Today FM
Encyclopedia
Radio Ireland Ltd, trading as 100-102 Today FM is an Irish
commercial
FM
radio station
which is available nationally. The station, which commenced broadcasting
on Saint Patrick's Day
in 1997, can be received nationally and carries a mix of music and talk. Recently purchased by Denis O'Brien's
Communicorp Group Ltd
, Today FM holds a licence from the Broadcasting Commission of Ireland to the year 2017. The station recorded pretax profits of €7.4 million on a turnover of €19.4 million in early 2009, more than twice what it was two years previously.
, which launched in 1989 and closed down abruptly in late 1991. The Independent Radio and Television Commission did not re-advertise the contract for several years, until 1996.
Radio Ireland Limited, originally owned by John McColgan and Moya Doherty
(and because of their involvement, dubbed "Radio Riverdance
"), won the contract when it was advertised. The station went on air on 17 March 1997. At first the station was a mixed network, airing much talk programming and various types of music. However, following six months of disastrous ratings, and with a listenership of just 1%, the station was revamped, and on 1 January 1998 became 100-102 Today FM. The station axed almost all of its programming and changed its music policy entirely. Eamon Dunphy
's co-host (Anne-Marie Hourihan) was axed, with him being heavily promoted as a solo act and Ian Dempsey
and Ray D'Arcy
were poached from arch-rivals RTÉ. The IRTC went along with the schedule changes, though in a statement soon after the relaunch said it was not entirely satisfied with the new schedule. However, within three months, the station's listenership had almost doubled.
Since the autumn of 1998, experienced broadcaster and radio programmer Tom Hardy has been Programming Director of Today FM.
Today FM reshuffled its daytime schedule in 2004, reducing The Ian Dempsey Breakfast Show to add an extra hour to The Ray D'Arcy Show so that it could compete directly with rival, The Gerry Ryan Show
. Philip Cawley's afternoon show was reduced and Tony Fenton was given a lunchtime show.
plc acquired Radio Ireland Limited from its shareholders. In June 2005, an agreed takeover offer for that company was made by EMAP
plc.
On 16 July 2007 it was announced that Denis O'Brien's Communicorp
had agreed to purchase FM104
, along with national station Today FM and Donegal station Highland Radio
. The sale is however subject to both Competition Authority
and Broadcasting Commission of Ireland approval. Had the sale been approved in its originally proposed form, both FM104 and 98FM
would be owned by the same company.
On 8 October 2007, Communicorp
's takeover of Today FM was approved by the BCI. Following the Competition Authority's approval for the takeover (on the condition that the enlarged Communicorp disposed of FM104
to UTV Media), the takeover closed in April 2008.
, Ray D'Arcy
, Ian Dempsey
and Tom Dunne
spent hours recreating the iconic picture used for the cover of The Beatles
's 11th album, Abbey Road to publicise their move. On 29 February 2008, Matt Cooper's The Last Word
was the final show to be presented from the old studios. The first show to be presented from the new studios was Friday Night 80s with Phil Cawley from 19:00. The first song played was "Welcome to the Pleasuredome
" by Frankie Goes to Hollywood
. Also in 2008 (25 October) Today FM celebrated ten years of broadcasting live English Premier League football.
. Bishop joked about being gay
. D'Arcy asked Bishop to provide an "exclusive". Bishop said, "I'm gay... I'm not, but hey!" D'Arcy said, "You're very comfortable with your sexuality?" Bishop said, "Me and Derek Mooney
are doing a show". The audience laughed. D'Arcy moved to a commercial break before, he said, Bishop "outs
anyone else". The incident provoked much commentary in the media, with the Sunday Independent
observing "Instantly, the Irish-American comedian was the villain of the piece and Derek was all over the front page", while Ray D'Arcy was also criticised for his choice of words.
and The Ray D'Arcy Show
.
which criticised Today FM owner Denis O'Brien. Smyth said on air the next morning that he had been told not to talk about the end of his show and stopped one of his guests from talking about it too "before someone comes downstairs and pulls a wire we better move onto something else." The National Union of Journalists (NUJ) said it was concerned at the development. The Irish Independent, of which Denis O'Brien is a leading shareholder, reported that Anton Savage was being lined up to replace Sam Smyth.
and news
and current affairs
programming. The station broadcasts 24-hours a day; however, from around 0200 until 0500 on weekdays and 0100 until 0600/0700 on weekends, the station just broadcasts back-to-back music overnight with no presenters or programmes. This is done by many Irish radio stations, usually to save costs in employing overnight presenters and technicians.
The flagship current affairs programme on Today FM is The Last Word
, currently presented (most of the time anyway) by Matt Cooper
. The latest JNLR figures revealed that this programme enjoyed a listenership of 215,000, over-taking rival Drivetime
on RTÉ Radio 1
for the first time ever. The Last Word is precded from Monday until Thursday by Tony Fenton
's self-titled afternoon show and followed by Paul McLoone
's self-titled evening music programme.
