Ray D'Arcy

Template:Short description Template:Use Hiberno-English Template:Use dmy dates Template:Infobox person Raymond Michael D'Arcy (born 1 September 1964) is an Irish television and radio presenter currently on his second stint at state broadcaster RTÉ.

D'Arcy came to prominence in the 1990s with a television career on RTÉ, presenting children's television on The Den, a quiz show called Blackboard Jungle and the youth music show 2Phat. In the 2000s he presented television coverage of The Rose of Tralee beauty pageant each August for four consecutive years until 2010.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

D'Arcy once presented a self-titled weekday morning radio programme on the Denis O'Brien-owned Today FM. His professional partner on that show, Jenny Kelly, became his wife on 24 August 2013 and they have two children.

D'Arcy rejoined RTÉ in 2015.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Early life

D'Arcy was born into a working-class family of nine with one earner, his father, a non-commissioned officer, in Tipperary in 1964.<ref name=motivated_money_very_well_paid/> His grandmother died at the age of 54 from lung cancer when D'Arcy was 11.<ref name="darcy_dunphy_back_on_radio">Template:Cite news</ref>

Always into his music and his broadcasting, D'Arcy began discoing in 1979 at the age of 15.<ref>Template:Cite newsTemplate:Dead link</ref> He attended Trinity College Dublin, to take a degree in psychology,<ref name=motivated_money_very_well_paid/> and graduated in 1985.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Career

D'Arcy has been a presenter for both TV and radio, beginning this career by joining RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta in 1985.<ref name=":0">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Television

D'Arcy's first position as TV presenter began in 1988 on the show Jo Maxi.<ref name=":0" />

In 1990, D'Arcy replaced Ian Dempsey as the presenter of The Den, RTÉ's flagship children's television series. He remained its main human presenter until 1998. His career in children's television later featured in the 2008 documentary Best Bitz From Back Den.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> D'Arcy also presented the quiz show Blackboard Jungle at the time before presenting youth music quiz 2Phat. In addition, he presented the UTV and RTÉ collaborative travel show Bon Voyage! for one season. He was the presenter of several short-running or once-off broadcasts for RTÉ, including Ireland's version of the Test The Nation franchise and the Irish Young Scientist Awards. Until 2005 he presented You're a Star,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> a talent show established to find Ireland's entrant for the Eurovision Song Contest. In 2005, D'Arcy took over as Rose of Tralee presenter.<ref>Template:Cite newsTemplate:Dead link</ref> On 1 April 2010, after five years, he stood down so as to spend more time with his family as they grew older.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Television roles dried up as the 2000s progressed, though he presented When Dreams Come True in 2005<ref>"When Dreams Come True: Ray D'Arcy Returns This Week To Makes More Dreams Come True". 4 December 2005.</ref> and hosted Eurosong 2008 at the University of Limerick Concert Hall.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> and presented one episode of The Panel later that year.<ref>Template:Cite newsTemplate:Dead link</ref> That same year, he ruled out applying to host The Late Late Show,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> despite being linked to this prime-time slot.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> On 1 December 2008, he announced on his Today FM radio show that he would be participating in the second season of Celebrity Bainisteoir; he managed County Kildare team Rathangan.<ref>The Ray D'Arcy Show. Today FM. 1 December 2008.</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Radio

In 1998, one year after the station's launch, D'Arcy began presenting The Ray D'Arcy Show on Today FM. Initially the show occupied the 10:00 to 12:45 timeslot, replacing a show presented by Tim Kelly. This slot was later changed to 9:00 to 12:00, entering direct competition with The Gerry Ryan Show on RTÉ 2fm. D'Arcy credited much of the show's success to the team that served him well over the years: Jenny Kelly, Will Hanafin and Mairead Farrell.<ref name="motivated_money_very_well_paid" /> The show achieved something of a cult status due to its "quirky" segments, among which were "Fix-It Friday" and the "Odd One Out Quiz".<ref name="darcy_dunphy_back_on_radio" /><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

On the weekend of 21–22 March 2009, someone placed nude images of the then Taoiseach in the National Gallery of Ireland and the gallery of the Royal Hibernian Academy.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The artist anonymously emailed D'Arcy's radio show, claiming responsibility for the creation of the paintings, but not their hanging. Gardaí subsequently raided the Today FM studios and producer Will Hanafin was asked to hand over the emails, on the basis that the placing of the paintings constituted indecency, incitement and criminal damage. Hanafin refused to provide the emails without a warrant.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In July 2014, D'Arcy experienced backlash from mixed martial arts fans by inviting Cathal Pendred onto his show then grilling him on his part in the "violent and disturbing" sport.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

In December 2014, D'Arcy left Today FM. He resumed his employment as radio presenter with RTÉ Radio after being approached by them "a number of times" over the years.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The Ray D'Arcy Show continued as a broadcast on RTÉ Radio One.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> It was later announced that his wife Jenny Kelly would join him at RTÉ to produce the new radio show.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> His first show back at RTÉ went out on 2 February 2015 on Radio 1. His show began airing every weekday from 3 to 4.30pm.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Incoming RTÉ Board chair Moya Doherty said at the time that sponsorship would "more than cover" D'Arcy's RTÉ salary.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

