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Irish Daily Mirror
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Irish Daily Mirror
Carl Mullan 'upset' when Doireann Garrihy and Donncha O'Callaghan quit 2FM
RTÉ star Carl Mullan says he was 'upset' when Doireann Garrihy and Donncha O'Callaghan quit hosting 2FM Breakfast. The trio split after Doireann and Donncha left 2FM last year, with Doireann returning to the station to host Drivetime several months later. Carl said he was 'really worried' that it would also be the end of his friendship with the pair. Speaking to the RTÉ Guide, Carl said: 'From my point of view, I was upset that two people I'd become very close to were leaving. Donncha, Doireann and I had managed to land on something with that show that was very special. 'We enjoyed it so much. I was really worried at the time that with them leaving the show, it would be the end of our friendship and that's what upset me the most," he admitted. "But very quickly, I realised they're not going anywhere and sure we're in touch all the time. I can't get rid of them," he said, jokingly. Speaking about co-hosting breakfast radio with co-hosts Roz Purcell and Aisling Bonner, Carl said the trio have 'found their groove'. "It's all settling in now and with Roz and Aisling, we've found our groove. It's a different dynamic and new personalities but that's the thing I'm enjoying most about it. 'My worry was that I would be always comparing but we get on so well; it's different but that's OK and it makes it exciting," he added. 2FM Breakfast presenters Carl Mullan, Aisling Bonner and Roz Purcell (Image: Andres Poveda) The dad of three opened up about how he landed the breakfast gig, saying he pitched himself in a video to 2FM bosses. He said: "I always had a scratch I wanted to itch to be on air, but I almost felt if I said it out loud people would think that I had this massive ego. 'Then one day something clicked and I realised that no one cared about what I was doing. I was totally overthinking it. 'So, I started knocking on doors and asking the bosses in 2FM to meet for coffee." He got his first chance on air on St Stephen's Day in 2014 as holiday cover. There was a "technical issue" while he was on, with the result that he put the entire station off the air. "Thankfully, they told me it happens to everyone at least once." From there, he did Weekend Breakfast and did bits with Nicky Byrne and Jenny Greene until the job on the Breakfast show came up. "I don't think I ever told this but when the Breakfast show opportunity came up and I had put myself forward for it, I knew I needed to do something extra to stand out. I knew I needed to throw myself into it, so I sat down and recorded a video for the bosses in 2FM where I pitched myself. 'I remember hitting 'send' and thinking that either sinks me or it's what gets me the job." The gamble paid off and he was announced in the lineup with Doireann and Donncha in 2021. "It's been a big learning curve for me over the years, that idea that opportunity will come and find you. It will not, you have to keep knocking at the doors," he added. Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest news from the Irish Mirror direct to your inbox: Sign up here. The Irish Mirror's Crime Writers Michael O'Toole and Paul Healy are writing a new weekly newsletter called Crime Ireland. Click here to sign up and get it delivered to your inbox every week
Irish Independent
22-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Independent
Ray D'Arcy's ‘amazing' mother Mary to be laid to rest on Wednesday
Mother of nine children, Mary D'Arcy, passed away 'peacefully' at Naas Hospital in Co Kildare on Friday, July 18. Kildare born radio and television presenter Ray D'Arcy had a close relationship with his mother. In 2001 Mary D'Arcy even interviewed and sang with star of The Pogues, Shane MacGowan, in her kitchen in Co Kildare for her son's radio show, The Ray D'Arcy Show, which was airing on Today FM at the time. In 2019, during an interview with the RTÉ Guide's Donal O'Donoghue, Ray, who has two children, Kate and Tom with his wife Jenny, said that having children changed his view of the world and brought him even closer to his mother. 'I didn't hug my mum until six or seven years ago,' Ray told Donal. 'But I hug her all the time now and tell her that I love her. I'd never have done that years ago but as you get older, especially when you have your own children, you see the world differently. "Also when you have children, you want to keep the generations connected and you feel more of a pull home. You want your children to be part of this family and to know the mother that you knew.' Describing his mother Mary, Ray added: 'She's probably referred to locally as a saint. My mum is amazing, a very thoughtful, insightful and intelligent woman. She's now in her 80s but travels to Dublin most Wednesdays to go to a movie and can chat about any current news story.' Since news broke of Mary's passing, has been flooded with tribute messages remembering a lady who brought 'sunshine to everyone lucky enough to have crossed her path'. 