Of note is the station's satirical slot, Gift Grub
, a feature broadcast during The Ian Dempsey Breakfast Show
(presented by Ian Dempsey
from 0700 until 0900 each weekday morning), which is performed by Mario Rosenstock
and includes popular caricatures of former Taoiseach
Bertie Ahern
, politician Joan Burton
and singers Daniel O'Donnell
and Keith Duffy
. The Ian Dempsey Breakfast Show is followed by the "Two Rays": D'Arcy
and Foley
, both of whom have each won three Meteor Music Awards
. The Ray D'Arcy Show
has more listeners than its RTÉ rivals as of 2011. Ray Foley is originally from rural County Mayo
, a NUTS
Level III region in the West of Ireland
, and his presence is particularly novel at a Dublin radio station.
Some other less important, but nonetheless worth mentioning, DJs at the station include Phil Cawley, KC, Dave Couse
(also the singer with A House
), Donal Dineen
, Derek Flood and Tim Kelly. Bob Conway is a "swing jock". Declan Meehan
and Martin King
are two weekend-only presenters, with Declan Meehan having been involved with the station from its inception.
Former presenters of Radio Ireland/Today FM include Philip Boucher-Hayes
, Mark Byrne, Mark Cagney
, Enda Caldwell
, Breffni Clack, Alison Curtis
(The Last Splash and The Alison Curtis Show featuring Mister Ed Smith), Tom Dunne
(Pet Sounds), Eamon Dunphy
(original presenter of The Last Word), Bob Gallico, Tommy Greene, Anne-Marie Hourihan (originally Eamon Dunphy's co-host), Bill Hughes
, Robbie Irwin (weekend sports programs presenter), Mark Kavanagh (dance show), Ann Marie Kelly, John Kelly, Stephen Keogh, Tracey Lee, Nails Mahoney (briefly), the late Dermot Morgan
, Paddy Murray and Liam Mackey (Murray and Mackey), Ian Noctor (newsreader who also for a period presented Dad Rock) Ed Myers, Paul Power, Ita Ryan (The Celtic Reel), John Ryan
(original presenter of The Sunday Supplement), Donal Scannell, Jon Troy (Between The Sheets - love songs), and Karl Tsigdinos (The River of Soul).
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
commercial
Commercial broadcasting
Commercial broadcasting is the broadcasting of television programs and radio programming by privately owned corporate media, as opposed to state sponsorship...
FM
Frequency modulation
In telecommunications and signal processing, frequency modulation conveys information over a carrier wave by varying its instantaneous frequency. This contrasts with amplitude modulation, in which the amplitude of the carrier is varied while its frequency remains constant...
radio station
Radio station
Radio broadcasting is a one-way wireless transmission over radio waves intended to reach a wide audience. Stations can be linked in radio networks to broadcast a common radio format, either in broadcast syndication or simulcast or both...
which is available nationally. The station, which commenced broadcasting
Broadcasting
Broadcasting is the distribution of audio and video content to a dispersed audience via any audio visual medium. Receiving parties may include the general public or a relatively large subset of thereof...
on Saint Patrick's Day
Saint Patrick's Day
Saint Patrick's Day is a religious holiday celebrated internationally on 17 March. It commemorates Saint Patrick , the most commonly recognised of the patron saints of :Ireland, and the arrival of Christianity in Ireland. It is observed by the Catholic Church, the Anglican Communion , the Eastern...
in 1997, can be received nationally and carries a mix of music and talk. Recently purchased by Denis O'Brien's
Denis O'Brien
Denis O'Brien is an Irish businessman with international connections. An Arts graduate of University College Dublin, O'Brien has received a MBA in corporate finance from Boston College in 1982, and was later given an honorary doctorate by University College Dublin.O'Brien has involvement with...
Communicorp Group Ltd
Communicorp
Communicorp is an Irish media holding company, wholly owned by Denis O'Brien.-Background:Communicorp Group Ltd was formed by Denis O'Brien in 1989. The Group’s radio operations launched in Ireland in the same year and followed with stations in the Czech Republic in 1992...
, Today FM holds a licence from the Broadcasting Commission of Ireland to the year 2017. The station recorded pretax profits of €7.4 million on a turnover of €19.4 million in early 2009, more than twice what it was two years previously.
Origin: Radio Ireland
The original Independent National Radio franchise holder in Ireland was 100-102 Century RadioCentury Radio
Century Radio, also marketed as Century 100 and later Century FM, was an early short-lived national commercial radio station in Ireland .-Transmission:...
