork"

(At least they didn't say "sure, I wouldn't be starting from here...")

Let's say "buy some carbon offsets", and call it quits.

serfboard · 15-10-2018 01:02PM

elperello wrote: »

John Fitzgerald wants an electric car that will take him to Kilcrohane on one charge.
I heard him say this before, why Kilcrohane?

Presumably because he has a holiday home there.

As to his point, ViaMichelin gives Dublin to Kilcrohane distance as being 360km - that's 225 miles. The Tesla Models S, 3 and X as well as the Chevrolet Bolt all have this range. Unfortunately, they're not readily (or cheaply) available in Ireland.

And anyway, ViaMichelin also gives the journey time to Kilcrohane from Dublin as being five hours. Five hours John! And you're not going to stop for a break?! Somebody tell the RSA!

Oh and if you are stopping for a break on your five hour journey, you could maybe charge up the car while you're doing it? Hence you don't really need 360km range anyway - do you?

Callan57 · 15-10-2018 01:28PM

serfboard wrote: »

Presumably because he has a holiday home there.

As to his point, ViaMichelin gives Dublin to Kilcrohane distance as being 360km - that's 225 miles. The Tesla Models S, 3 and X as well as the Chevrolet Bolt all have this range. Unfortunately, they're not readily (or cheaply) available in Ireland.

And anyway, ViaMichelin also gives the journey time to Kilcrohane from Dublin as being five hours. Five hours John! And you're not going to stop for a break?! Somebody tell the RSA!

Oh and if you are stopping for a break on your five hour journey, you could maybe charge up the car while you're doing it? Hence you don't really need 360km range anyway - do you?

Assuming charging point available !!!!

Marian Finucane

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