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Ray D'Arcy

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Ray D'Arcy
A pencil portrait of Ray D'Arcy
Born
Raymond Michael D'Arcy

(1964-09-01) 1 September 1964 (age 60)
Kildare, Ireland
NationalityIrish
EducationPsychology graduate[1]
Alma materTrinity College, Dublin[1]
Occupations
EmployerRaidió Teilifís Éireann (RTÉ)
SpouseJenny Kelly (m. 2013)
Children
  • Kate
  • Tom

Raymond Michael D'Arcy (born 1 September 1964) is an Irish television and radio presenter currently on his second spell at state broadcaster Raidió Teilifís Éireann (RTÉ). He 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: Tom (born June 2012) and Kate (born 25 November 2006).

D'Arcy came to prominence 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. He presented television coverage of The Rose of Tralee beauty pageant each August for four consecutive years until 2010.[2] He rejoined RTÉ in 2015.[3]

D'Arcy is a household name in Ireland, but does not consider himself to be a celebrity, and rarely gives interviews.

Early life and career

D'Arcy was born into a working-class family of nine with one earner, his father, a non-commissioned officer, in Tipperary in 1964.[1] His grandmother died at the age of 54 from lung cancer when D'Arcy was 11.[4] Always into his music and his broadcasting, he began discoing in 1979 at the age of 15.[5] He attended Trinity College, Dublin, to take a degree in psychology,[1] and graduated in 1985.[6] He began a career at RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta and in 1988 moved to RTÉ television, with a presenter spot on Jo Maxi. His first spell at RTÉ lasted for 13 years.[1]

D'Arcy replaced Ian Dempsey as the presenter of The Den, RTÉ's flagship children's television series, from 1990 to 1998. His career in children's television later featured in the 2008 documentary Best Bitz From Back Den.[7] 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 has presented several once-off events, including Ireland's version of the Test The Nation franchise and the Irish Young Scientist Awards. Until 2005 he presented You're a Star,[8][9] the talent show established to find Ireland's entrant for the Eurovision Song Contest. In 2005, D'Arcy took over as Rose of Tralee presenter.[10] On 1 April 2010, after five years, he stood down so as to spend more time with his family as they grew older.[11] Television roles dried up as the 2000s progressed, though he presented When Dreams Come True in 2005[12] and hosted Eurosong 2008 at the University of Limerick Concert Hall.[13] and presented one episode of The Panel later that year.[14] That same year, he ruled out applying to host The Late Late Show,[15] despite being linked to this prime-time slot.[16] On 1 December 2008, he announced on his Today FM radio show (see next paragraph) that he would be participating in the second season of Celebrity Bainisteoir; he managed County Kildare team Rathangan.[17][18][19]

D'Arcy moved to Today FM radio in the late 1990s. He took over Tim Kelly's mid-morning show, which went out from 10:00 to 12:45. This slot was later changed to 9:00 to 12:00, entering direct competition with The Gerry Ryan Show on RTÉ 2fm. He credited much of the show's success to the team that served him well over the years: Jenny Kelly, Will Hanafin and Mairead Farrell.[1] D'Arcy's Today FM show achieved something of a cult status due to its quirky segments, among which were "Fix-It Friday" and the "Odd One Out Quiz".[4][20] In June 2008, D'Arcy was one of more than 1,200 people who stripped naked for a Spencer Tunick art project - he later spoke of the experience on the radio.[21] 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.[22] 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.[23] In July 2014, D'Arcy incurred the wrath of mixed martial arts fans by inviting Cathal Pendred onto his show then grilling him on his part in the "violent and disturbing" sport.[24]

A household name in Ireland, D'Arcy does not consider himself a celebrity and tends to decline requests for interviews.[1] 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.[25]

After being approached by RTÉ over the years and considering leaving Today FM,[26] D'Arcy did just that abruptly in December 2014, quitting his Today FM show to rejoin RTÉ.[27] It was later announced that his wife Jenny Kelly would join him at RTÉ to produce the new radio show.[28] His first show back at RTÉ went out on 2 February 2015 on Radio 1. His show will air every weekday from 3 to 4.30pm.[29]

On 26 September 2015, D'Arcy's new television talk-show called The Ray D'Arcy Show started on RTÉ 1.[30]

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.[31] 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.[32] 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.[33]

Personal life

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.[34] 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 baby daughter Kate was born on 25 November 2006[35] when Jenny went into labour while laughing at Pat Kenny being heckled on The Late Late Show.[4] In January 2012, D'Arcy and Kelly announced their engagement and pregnancy with a second child.[36] In June that year, D'Arcy and Kelly welcomed their second child, a boy, named Tom Michael D'Arcy. Earlier that year, D'Arcy tripped and broke his nose and had to have surgery.[37]

D'Arcy is an atheist by nature, and does not believe in an afterlife, but attended Mass until his twenties when he became disillusioned by it all.[4]

The D'Arcy family have a dog called Teddy.[38]

D'Arcy's father Ray D'Arcy Sr. died on 28 December 2017.[39][40]

Awards

D'Arcy won a Jacob's Award in 1993 for his presentation of The Den. In 2005, 2006 and 2007[41] 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.[42]

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.[43]