, which launched in 1989 and closed down abruptly in late 1991. The Independent Radio and Television Commission did not re-advertise the contract for several years, until 1996.
Radio Ireland Limited, originally owned by John McColgan and Moya Doherty
Moya Doherty
Moya Doherty is a Dublin-raised Irish entrepreneur and the producer and co-founder of Riverdance, the worldwide acclaimed theatrical phenomenon, which premiered in Dublin’s Point Theatre in February 1995...
(and because of their involvement, dubbed "Radio Riverdance
Riverdance
Riverdance is a theatrical show consisting of traditional Irish stepdancing, notable for its rapid leg movements while body and arms are kept largely stationary. It originated as an interval performance during the 1994 Eurovision Song Contest, a moment that is still considered a significant...
"), won the contract when it was advertised. The station went on air on 17 March 1997. At first the station was a mixed network, airing much talk programming and various types of music. However, following six months of disastrous ratings, and with a listenership of just 1%, the station was revamped, and on 1 January 1998 became 100-102 Today FM. The station axed almost all of its programming and changed its music policy entirely. Eamon Dunphy
Eamon Dunphy
Eamon Martin Dunphy is an Irish media personality, radio and television presenter, author, sports pundit, as well as a former professional football player. He is best known as a soccer analyst on Raidió Teilifís Éireann 's coverage of the Premier League and the UEFA Champions League. He was paid...
's co-host (Anne-Marie Hourihan) was axed, with him being heavily promoted as a solo act and Ian Dempsey
Ian Dempsey
Ian Michael Dempsey is an Irish presenter of television and breakfast radio. He is the long-running presenter of the breakfast show on Today FM, self-titled The Ian Dempsey Breakfast Show, which runs from 07:00 - 09:00 each weekday morning...
and Ray D'Arcy
Ray D'Arcy
Raymond 'Ray' D'Arcy is an Irish television and radio presenter. He currently presents a weekday morning radio programme, The Ray D'Arcy Show, on Today FM...
were poached from arch-rivals RTÉ. The IRTC went along with the schedule changes, though in a statement soon after the relaunch said it was not entirely satisfied with the new schedule. However, within three months, the station's listenership had almost doubled.
Since the autumn of 1998, experienced broadcaster and radio programmer Tom Hardy has been Programming Director of Today FM.
Today FM reshuffled its daytime schedule in 2004, reducing The Ian Dempsey Breakfast Show to add an extra hour to The Ray D'Arcy Show so that it could compete directly with rival, The Gerry Ryan Show
The Gerry Ryan Show
The Gerry Ryan Show was RTÉ 2fm's mid-morning radio show...
. Philip Cawley's afternoon show was reduced and Tony Fenton was given a lunchtime show.
Exchanges of ownership
In 2002, Scottish Radio HoldingsScottish Radio Holdings
Scottish Radio Holdings was a Scottish media company which owned 22 radio stations, and around 30 local newspapers in the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland.-History:...
plc acquired Radio Ireland Limited from its shareholders. In June 2005, an agreed takeover offer for that company was made by EMAP
EMAP
Emap Limited is a British media company, specialising in the production of business-to-business magazines, and the organisation of business events and conferences...
plc.
On 16 July 2007 it was announced that Denis O'Brien's Communicorp
Communicorp
Communicorp is an Irish media holding company, wholly owned by Denis O'Brien.-Background:Communicorp Group Ltd was formed by Denis O'Brien in 1989. The Group’s radio operations launched in Ireland in the same year and followed with stations in the Czech Republic in 1992...
had agreed to purchase FM104
FM104
FM104 is an Independent Local Radio station broadcast across Dublin, Ireland, on the frequency 104.4 MHz. It is operated by Capital Radio Productions Limited , and is a subsidiary of UTV Radio. The station broadcasts under a sound broadcasting contract from the Broadcasting Commission of Ireland...
, along with national station Today FM and Donegal station Highland Radio
Highland Radio
Highland Radio is an Irish radio station operating under a licence from the Broadcasting Commission of Ireland, and is the licenced local radio service for the County Donegal franchise. It began broadcasting on March 15, 1990, and is currently franchised until 2014. Highland's headquarters are...
. The sale is however subject to both Competition Authority
Competition Authority (Ireland)
The Competition Authority is the statutory body responsible for regulating competition in the Republic of Ireland. The authority was established under the Section 10 of the to assume the functions of the defunct Fair Trade Commission. The changed the authority from an office of the Department of...
and Broadcasting Commission of Ireland approval. Had the sale been approved in its originally proposed form, both FM104 and 98FM
98FM
98FM may refer to these radio stations using 98MHz:* 98FM * WKCQ* WDZH, also known as "98-7 Amp Radio"....
would be owned by the same company.
