Lunchtime Live with Ciara Kelly [Mod warning post #1]

Sleeper12 wrote: »

On a different topic though, does anyone on here actually like her?

Yes. I think it's really refreshing to have someone from outside 'the media bubble', which is probably a slightly unfair term, but not a completely incorrect one.

I'm sure most people are aware of the events of last weekend, where Ciara Kelly spoke out on social media about her experiences with an alleged rapist who is a prominent figure in Irish broadcasting.

I don't believe that Ciara Kelly would have published her comments if she had been a 'lifer' within the Irish media which, like all professional industries on this tiny island, is pretty close-knit.

Kathy Sheridan, a journalist with the Irish Times, who just two weeks ago was warning against a backlash against victims of Harvey Weinstein, came out swinging in the Irish Times today against the actions of Ciara Kelly. Sheridan began her article with an all-too-obvious reference to rookie journalists, and ended it with the line "Do No Harm" -- an unmistakeable reference to the Hippocratic Oath.

We are all aware of the extent of denial, and defensiveness, that arose within the Roman Catholic Church when its sexual abuse scandals first gained real credibility, only 20 years ago. I think other professions, such as those in media, are now on a similar journey. And we need voices like Ciara Kelly, a relative newcomer, but a particularly strong-minded (and I think, courageous) broadcaster, to speak some home truths.

So yeah, I think this is perfect timing to welcome someone like Ciara Kelly to mainstream broadcasting in this country.

Del.Monte wrote: »

Well good to see that she's given up treble jobbing but she may have attached herself to the wrong bandwagon. Incidentally, will she be dropping this handle @ciarakellydoc ?

I've said this before, but only because the same bizarre complaint has been made many times -- I genuinely am at a loss to understand the public concern for a GP practice in Bray, which presumably is already well staffed by medical professionals.

Nobody on this Forum has questioned the competence of Will Leahy to fulfill his duties as a solicitor, whilst working with RTE Radio 1 as a presenter, nor the likes of Bobby Kerr, a company director and broadcaster on Newstalk.

I daresay many people who use this forum have more than one single professional role, and are able to manage quite fine.

The apparent issue with Ciara Kelly's Twitter handle is yet a further 'problem' that my brain is obviously incapable of understanding. I can only assume there is something very significant here that I just don't see. I cannot find a rational explanation for it.

ballsymchugh wrote: »

to be fair, i think most posters thought bobby kerr was shyte when he started. the first few down to business shows that he did were awful radio. he has grown into it, just about, but there are still better presenters than him there for it, such as Ian Guider. you only really notice how bad a presenter is when they go on holidays.
I do wish he would concentrate more on the business, and pass on the VAT reduction that he kept.

That's fair enough, but it's not Kerr's broadcasting style I'm referring to, it's his ability to do his job at Insomnia.

That's a matter for him alone. It shouldn't concern us, nor should Ciara Kelly's GP Practice concern us.

the_pen_turner wrote: »

I like Ciara Kelly to a point

if she would stop all the feminism and medial rubbish she goes on about then she could have a worth while programme worth listening to. she needs a broad and varied variety of topics to talk about not just the same usual rubbish

I agree with previous posters that Lunchtime is making a mistake by trying to blend current-affairs with 'Liveline', but I'd slightly disagree with you on this on, pen_turner. Perhaps there is an opening for a medical call-in slot, which happens on other radio stations (e.g. The Clive Bull Show, on LBC).

That would be something novel, that doesn't already feature on Irish radio. I know George Hook used to do a variation on this with Ciara Kelly, but it was rushed and didn't feature callers.

Otherwise, I agree with you, the regular medical slant to the show doesn't really work, although it's hard to fault Ciara Kelly for playing to her strengths in her new role. But if she left it to a medical call-in slot once or twice a week, featuring rotating medical specialists, for example, it might be more interesting.