Ray D'arcy on RTE Radio 1 Mod Warning post 1 27th Jan Forward

RoTelly · 12-10-2025 03:19PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123899645#Comment_123899645

Gerry died in 2011, Ray joined RTÉ in 2015.

rolling boh · 12-10-2025 03:21PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123899649#Comment_123899649

my mistake thought Gerry was still there

techman1 · 12-10-2025 03:33PM

Why did they not ressurect the den after the huge acclaim it got when it came back for 2020 at the height of COVID, I think rte were actually afraid of it's popularity and irreverence, Dustin was liable to say anything, normally bringing back an old show doesn't work as people have changed but this was widely applauded as a great success especially with the backdrop of COVID and dire tony holohan. Maybe rte took on holahan's catch phrase " an abundance of caution" too literally

Dynomutt · 12-10-2025 04:03PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123899675#Comment_123899675

The Den returned in a small way on an episode of “Celebrity” Gogglebox a few weeks ago.

Maybe Virgin Media were testing the waters for a relaunch on their station. If so, it didn’t really work as it went mostly unnoticed.

Ray was even more of a charisma void on screen, fidgeting and braying awkwardly every so often.

NIMAN · 12-10-2025 04:12PM

To be fair, you have to be quick witted, be a bit of craic, and be able to think on your feet when working with Zig and Zag.

And Ray is now of those things.

ShagNastii · 12-10-2025 04:25PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123899675#Comment_123899675

It seemed like such a no brainer. It was fantastically received and I’d imagine wasn’t utterly costly to produce.

B2021M · 12-10-2025 04:46PM

Thought it was interesting when he often commented on what he was watching on Netflix and how good it was. Bit odd to be promoting a product in direct competition with the organisation that paid his salary.

Wompa1 · 12-10-2025 04:54PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123899826#Comment_123899826

To be fair, I saw a report in the Independent or Examiner where it was suggested the change was made as RTE begins to prioritize the number of listeners and competing with Newstalk. Helluva thing to say. Msaybe they didn't mind him talking about Netflix if they weren't concerned with number of listeners or viewers before.

PixelCrafter · 12-10-2025 05:24PM

who was in the slot before Ray?

dulpit · 12-10-2025 05:33PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123899902#Comment_123899902

Derek mooney?

PixelCrafter · 12-10-2025 05:43PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123899918#Comment_123899918

Ah! I used to actually like that show - I know he tended to wander into live nature programming mode, but it was often listenable. Felt a bit more ‘Radio 1’

I tend not to pay much attention to radio that time of the day tbh - mostly it’s randomly listened to in the car.

rolling boh · 12-10-2025 06:51PM

One thing I would think its a difficult slot to fill ,kind of stuck between the news programmes ,have to see if music works out OK.

leath_dub · 12-10-2025 08:13PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123899941#Comment_123899941

Mooney used to veer into hyper Eurovision fandom from about February which could be quite annoying but it was a harmless slot and much more informative and slightly less preachy than the Ray D' Arcy show that replaced it. RTE shafted a few people to make room for Ray and his team. His TV show was a disaster from day one ( e.g. Jack Nicholson impersonator) and was dropped fairly quickly

He clung on tonight radio slot for 11 years , fair play to him, despite pissing off the Nuacht guys by regularly going over late to them and eventually getting g the slot moved by throwing a hissy fit over it

His technical incompetence should have been an embarrassment to him but seemingly not

I'd say Ray is essentially a good guy but absolutely awful.at his (former) job

littlevillage · 12-10-2025 08:18PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123900239#Comment_123900239

I remember the Jack Nicholson impersonator. It was almost as though Ray didn't know if it was the real Jack or not. Scarlaa for all concerned 😳

Gen.Zhukov · 12-10-2025 11:45PM

Sunday Times covered it today -

Paywalled-

https://www.thetimes.com/world/ireland-world/article/ray-darcy-three-months-warning-departure-rte-ztzfsds6c

Three months out from the end date of D’Arcy’s current contract, he was told by RTE that it would not be renewed and the broadcaster “wished to explore other opportunities.” - “Ray declined the offer to discuss further and asked to leave RTE as soon as possible. RTE agreed to facilitate that he finish October 10, as requested, and to his request that no announcement would be made until after that date,” the spokesman said.