On 8 October 2007, Communicorp
Communicorp
Communicorp is an Irish media holding company, wholly owned by Denis O'Brien.-Background:Communicorp Group Ltd was formed by Denis O'Brien in 1989. The Group’s radio operations launched in Ireland in the same year and followed with stations in the Czech Republic in 1992...
's takeover of Today FM was approved by the BCI. Following the Competition Authority's approval for the takeover (on the condition that the enlarged Communicorp disposed of FM104
FM104
FM104 is an Independent Local Radio station broadcast across Dublin, Ireland, on the frequency 104.4 MHz. It is operated by Capital Radio Productions Limited , and is a subsidiary of UTV Radio. The station broadcasts under a sound broadcasting contract from the Broadcasting Commission of Ireland...
to UTV Media), the takeover closed in April 2008.
Relocation
In 2008, Today FM moved their studios from their original base at 112 Upper Abbey Street, Dublin across the Liffey to Marconi House in Digges Lane, Dublin 2. Presenters Matt CooperMatt Cooper (Irish journalist)
Matt Cooper is an Irish journalist and presenter of The Last Word on Today FM.Cooper was educated at the North Monastery school and University College Cork. He is a former editor of the Sunday Tribune, appointed in September 1996, as well as a former business editor of the Irish Independent...
, Ray D'Arcy
Ray D'Arcy
Raymond 'Ray' D'Arcy is an Irish television and radio presenter. He currently presents a weekday morning radio programme, The Ray D'Arcy Show, on Today FM...
, Ian Dempsey
Ian Dempsey
Ian Michael Dempsey is an Irish presenter of television and breakfast radio. He is the long-running presenter of the breakfast show on Today FM, self-titled The Ian Dempsey Breakfast Show, which runs from 07:00 - 09:00 each weekday morning...
and Tom Dunne
Tom Dunne
Thomas 'Tom' Dunne is an Irish radio broadcaster with Newstalk. He presents The Tom Dunne Show on weekday mornings between 10:00am and midday. He used to have a show called Pet Sounds on Today FM but gave it up...
spent hours recreating the iconic picture used for the cover of The Beatles
The Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
's 11th album, Abbey Road to publicise their move. On 29 February 2008, Matt Cooper's The Last Word
The Last Word (radio show)
The Last Word is an Irish radio news review show hosted by Matt Cooper on Today FM on weekday evenings. Eamon Dunphy originally hosted the show but stepped down in November 2002.Kevin Myers was a regular stand-in presenter in the early years of the show....
was the final show to be presented from the old studios. The first show to be presented from the new studios was Friday Night 80s with Phil Cawley from 19:00. The first song played was "Welcome to the Pleasuredome
Welcome to the Pleasuredome (song)
"Welcome to the Pleasuredome" is the title track to the 1984 debut album by Frankie Goes to Hollywood. The lyrics of the song were inspired by the poem Kubla Khan by Samuel Taylor Coleridge....
" by Frankie Goes to Hollywood
Frankie Goes to Hollywood
Frankie Goes to Hollywood were a British dance-pop band popular in the mid-1980s. The group was fronted by Holly Johnson , with Paul Rutherford , Peter Gill , Mark O'Toole , and Brian Nash .The group's debut single "Relax" was banned by the BBC in 1984 while at number six in the charts and...
. Also in 2008 (25 October) Today FM celebrated ten years of broadcasting live English Premier League football.
Ray D'Arcy/Des Bishop incident
In April 2006, Ray D'Arcy conducted an interview with comedian Des BishopDes Bishop
Des Bishop is an Irish comedian and was brought up in New York. He is now primarily based in Ireland, after moving to County Wexford in 1990 at the age of 14.-Approach to Comedy:...
. Bishop joked about being gay
Gay
Gay is a word that refers to a homosexual person, especially a homosexual male. For homosexual women the specific term is "lesbian"....
. D'Arcy asked Bishop to provide an "exclusive". Bishop said, "I'm gay... I'm not, but hey!" D'Arcy said, "You're very comfortable with your sexuality?" Bishop said, "Me and Derek Mooney
Derek Mooney
Derek James Mooney is an Irish radio and television presenter, as well as a radio producer. He currently presents a weekday afternoon programme called Mooney on RTÉ Radio 1....
are doing a show". The audience laughed. D'Arcy moved to a commercial break before, he said, Bishop "outs
Outing
Outing is the act of disclosing a gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender person's true sexual orientation or gender identity without that person's consent. Outing gives rise to issues of privacy, choice, hypocrisy, and harm in addition to sparking debate on what constitutes common good in efforts...
anyone else". The incident provoked much commentary in the media, with the Sunday Independent
Sunday Independent
The Sunday Independent is a broadsheet Sunday newspaper published in Ireland by Independent News and Media plc. The newspaper is edited by Aengus Fanning, and is the biggest selling Irish Sunday newspaper by a large margin ; average circulation of 291,323 between June 2004 and January 2005,...
observing "Instantly, the Irish-American comedian was the villain of the piece and Derek was all over the front page", while Ray D'Arcy was also criticised for his choice of words.
