Open main menu
Home
Random
Recent changes
Special pages
Community portal
Preferences
About Wikipedia
Disclaimers
Incubator escapee wiki
Search
User menu
Talk
Dark mode
Contributions
Create account
Log in
Editing
Today FM
(section)
Warning:
You are not logged in. Your IP address will be publicly visible if you make any edits. If you
log in
or
create an account
, your edits will be attributed to your username, along with other benefits.
Anti-spam check. Do
not
fill this in!
==Broadcast history== The station went on air, originally known as Radio Ireland, on [[St. Patrick's Day]], 17 March 1997. At first, the station was a mixed network, airing much talk programming, including a farming show and various types of music, including traditional Irish, classical music, light opera. 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.<ref name="Battle stations">{{cite news|first=Damian|last=Corless|url=http://www.independent.ie/opinion/analysis/battle-stations-80779.html|title=Battle stations|newspaper=Irish Independent|date=30 September 2006|access-date=15 February 2009}}</ref> The station axed almost all of its programming and changed its music policy entirely.<ref name="Battle stations"/> [[Eamon Dunphy]]'s co-host (Anne-Marie Hourihan) was axed, with Dunphy being heavily promoted as a solo act and [[Ian Dempsey]] and [[Ray D'Arcy]] were poached from arch-rivals RTÉ.<ref name="Battle stations"/> 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. 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]]''.<ref name="RTÉ and Today FM suffer as regionals thrive"/> Philip Cawley's afternoon show was reduced and Tony Fenton was given a lunchtime show.<ref name="RTÉ and Today FM suffer as regionals thrive">{{cite news|url=http://archives.tcm.ie/businesspost/2004/08/22/story436930580.asp |title=RTÉ and Today FM suffer as regionals thrive |newspaper=The Sunday Business Post |date=22 August 2008 |access-date=24 October 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050716074709/http://archives.tcm.ie/businesspost/2004/08/22/story436930580.asp |archive-date=16 July 2005 }}</ref> In April 2006, Ray D'Arcy conducted an interview with comedian [[Des Bishop]]. Bishop joked about being [[gay]]. D'Arcy asked Bishop to provide an "exclusive". Bishop said, "I'm gay... I'm not, but hey!"<ref name=accidental_outing/> D'Arcy said, "You're very comfortable with your sexuality?"<ref name=accidental_outing/> Bishop said, "Me and [[Derek Mooney]] are doing a show".<ref name=accidental_outing/> The audience laughed.<ref name=accidental_outing/> D'Arcy moved to a commercial break before, he said, Bishop "[[Outing|outs]] anyone else".<ref name=accidental_outing/> The incident provoked much commentary in the media, with the ''[[Sunday Independent (Ireland)|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.<ref name=accidental_outing>{{cite news|url=http://www.independent.ie/opinion/analysis/accidental-outing-of-derek-mooney-may-not-be-so-bad-after-all-129154.html|title=Accidental outing of Derek Mooney may not be so bad after all|newspaper=Sunday Independent|date=23 April 2006|access-date=23 April 2006}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.independent.ie/unsorted/features/having-a-gay-old-time-on-rays-show-103902.html|title=Having a gay old time on Ray's show|newspaper=Irish Independent|date=21 April 2006|access-date=21 April 2006}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|first=Brendan|last=O'Connor|author-link=Brendan O'Connor (media personality)|url=http://www.independent.ie/opinion/analysis/gays-and-lads-gang-together-to-go-wild-on-mild-mooney-129429.html|title=Gays and lads gang together to go wild on mild Mooney|newspaper=Sunday Independent|date=30 April 2006|access-date=30 April 2006}}</ref> On 29 February 2008, Matt Cooper's ''[[The Last Word (radio show)|The Last Word]]'' was the final show to be presented from the old studios. The first show to be presented from the new Digges Lane studio was ''Friday Night 80s'' with Phil Cawley from 19:00. The first song played was "[[Welcome to the Pleasuredome (song)|Welcome to the Pleasuredome]]" by [[Frankie Goes to Hollywood]]. 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 Tribunal]], 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."<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thejournal.ie/today-fms-sam-smyth-changes-topic-during-discussion-about-his-own-sacking-255216-Oct2011/|title=Today FM's Smyth changes topic during discussion about his own sacking|publisher=thejournal.ie|date=16 October 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150305151315/http://www.thejournal.ie/today-fms-sam-smyth-changes-topic-during-discussion-about-his-own-sacking-255216-Oct2011/|archive-date=5 March 2015}}</ref> The [[National Union of Journalists]] (NUJ) said it was concerned at the development.<ref>{{cite news|first=Charlie|last=Taylor|url=http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2011/1016/breaking9.html|title=Smyth show to end on Today FM|newspaper=The Irish Times|date=16 October 2011|access-date=16 October 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150305160530/http://www.irishtimes.com/news/smyth-show-to-end-on-today-fm-1.885361|archive-date=5 March 2015}}</ref> The ''Irish Independent'', of which Denis O'Brien is a leading shareholder, reported that Anton Savage was being lined up to replace Sam Smyth.