'Strop' well and truly thrown there

For some reason, the Times decided that Baz (nobody really wants you on their TV) was allowed to proffer a defence of Ray's treatment

Seems Ray was looking in the wrong direction after all - It wasn't AI that was the danger, it was PM

Patricia Monahan was on the radio during the week and mentioned they had done some other research (focus groups etc) before coming to the decision, which was refreshing - as they're not just relying on the JNLR figs (probably because they are not that relevant)

If you are reading Patricia (and I think you might be), can you take a look a the absolute state of the B O'Connor show and the NK-fest it has become - Thanks

Bass Reeves · 13-10-2025 12:26AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123900683#Comment_123900683

The Sunday Times had George Hook give an opinion as well. GH thaught Ray was "well paid" over the years, I think that is code for over paid. Here is what he said in total. I think it very telling

George Hook, who hosted The Right Hook and High Noon on Newstalk, said that D’Arcy was likely to feel shattered by his exit. “I think he went into the meeting like we all have done over the years to renew our contract and have discussions about it. I think he went into the meeting and they had already decided that they didn’t want him, I would imagine,” Hook said.

Hook said he also had experience of being dumped from a radio presenting role. “Getting kicked out when you’re surprised about it, I know what it’s like. What I think is going to be interesting is where does he go next. I think it’s a really interesting question.

“I was on the Ray D’Arcy show a couple of times, I don’t know him at all. But … I can tell you from personal experience that getting the sack isn’t a great feeling,” Hook said.

Hook added that many broadcasters such as D’Arcy had been “very well paid” over the years.
“There’s almost a sense of living by the sword and dying by the sword. I think it goes with the territory, quite honestly,” he said.

HildaOgdenx · 13-10-2025 11:59AM

Ha, strop for sure. From that article…

“Ray declined the offer to discuss further and asked to leave RTE as soon as possible. RTE agreed to facilitate that he finish October 10, as requested, and to his request that no announcement would be made until after that date,” the spokesman said.RTE said D’Arcy received a press query last Thursday and then contacted RTE to say that “he would not be going on air that day, and that he had done his final show”. As a result, Shay Byrne was asked to stand in.

ILikeBoats · 13-10-2025 12:49PM

Am I understanding this right - he knew he was finishing, knew that no announcement was going to be made until after but still had a rant saying RTE handled it badly and didn't let him say goodbye?!

Dublin Calling · 13-10-2025 12:59PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123901650#Comment_123901650

One of the newspapers reported that he had until the end of the year. But wanted to leave at the end of the week when told, with no announcement. Ray then got a phone call from reporter about his departure. He threw a wobbly over this, and refused to do the last show. In Ray's eyes it appears RTE leaked his departure, so broke their agreement.

GSF · 13-10-2025 01:15PM

Seems Rte were planning the new schedule to kick in after New Year’s in January with only David McCullough starting before then but Ray scuppered them

Cole · 13-10-2025 02:05PM

https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/tv-radio/2025/10/09/ray-darcys-parting-outburst-atypical-of-broadcaster-who-shunned-the-limelight/

Either he's a good pal of D'Arsey, or he's getting him mixed up with another broadcaster - an actual professional one. This doesn't read like the D'Arsey I've had the misfortune of occasionally listening to over the years.

sligeach · 13-10-2025 03:05PM

First time in years today that I didn't have to rush to the radio at 3PM, to turn it off after Liveline, so I don't have to hear Gray. 😌

Hopefully, he never gets back on the airwaves, anywhere, ever again.

amlinopta · 13-10-2025 03:07PM

The imaginatively titled "3 o'clock show" with Brendan Courtney in the hot seat. Some important Eurovision news coming up. The off button awaits.

golondrinas · 13-10-2025 03:16PM

Oh golly gosh I actually dislike this lad more than I disliked farcy. I think he rotated with Callan on the 9 o'clock gig . Chalke and cheese . Callan was a good find at 9'oclock.

Dublin Calling · 13-10-2025 03:31PM

Sausage paste, wow, wow. Wireless Off.

Ray D'arcy on RTE Radio 1 **Mod Warning post 1** 27th Jan Forward

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Ray D'arcy on RTE Radio 1 Mod Warning post 1 27th Jan Forward