Urinating Taoiseach caricature emails
This happened in March 2009, involving Will HanafinWill Hanafin
William 'Will' Hanafin is an Irish journalist, a researcher, television producer and radio presenter from Youghal, County Cork. He can currently be heard on The Ray D'Arcy Show on Today FM, largely in the background offering advice to listeners but he sometimes presents the show solo. He has been...
and The Ray D'Arcy Show
The Ray D'Arcy Show
The Ray D'Arcy Show is Today FM's weekday mid-morning radio show presented by Ray D'Arcy. It is on air from 09:00–12:00 midday, competing with RTÉ 2fm's Ryan Tubridy, RTÉ Radio 1's Pat Kenny and Newstalk's Tom Dunne .The production team of Jenny Kelly, Will Hanafin and Mairead Farrell and...
.
Sam Smyth sacking
On 15 October 2011, Today FM confirmed Sam Smyth's Sunday radio show was being dropped. He had been presenting it for 14 years. Smyth had previously offended his bosses by commenting in a newspaper and on television about the Moriarty TribunalMoriarty Tribunal
The Tribunal of Inquiry into certain Payments to Politicians and Related Matters was an Irish Public inquiry established in 1997 into the financial affairs of politicians Charles Haughey and Michael Lowry. It has revealed significant tax evasion by these and other politicians and leading...
which criticised Today FM owner Denis O'Brien. Smyth said on air the next morning that he had been told not to talk about the end of his show and stopped one of his guests from talking about it too "before someone comes downstairs and pulls a wire we better move onto something else." The National Union of Journalists (NUJ) said it was concerned at the development. The Irish Independent, of which Denis O'Brien is a leading shareholder, reported that Anton Savage was being lined up to replace Sam Smyth.
Schedule
Today FM airs a mixture of popular musicPopular music
Popular music belongs to any of a number of musical genres "having wide appeal" and is typically distributed to large audiences through the music industry. It stands in contrast to both art music and traditional music, which are typically disseminated academically or orally to smaller, local...
and news
News
News is the communication of selected information on current events which is presented by print, broadcast, Internet, or word of mouth to a third party or mass audience.- Etymology :...
and current affairs
Current affairs (news format)
Current Affairs is a genre of broadcast journalism where the emphasis is on detailed analysis and discussion of news stories that have recently occurred or are ongoing at the time of broadcast....
programming. The station broadcasts 24-hours a day; however, from around 0200 until 0500 on weekdays and 0100 until 0600/0700 on weekends, the station just broadcasts back-to-back music overnight with no presenters or programmes. This is done by many Irish radio stations, usually to save costs in employing overnight presenters and technicians.
The flagship current affairs programme on Today FM is The Last Word
The Last Word (radio show)
The Last Word is an Irish radio news review show hosted by Matt Cooper on Today FM on weekday evenings. Eamon Dunphy originally hosted the show but stepped down in November 2002.Kevin Myers was a regular stand-in presenter in the early years of the show....
, currently presented (most of the time anyway) by Matt Cooper
Matt Cooper (Irish journalist)
Matt Cooper is an Irish journalist and presenter of The Last Word on Today FM.Cooper was educated at the North Monastery school and University College Cork. He is a former editor of the Sunday Tribune, appointed in September 1996, as well as a former business editor of the Irish Independent...
. The latest JNLR figures revealed that this programme enjoyed a listenership of 215,000, over-taking rival Drivetime
Drivetime (RTÉ)
Drivetime is an Irish news and current affairs radio programme broadcast by RTÉ Radio 1 on Mondays to Fridays between 16.30 and 19.00. It attracts approximately 229,000 listeners daily....
on RTÉ Radio 1
RTÉ Radio 1
RTÉ Radio 1 is the principal radio channel of Irish public-service broadcaster Raidió Teilifís Éireann and is the direct descendant of Dublin radio station 2RN, which began broadcasting on a regular basis on 1 January 1926...
for the first time ever. The Last Word is precded from Monday until Thursday by Tony Fenton
Tony fenton
Anthony James Fagan , known professionally as Tony Fenton, is an Irish radio presenter and DJ, currently working with Today FM. He has been with Today FM since 2004, having previously presented a show on RTÉ 2fm, which he left in 2003. Fenton is "one of Ireland's favourite pop DJs". Louis Walsh has...
's self-titled afternoon show and followed by Paul McLoone
Paul McLoone
Paul McLoone , is the current singer of Irish pop-punk band The Undertones. He replaced Feargal Sharkey when the band reunited for a series of festival appearances in 1999...