'Aunty Mary was such a warm and welcoming presence in my life,' wrote one of hundreds of mourners paying tribute to Mary on 'I have such fond memories of her open house during my visits to Kildare. She always made me feel right at home, with her kindness, her generous spirit, and her lovely homemade bread. "She was also a truly remarkable woman who will be deeply missed by all who knew her. Thinking of you all during this very difficult time and keeping you in my thoughts and prayers.' ADVERTISEMENT "What a wonderful, strong woman Mary was,' added another mourner. 'A true lady who brought help, encouragement and sunshine to everyone lucky enough to have crossed her path. "Condolences to all the family on your very sad loss. Thinking of all of you. Rest easy now Mary, your work is done. You will be sorely missed in Kildare Town.' Mary's remains will repose at McWey's Funeral Home, Abbeyview in Kildare Town from 4pm on Tuesday July 22, concluding with rosary at 7pm. Follow Independent Kildare on Facebook Removal by Glennon's Funeral Directors will take place on Wednesday morning, July 23, to arrive at St. Brigid's Parish Church in Kildare Town for requiem mass at 11am. Burial will take place afterwards in St. Conleth's Cemetery in Kildare Town. "Mary D'Arcy née Bonar, Campion Crescent, Kildare Town, Co Kildare,' read her death notice on 'Peacefully on July 18, 2025, at Naas Hospital. "Pre deceased by her husband Ray (Snr). Sadly missed by her loving children Joe, Jackie, Ray, Hughie, Anne, Paul, Marianne, Claire and Joan, sons and daughters in law, her 16 grandchildren and two great grandchildren, sister Angela, brother Bill, sisters in law, nieces, nephews, extended family, neighbours and friends.'
Irish Independent
22-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Independent
Ray D'Arcy's ‘amazing' mother to be laid to rest on Wednesday
Mother of nine children, Mary D'Arcy, passed away 'peacefully' at Naas Hospital in Co Kildare on Friday, July 18. Kildare born radio and television presenter Ray D'Arcy had a close relationship with his mother. In 2001 Mary D'Arcy even interviewed and sang with star of The Pogues, Shane MacGowan, in her kitchen in Co Kildare for her son's radio show, The Ray D'Arcy Show, which was airing on Today FM at the time. In 2019, during an interview with the RTÉ Guide's Donal O'Donoghue, Ray, who has two children, Kate and Tom with his wife Jenny, said that having children changed his view of the world and brought him even closer to his mother. 'I didn't hug my mum until six or seven years ago,' Ray told Donal. 'But I hug her all the time now and tell her that I love her. I'd never have done that years ago but as you get older, especially when you have your own children, you see the world differently. "Also when you have children, you want to keep the generations connected and you feel more of a pull home. You want your children to be part of this family and to know the mother that you knew.' Describing his mother Mary, Ray added: 'She's probably referred to locally as a saint. My mum is amazing, a very thoughtful, insightful and intelligent woman. She's now in her 80s but travels to Dublin most Wednesdays to go to a movie and can chat about any current news story.' Since news broke of Mary's passing, has been flooded with tribute messages remembering a lady who brought 'sunshine to everyone lucky enough to have crossed her path'. 'Aunty Mary was such a warm and welcoming presence in my life,' wrote one of hundreds of mourners paying tribute to Mary on 'I have such fond memories of her open house during my visits to Kildare. She always made me feel right at home, with her kindness, her generous spirit, and her lovely homemade bread. "She was also a truly remarkable woman who will be deeply missed by all who knew her. Thinking of you all during this very difficult time and keeping you in my thoughts and prayers.' ADVERTISEMENT "What a wonderful, strong woman Mary was,' added another mourner. 'A true lady who brought help, encouragement and sunshine to everyone lucky enough to have crossed her path. "Condolences to all the family on your very sad loss. Thinking of all of you. Rest easy now Mary, your work is done. You will be sorely missed in Kildare Town.' Mary's remains will repose at McWey's Funeral Home, Abbeyview in Kildare Town from 4pm on Tuesday July 22, concluding with rosary at 7pm. Follow Independent Kildare on Facebook Removal by Glennon's Funeral Directors will take place on Wednesday morning, July 23, to arrive at St. Brigid's Parish Church in Kildare Town for requiem mass at 11am. Burial will take place afterwards in St. Conleth's Cemetery in Kildare Town. "Mary D'Arcy née Bonar, Campion Crescent, Kildare Town, Co Kildare,' read her death notice on 'Peacefully on July 18, 2025, at Naas Hospital. "Pre deceased by her husband Ray (Snr). Sadly missed by her loving children Joe, Jackie, Ray, Hughie, Anne, Paul, Marianne, Claire and Joan, sons and daughters in law, her 16 grandchildren and two great grandchildren, sister Angela, brother Bill, sisters in law, nieces, nephews, extended family, neighbours and friends.'