On 6 October 2019 it was revealed that The Ray D'Arcy Show would run from September to December, being replaced by a female-led chat show from January to May.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

RTÉ earnings

In December 2018, RTÉ published his salary of €450,000 for 2016, up from €400,000 which he earned in 2015.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In June 2023, D'Arcy gave a current salary of €250,000 per year, just for the radio show (he was not working in television at the time).<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

BAI compliance issues

D'arcy's programmes have been the source of several complaints to the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland. In December 2015 the BAI upheld three complaints (it partially upheld two complaints about the same broadcast and rejected two others) of bias about an interview D'Arcy had with Colm O'Gorman about Amnesty Ireland's campaign to change Ireland's laws on abortion.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}Template:Dead link</ref> In May 2016, the BAI ruled for a second time that D'Arcy's programme lacked objectivity when he interviewed Graham Linehan and his wife, Helen, on her need to have an abortion in the UK following the discovery that a foetus she was carrying had a fatal abnormality.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In December 2016 the BAI upheld two complaints about an interview D'Arcy conducted on 9 June 2016 surrounding the United Nations Human Right's Committee periodic assessment of Ireland's human rights record. D'arcy conducted an interview with campaigners for abortion but failed to mention that they were campaigners. The unanimous opinion of the BAI committee was that the program lacked objectivity and impartiality and went so far to note that this was the third time a complaint was upheld against D'Arcy on this issue and it was a matter of concern to them. They issued RTE with a 'Warning Notice' over the violation in order to underline the seriousness.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

Personal life

A household name in Ireland, D'Arcy does not consider himself a celebrity and tends to decline requests for interviews.<ref name=motivated_money_very_well_paid>Template:Cite news</ref> While being interviewed on The Saturday Night Show in 2010, D'Arcy issued an ultimatum to Enda Kenny, "vowing he would leave Ireland" after the February 2011 general election if the man became Taoiseach. Kenny did become Taoiseach; D'Arcy did not leave the country.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Family

Previously engaged to TV presenter Geri Maye (only for the wedding to be halted at the last minute), D'Arcy married Jenny Kelly, his producer and co-presenter, on 24 August 2013. The pair were stalked by the press when D'Arcy publicly exposed their partnership on Saturday Night With Miriam in 2005.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Afterwards, D'Arcy was dismissive of the public interest in the relationship:

"I guess once we have actually told people we are together that will be the end of it. Our listeners probably care that we are a couple, but beyond that I don't know why anyone would be interested."

Their daughter was born on 25 November 2006<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> after Jenny went into labour while laughing at Pat Kenny being heckled on The Late Late Show.<ref name="darcy_dunphy_back_on_radio" /> In January 2012, D'Arcy and Kelly announced their engagement and pregnancy with a second child.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In June that year, D'Arcy and Kelly welcomed their second child, a boy. Earlier that year, D'Arcy tripped and broke his nose and had to have surgery.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

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The D'Arcy family have a dog called Teddy.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

D'Arcy's father Ray D'Arcy Snr died on 28 December 2017.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Awards

D'Arcy won a Jacob's Award in 1993 for his presentation of The Den. In 2005, 2006 and 2007<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Ray won the Best Irish Radio DJ award at the Meteor Music Awards, cementing his position as one of Ireland's most popular radio presenters. D'Arcy always maintains that this should be seen as a group award, and that credit should be shared with Jenny Kelly, Mairead Farrell and producer Will Hanafin, who also contributes to presenting the show. In 2008 D'Arcy was beaten by his namesake Ray Foley who launched a daily campaign to dethrone him.Template:Citation needed

In 2006, The Ray D'Arcy Show won the Community/Social Action award at the PPI Irish Radio Awards for their work in highlighting road safety problems and deaths on the roads in Ireland. This was due in part, to their "Don't be a Fucking Eejit" radio adverts, which contained real-life stories.

In 2007, The Ray D'Arcy Show won the Best Light Entertainment Programme award at the PPI Irish Radio Awards.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Template:Awards table |- | 1993 || Ray D'Arcy || Jacob's Award || Template:Won |- | 2005 || Ray D'Arcy || Best Irish DJ at the Meteor Awards || Template:Won |- | 2006 || Ray D'Arcy || Best Irish DJ at the Meteor Awards || Template:Won |- | 2006 || The Ray D'Arcy Show || Community/Social Action award at the PPI Irish Radio Awards || Template:Won |- | 2007 || Ray D'Arcy || Best Irish DJ at the Meteor Awards || Template:Won |- | 2007 || The Ray D'Arcy Show || Best Light Entertainment Programme award at the PPI Irish Radio Awards || Template:Won |- | 2008 || Ray D'Arcy || Best Irish DJ at the Meteor Awards || Template:Nom |-

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