's self-titled evening music programme.
Of note is the station's satirical slot, Gift Grub
Gift Grub
Gift Grub is a series of short comic pieces broadcast on weekdays on the breakfast show of Irish commercial radio station Today FM since 8 May 1999...
, a feature broadcast during The Ian Dempsey Breakfast Show
The Ian Dempsey Breakfast Show
The Ian Dempsey Breakfast Show is an Irish radio show broadcast on weekday mornings from 07:00 - 09:00 on Today FM. Presented by Ian Dempsey, it is noted for its Gift Grub feature, performed by Mario Rosenstock...
(presented by Ian Dempsey
Ian Dempsey
Ian Michael Dempsey is an Irish presenter of television and breakfast radio. He is the long-running presenter of the breakfast show on Today FM, self-titled The Ian Dempsey Breakfast Show, which runs from 07:00 - 09:00 each weekday morning...
from 0700 until 0900 each weekday morning), which is performed by Mario Rosenstock
Mario Rosenstock
Mario Rosenstock born 31 August 1971, is an Irish actor, comedian, impressionist and musician who is best known for his parody music singles and his role in the Gift Grub comedy series on Irish radio station Today FM....
and includes popular caricatures of former Taoiseach
Taoiseach
The Taoiseach is the head of government or prime minister of Ireland. The Taoiseach is appointed by the President upon the nomination of Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Oireachtas , and must, in order to remain in office, retain the support of a majority in the Dáil.The current Taoiseach is...
Bertie Ahern
Bertie Ahern
Patrick Bartholomew "Bertie" Ahern is a former Irish politician who served as Taoiseach of Ireland from 26 June 1997 to 7 May 2008....
, politician Joan Burton
Joan Burton
Joan Burton is an Irish Labour Party politician and the current Minister for Social Protection. She is a Teachta Dála for the Dublin West constituency....
and singers Daniel O'Donnell
Daniel O'Donnell
Daniel or Danny O'Donnell may refer to:* Daniel O'Donnell, Irish singer* Daniel O'Donnell , American legislator from the state of New York* Danny O'Donnell * Danny O'Donnell...
and Keith Duffy
Keith Duffy
Keith Peter Thomas Francis John Duffy is an Irish singer-songwriter, actor, drummer, dancer and television presenter. He began his career as part of Boyzone in the 1990s. In the 2000s, he achieved critical acclaim for his acting roles, particularly in soap operas such as Coronation Street and Fair...
. The Ian Dempsey Breakfast Show is followed by the "Two Rays": D'Arcy
Ray D'Arcy
Raymond 'Ray' D'Arcy is an Irish television and radio presenter. He currently presents a weekday morning radio programme, The Ray D'Arcy Show, on Today FM...
and Foley
Ray Foley
Raymond 'Ray' Foley is an Irish radio presenter. He currently presents The Ray Foley Show on Today FM at weekday lunch times. Having worked at 98FM and Spin 1038 early in his career, Foley moved to Today FM in 2004, presenting the night time show The Blast with, "JP" Gilbourne...
, both of whom have each won three Meteor Music Awards
Meteor Music Awards
The Meteor Ireland Music Awards are a group of music awards in Ireland...
. The Ray D'Arcy Show
The Ray D'Arcy Show
The Ray D'Arcy Show is Today FM's weekday mid-morning radio show presented by Ray D'Arcy. It is on air from 09:00–12:00 midday, competing with RTÉ 2fm's Ryan Tubridy, RTÉ Radio 1's Pat Kenny and Newstalk's Tom Dunne .The production team of Jenny Kelly, Will Hanafin and Mairead Farrell and...
has more listeners than its RTÉ rivals as of 2011. Ray Foley is originally from rural County Mayo
County Mayo
County Mayo is a county in Ireland. It is located in the West Region and is also part of the province of Connacht. It is named after the village of Mayo, which is now generally known as Mayo Abbey. Mayo County Council is the local authority for the county. The population of the county is 130,552...
, a NUTS
Nomenclature of Territorial Units for Statistics
The Nomenclature of Territorial Units for Statistics or Nomenclature of Units for Territorial Statistics is a geocode standard for referencing the subdivisions of countries for statistical purposes...
Level III region in the West of Ireland
West Region, Ireland
The West Region is a NUTS Level III region of Ireland and is governed by the West Regional Authority. It consists of the area under the jurisdiction of the county councils of counties Galway, Mayo and Roscommon, along with Galway City Council. The West region spans 13,801 km², 20% of the total area...
, and his presence is particularly novel at a Dublin radio station.
Some other less important, but nonetheless worth mentioning, DJs at the station include Phil Cawley, KC, Dave Couse
Dave Couse
Dave Couse is a musician, producer, and radio DJ. He was the lead singer and main song writer with Irish band A House and has released three albums as a solo artist...