<ref>{{cite news|first=Ronald|last=Quinlan|url=http://www.independent.ie/entertainment/tv-radio/savage-to-replace-dropped-smyth-on-today-fm-slot-2907563.html|title=Savage to replace dropped Smyth on Today FM slot|newspaper=Irish Independent|publisher=Denis O'Brien|date=16 October 2011|access-date=16 October 2011}}</ref> [[Eamon Dunphy]] subsequently resigned from Today FM's sister station Newstalk, in solidarity with Smyth and because, he said, the radio station's management wanted "dissenting voices" such as [[Constantin Gurdgiev]] off the airwaves.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.joe.ie/news-politics/current-affairs/eamon-dunphy-leaving-newstalk-with-a-bang-0017247-1|title=Eamon Dunphy leaving Newstalk with a bang|date=30 October 2011|access-date=30 October 2011|work=JOE.ie|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150305143558/http://www.joe.ie/uncategorized/eamon-dunphy-leaving-newstalk-with-a-bang/28897?shortlink=1|archive-date=5 March 2015}}</ref> Ray D'Arcy hosted the weekday mid-morning slot for 15 years but abruptly left Today FM to rejoin RTÉ with immediate effect in December 2014. Alison Curtis served as an interim host until the appointment of Anton Savage who began his show, ''The Anton Savage Show'' on 26 January 2015, which now airs every Monday to Friday from 9 am to midday. Savage's previous Sunday morning show, "Savage Show" which aired every Sunday from 11 am to 1 pm ended and the slot was taken over by comedian [[Neil Delamere]] who now presents his own show titled "Neil Delamere's Sunday Best" which airs every Sunday from 11 am to 1 pm. On 17 August 2015, Colm O'Sullivan announced that his show ''The Mix-Up'' which had aired every Monday-Thursday 7-9 pm was ending after three years of being on-air and that O'Sullivan himself was retiring from the DJ business after nearly twenty years to take up a position as the new Programme Director of Today FM, O'Sullivan having joined Today FM in February 2013 with his show, "The Mix-Up" airing for the first time on Monday 4 February 2013. Anton Savage left the radio station on 2 December 2016, due to a disagreement with the radio station, and was replaced by Dermot Whelan and Dave Moore.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.independent.ie/entertainment/radio/anton-savage-announces-he-is-leaving-today-fm-after-dispute-with-management-35263391.html|title=Anton Savage announces he is leaving Today FM after dispute with management|work=[[Irish Independent]]|first=Melanie|last=Finn|date=2 December 2016}}</ref> On 25 January 2017, comedian Al Porter was announced, live on air, as the new host of the midday show, moving into Whelan and Moore's old slot.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://independent.ie/entertainment/radio/al-porter-joins-today-fm-as-lunchtime-presenter-35396820.html|title=Al Porter joins Today FM as lunchtime presenter|work=[[Irish Independent]]|first=Amy|last=Mulvaney|date=25 January 2017}}</ref> On 13 February 2017, Porter's show aired for the first time. However, in November 2017, after allegations of sexual misconduct made against Porter, he decided to resign from Today FM with immediate effect.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/al-porter-quits-today-fm-after-claims-of-inappropriate-behaviour-1.3297853|title=Al Porter quits Today FM after claims of inappropriate behaviour|work=[[The Irish Times]]|first=Jack|last=Power|date=19 November 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.todayfm.com/shows|title=Shows|publisher=Today FM}}</ref> On 30 October 2024, Ed Smith announced he was leaving the station, after 25 years.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.ie/entertainment/radio/radio-presenter-ed-smith-announces-departure-from-today-fm-after-25-years/a531275260.html|title=Radio presenter Ed Smith announces departure from Today FM after 25 years|last=Ó Broin|first=Cian|publisher=Irish Independent|date=30 October 2024|access-date=30 October 2024}}</ref> ===Former presenters=== Former presenters on Radio Ireland/Today FM include Louise Duffy, [[Philip Boucher-Hayes]], Mark Byrne, [[Mark Cagney]], Enda Caldwell (''Planet Hits'' and later, ''Nothin'But 90's'') Breffni Clack (Late Nite Love), Bob Conway, [[Tom Dunne]] and [[Ann Gleeson]] (''Pet Sounds''), [[Eamon Dunphy]] (original presenter of ''The Last Word''), [[Tony Fenton]], Derek Flood, Declan Meehan, Bob Gallico, Nadine O'Regan, 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 (Irish broadcaster)|John Kelly]], Tim Kelly, Cliff Walker, Stephen Keogh, Gerard Gogan, Dave Redmond, Tracey Lee, Nails Mahoney, Marty Miller, 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, Jim O'Neill, Paul Power, Ita Ryan (''The Celtic Reel''), [[John Ryan (publisher)|John Ryan]] (original presenter of ''The Sunday Supplement''), Donal Scannell, Jon Troy (''Between The Sheets'' - love songs), Karl Tsigdinos (''The River of Soul''), [[Neil Delamere]], [[Dave Couse]], Anton Savage, [[Ray D'Arcy]], [[Al Porter]], Kelly-Anne Byrne, [[Paul McLoone]], Phil Cawley, [[Mairead Ronan]], Fergal D'arcy, Jessica Maciel, [[Dermot Whelan]], Pamela Joyce and Ed Smith (''Ed's Indie Disco and Ed's Songs of Praise''). The current Today FM schedule and list of shows can be found [http://www.todayfm.com/shows here].
Edit summary
(Briefly describe your changes)
By publishing changes, you agree to the
Terms of Use
, and you irrevocably agree to release your contribution under the
CC BY-SA 4.0 License
and the
GFDL
. You agree that a hyperlink or URL is sufficient attribution under the Creative Commons license.
Cancel
Editing help
(opens in new window)