Sunday World
23-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Sunday World
Joe Duffy says family were ‘adamant' he left RTÉ to retire
The 69-year-old will host Liveline for the last time next week Joe Duffy has said his family were 'adamant' that he left RTÉ to retire. The veteran presenter announced his plans to step down from presenting Liveline on RTÉ Radio One in May. Speaking to the RTÉ Guide ahead of his final show next Friday, the 69-year-old said is daughter Ellen encouraged him to retire. 'My contract in RTÉ, already extended by two years, was due to finish at the end of June. There was talk about going on for a bit longer,' he said. 'RTÉ were interested. But my family were adamant, adamant, that I go. 'I'm sixty-nine, and my daughter Ellen was saying that she was sick of seeing other dads retiring too late in life or not getting that chance to retire,' he added. 'When my children were born in 1995, I was going through a rough patch in my career. 'Gay was thinking of retiring from the radio, and I was on the radio all the time for his show.' Joe shares triplets, Ronan, Ellen, and Seán, with his wife June Meehan. In May, Duffy announced his departure from the national broadcaster live on air. "After 37 wonderful years here in RTÉ, and 27 years presenting Liveline, it has been an incredible honour and privilege to be part of a programme that relied entirely on trust: the trust of our listeners,' he said. "People felt they could pick up the phone, ring Liveline, and share their lives, problems, stories sad, bad, sometimes mad and funny, their struggles, and their victories. Joe Duffy News in 90 Seconds - June 19th "I never took that for granted, not for a single minute. RTÉ has been a great place to work. Public service has always been at its heart,' he continued. "And now, after many happy years, I've decided the time has come to move on. I would like to thank you the listener for tuning in each and every day, it has been an honour to sit in this seat and hear your stories.' Joe's final Liveline programme will air on Friday June 27th.
Irish Examiner
06-05-2025
- Health
- Irish Examiner
RTÉ's Cathy Halloran opens up about cancer diagnosis following retirement
RTÉ correspondent Cathy Halloran has opened up about her breast cancer diagnosis following her retirement from the national broadcaster. After 38 years with the national broadcaster, the former mid-west correspondent retired on Friday. Posting on social media following her final broadcast, she described meeting the thousands of people she has encountered over her 38-year career as 'a privilege'. In her first interview since announcing her retirement, Halloran revealed that she received a cancer diagnosis in March 2024, just six months after her partner Nicky Woulfe was also diagnosed. While both have received the all-clear and their prognoses are positive, their diagnoses have shifted their priorities and shaped their recent decisions. Speaking to the RTÉ Guide about the day she received her diagnosis, she said: "If you are diagnosed with a life-threatening illness, it focuses the mind. I feel good now. I don't feel 64, more like early 50s. And apart from the cancer diagnosis, I've been healthy.' Over & out—last day @rtenews after 38 years 31as Mid West Correspondent 🙏to the 000's I met & interviewed been a privilege 🌷 — Cathy Halloran (@HalloranCathy) May 2, 2025 Halloran opened up about how her 20-year-old son John Michael took the news of her diagnosis, just six months after learning of his dad's cancer diagnosis. "The biggest challenge was do I tell John Michael? He started college in 2023, Woulfe got cancer that October and within six months cancer had visited us both. So, with John Michael, I decided to wait until I knew more: I didn't want to burst his bubble. But he was wondering why I had been up and down to Cork. I eventually told him then about the cancer diagnosis and the visits to BreastCheck. 'He just asked me: "Mum, will you get better?' And I said: 'Absolutely!' He didn't ask me any more questions. So that's my cancer story. But I was determined to go back to work, and I did in May 2024, just in time for the Limerick mayoral election and local elections. In many ways, work was therapy for me. Speaking about how she met Woulfe, she said she knew him from being in and out of the RTÉ studio back in the day, long before they were a couple. 'I was there with the big hair and miniskirt and the lipstick. He asked, 'Who's your one?' We later met in a pub, and it went from there. Now here's a story that you can make of what you will,' she said. Going on to speak about her son, she said she believes he was a gift, after finding out she was pregnant with him in her early 40s, after meeting Woulfe at 42. "I was 43 when I had John Michael. I waited so long for him and then, the next thing, he arrived. Right through my 30s, I wanted to have a child, but I was also so happy with my nieces and nephews. And the next thing, didn't it happen,' she said. She said that when she fell pregnant she worried about how she would manage her job with a baby but said she learned to adapt. Speaking about what she wants to do next with her life, she shared plans to travel: Europe, Chicago, the world, visit museums and galleries, and said that university - something she never did - is also an itch. Reflecting on her time at RTÉ, she said she will take with her the memories and said she is proud of the scripts that she wrote down through the years.