(also the singer with A House
A House
A House was an Irish band from the 1980s to the 1990s, recognized for the clever, "often bitter or irony laden lyrics of [frontman] Dave Couse ... bolstered by the [band's] seemingly effortless musicality". The single "Endless Art" is one of their best known charting successes. A House were managed...
), Donal Dineen
Donal Dineen
Donal Dineen is an Irish radio presenter, photographer, film maker and former television presenter from County Kerry. He currently presents an assortment of electronica and world music on his Small Hours late-night radio show on Today FM...
, Derek Flood and Tim Kelly. Bob Conway is a "swing jock". Declan Meehan
Declan Meehan
Declan Meehan is an Irish radio presenter. Currently fronting The Morning Show with local radio station East Coast FM, his career has incorporated involvement with multiple pirate radio stations and, later, Radio 2...
and Martin King
Martin King (weather presenter)
Martin Boyle , known professionally as Martin King, is the weather anchor with TV3 in Ireland. He is one of TV's most recognisable weather forecasters. He is also a co-presenter of The Morning Show with Sybil & Martin on TV3 and has his own radio show on Today FM.-TV career:When TV3 launched in...
are two weekend-only presenters, with Declan Meehan having been involved with the station from its inception.
Former presenters of Radio Ireland/Today FM include Philip Boucher-Hayes
Philip Boucher-Hayes
Philip Boucher-Hayes is head of RTÉ's Radio Investigative Unit. He is a news reporter, radio presenter and occasionally appears on television. As a news reporter, RTÉ has dispatched Boucher-Hayes to a number of remote locations including Kosovo, Israel, Iran, Iraq and New York City...
, Mark Byrne, Mark Cagney
Mark Cagney
Mark Cagney was born in Cork, Ireland. Cagney was one of eight children in the family; he left home at age 15 because of difficulties with his father, who he described as a "remarkable man": an inventor, a musician, a welder, a mechanic, and a lecturer in electronics. Cagney learned how to take...
, Enda Caldwell
Enda Caldwell
Enda Caldwell is an Irish radio personality and voice actor from Kilberry, Navan, County Meath.-Early life and education:...
, Breffni Clack, Alison Curtis
Alison Curtis
Alison "Ally" Curtis is a presenter of radio on Irish national radio station Today FM and a respected figure on the Irish music scene...
(The Last Splash and The Alison Curtis Show featuring Mister Ed Smith), Tom Dunne
Tom Dunne
Thomas 'Tom' Dunne is an Irish radio broadcaster with Newstalk. He presents The Tom Dunne Show on weekday mornings between 10:00am and midday. He used to have a show called Pet Sounds on Today FM but gave it up...
(Pet Sounds), Eamon Dunphy
Eamon Dunphy
Eamon Martin Dunphy is an Irish media personality, radio and television presenter, author, sports pundit, as well as a former professional football player. He is best known as a soccer analyst on Raidió Teilifís Éireann 's coverage of the Premier League and the UEFA Champions League. He was paid...
(original presenter of The Last Word), Bob Gallico, Tommy Greene, Anne-Marie Hourihan (originally Eamon Dunphy's co-host), Bill Hughes
Bill Hughes
William Frederick Hughes CBE QPM was Director General of Britain's Serious Organised Crime Agency until his retirement on 31 August 2010, when he was succeeded by his deputy Trevor Pearce. He was formerly Director General of the National Crime Squad, until its merger with SOCA on April 1, 2006...
, Robbie Irwin (weekend sports programs presenter), Mark Kavanagh (dance show), Ann Marie Kelly, John Kelly, Stephen Keogh, Tracey Lee, Nails Mahoney (briefly), the late Dermot Morgan
Dermot Morgan
Dermot John Morgan was an Irish comedian, actor and former schoolteacher, who achieved international renown for his roles as Father Ted Crilly in the Channel 4 sitcom Father Ted and a strip club MC in Taffin....
, Paddy Murray and Liam Mackey (Murray and Mackey), Ian Noctor (newsreader who also for a period presented Dad Rock) Ed Myers, Paul Power, Ita Ryan (The Celtic Reel), John Ryan
John Ryan (publisher)
John Ryan is an Irish former publishing tycoon-turned comic actor/writer. He is best known for his publishing empire which included the magazine New York Dog and the website blogorrah.com, he did achieve success with magazines such as VIP with former business partner, Michael O'Doherty...
(original presenter of The Sunday Supplement), Donal Scannell, Jon Troy (Between The Sheets - love songs), and Karl Tsigdinos (The River of Soul).
Current presenters and shows
This is the current Today FM Schedule.| Time | Monday - Thursday | Friday | Saturday | Sunday |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 05:00 | Louise Duffy | |||
| 06:00 | ||||
| 07:00 | The Ian Dempsey Breakfast Show The Ian Dempsey Breakfast Show The Ian Dempsey Breakfast Show is an Irish radio show broadcast on weekday mornings from 07:00 - 09:00 on Today FM. Presented by Ian Dempsey, it is noted for its Gift Grub feature, performed by Mario Rosenstock... |
The Saturday Breakfastwith Martin King Martin King (weather presenter) Martin Boyle , known professionally as Martin King, is the weather anchor with TV3 in Ireland. He is one of TV's most recognisable weather forecasters. He is also a co-presenter of The Morning Show with Sybil & Martin on TV3 and has his own radio show on Today FM.-TV career:When TV3 launched in... |
Declan Meehan Declan Meehan Declan Meehan is an Irish radio presenter. Currently fronting The Morning Show with local radio station East Coast FM, his career has incorporated involvement with multiple pirate radio stations and, later, Radio 2... |
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| 08:00 | ||||
| 09:00 | The Ray D'Arcy Show The Ray D'Arcy Show The Ray D'Arcy Show is Today FM's weekday mid-morning radio show presented by Ray D'Arcy. It is on air from 09:00–12:00 midday, competing with RTÉ 2fm's Ryan Tubridy, RTÉ Radio 1's Pat Kenny and Newstalk's Tom Dunne .The production team of Jenny Kelly, Will Hanafin and Mairead Farrell and... |
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| 10:00 | The Very Last Word The Last Word (radio show) The Last Word is an Irish radio news review show hosted by Matt Cooper on Today FM on weekday evenings. Eamon Dunphy originally hosted the show but stepped down in November 2002.Kevin Myers was a regular stand-in presenter in the early years of the show.... |
Sunday Business Show | ||
| 11:00 | Phil's Saturday Show | Sam Smyth On Sunday | ||
| 12:00 | Ray Foley | |||
| 13:00 | Classic Gold Sunday | |||
| 14:00 | Premier League Live | |||
| 14:30 | Tony Fenton Tony fenton Anthony James Fagan , known professionally as Tony Fenton, is an Irish radio presenter and DJ, currently working with Today FM. He has been with Today FM since 2004, having previously presented a show on RTÉ 2fm, which he left in 2003. Fenton is "one of Ireland's favourite pop DJs". Louis Walsh has... |
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| 15:00 | ||||
| 16:00 | Today FM Top 40 | |||
| 16:30 | The Last Word The Last Word (radio show) The Last Word is an Irish radio news review show hosted by Matt Cooper on Today FM on weekday evenings. Eamon Dunphy originally hosted the show but stepped down in November 2002.Kevin Myers was a regular stand-in presenter in the early years of the show.... |
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| 17:00 | ||||
| 18:00 | Planet Hits | |||
| 19:00 | Paul McLoone Paul McLoone Paul McLoone , is the current singer of Irish pop-punk band The Undertones. He replaced Feargal Sharkey when the band reunited for a series of festival appearances in 1999... |
Friday Night 80's | KC at Night | |
| 20:00 | ||||
| 21:00 | ||||
| 22:00 | KC at Night | Ed's Indie Disco | The Lighthousewith Dave Couse Dave Couse Dave Couse is a musician, producer, and radio DJ. He was the lead singer and main song writer with Irish band A House and has released three albums as a solo artist... |
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| 23:00 | Friday Night with JP | |||
| 00:00 | Small Hours Small Hours Small Hours is the current late night radio show hosted by Donal Dineen on Today FM. It commenced broadcasting in 2004, following the seven-year tenure of Here Comes the Night... Donal Dineen Donal Dineen Donal Dineen is an Irish radio presenter, photographer, film maker and former television presenter from County Kerry. He currently presents an assortment of electronica and world music on his Small Hours late-night radio show on Today FM... |
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| 01:00 | ||||
See also
- Alice CooperAlice CooperAlice Cooper is an American rock singer, songwriter and musician whose career spans more than four decades...
(Nights with Alice CooperNights with Alice CooperNights with Alice Cooper is a radio show hosted by rock and roll artist and shock rock pioneer Alice Cooper. It is syndicated by United Stations Radio Networks and broadcast on over 100 radio stations in the US, seven in Canada, and is also available in the UK , Germany , Ireland, Australia ,...
) - List of Irish radio stations
- List of Irish companies
- Tom Hardy (broadcaster)Tom Hardy (broadcaster)Having cut his pirate radio teeth running the unofficial station Radio Wessex whilst at teacher training college in Weymouth in Dorset and after a brief spell as a secondary school science teacher Tom Hardy began his professional radio career on the offshore pirate radio ships The Voice of Peace...