Year Nominee / work Award Result
1993 Ray D'Arcy Jacob's Award Won
2005 Ray D'Arcy Best Irish DJ at the Meteor Awards Won
2006 Ray D'Arcy Best Irish DJ at the Meteor Awards Won
2006 The Ray D'Arcy Show Community/Social Action award at the PPI Irish Radio Awards Won
2007 Ray D'Arcy Best Irish DJ at the Meteor Awards Won
2007 The Ray D'Arcy Show Best Light Entertainment Programme award at the PPI Irish Radio Awards Won
2008 Ray D'Arcy Best Irish DJ at the Meteor Awards Nominated

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g Finn, Melanie (31 March 2011). "I'm not motivated by money… but I am very well paid". Evening Herald. Archived from the original on 2 August 2012. Retrieved 31 March 2011. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |dead-url= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  2. ^ Stacey, Pat (19 March 2015). "'RTE is moving the same old furniture around yet again' - Pat Stacey on replacing Brendan O'Connor with Ray D'Arcy". Irish Independent. Retrieved 19 March 2015. Whatever you think about D'Arcy on the radio (and personally I can live without his mixture of lightweight chat and didactic finger-wagging), he's never come across as the most charismatic of television presences.
  3. ^ "Mr Saturday night... The return of Mr Ray D'Arcy". Irish Independent. 20 September 2015. Retrieved 22 September 2015.
  4. ^ a b c d "D'Arcy wants Dunphy back on radio". Hot Press. 11 February 2010. Retrieved 11 February 2010.
  5. ^ "Ray D'Arcy to host the Rose of Tralee on RTÉ Television". Raidió Teilifís Éireann. 15 April 2005. Retrieved 15 April 2005.[permanent dead link]
  6. ^ "The Ray D'Arcy Show". Today FM. 6 October 2008.
  7. ^ Neville, Sarah (21 October 2008). "Zig and Zag return to TV for 21st anniversary". Evening Herald. Retrieved 21 October 2008.
  8. ^ Mulhall, Aileen (12 March 2004). "You're A Star crown for Chris". Waterford News & Star. Archived from the original on 25 April 2012. Retrieved 12 March 2004. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  9. ^ Mulhall, Aileen (10 October 2003). "1,000 young hopefuls seek fame". Waterford News & Star. Archived from the original on 25 April 2012. Retrieved 10 October 2003. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  10. ^ "Ray D'Arcy Introduces the 49th Rose of Tralee International Selection". Raidió Teilifís Éireann. 19 August 2007. Retrieved 24 October 2008.[permanent dead link]
  11. ^ "D'Arcy steps down from Rose of Tralee". Raidió Teilifís Éireann. 1 April 2010. Retrieved 1 April 2010.
  12. ^ "When Dreams Come True: Ray D'Arcy Returns This Week To Makes More Dreams Come True". 4 December 2005.
  13. ^ Byrne, Andrea (24 February 2008). "Dustin's Eurosong turkey takes off as panel cries fowl". Sunday Independent. Retrieved 24 February 2008.
  14. ^ "The Panel". Raidió Teilifís Éireann. 6 November 2008. Retrieved 6 November 2008.[permanent dead link]
  15. ^ O'Riordan, Alison (24 August 2008). "Ray happy with Roses as he rules out run at 'Late Late'". Sunday Independent. Retrieved 10 November 2008.
  16. ^ "Mogadon Man Kenny turned the Late Late into the Late lamented". Sunday Independent. 14 September 2008. Retrieved 15 November 2008.
  17. ^ The Ray D'Arcy Show. Today FM. 1 December 2008.
  18. ^ "Na Bainisteoirí/ The Managers". Raidió Teilifís Éireann. Archived from the original on 2 March 2015.
  19. ^ "Rathangan hoping for home advantage in Celebrity Bainisteoir game". Leinster Leader. 25 November 2008. Archived from the original on 2 March 2015. Retrieved 25 November 2008.
  20. ^ Tyaransen, Olaf (25 February 2010). "Glad to be Ray". Hot Press. Retrieved 25 February 2010.
  21. ^ Riegel, Ralph (18 June 2008). "1,200 go naked for sake of Blarney art shoot". Irish Independent. Archived from the original on 2 August 2012. Retrieved 17 May 2010. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |dead-url= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  22. ^ "Naked taoiseach paintings removed". BBC News. 24 March 2009. Archived from the original on 2 March 2015. Retrieved 24 March 2009.
  23. ^ O'Doherty, Caroline (18 June 2008). "Today FM producer brands reaction 'crazy'". Irish Examiner. Archived from the original on 2 March 2015. Retrieved 17 May 2010.
  24. ^ "'Violent and disturbing' – Ray D'Arcy interviews Cathal Pendred, clearly isn't an MMA fan: The Irish middleweight had to debunk a number of myths about mixed martial arts on Today FM this morning". The Score. 21 July 2014. Archived from the original on 2 March 2015. Retrieved 21 July 2014.
  25. ^ "D'Arcy: I'd emigrate if Kenny was Taoiseach". Evening Herald. 15 February 2010. Archived from the original on 21 September 2014. Retrieved 21 September 2014. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |dead-url= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  26. ^ Murphy, Cormac (28 October 2011). "D'Arcy drops hint that he may quit Today FM for RTÉ". Evening Herald. Archived from the original on 1 August 2012. Retrieved 28 October 2011. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |dead-url= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  27. ^ "Ray D'Arcy to rejoin RTÉ radio and television". Archived from the original on 2 March 2015.
  28. ^ "Looks like Jenny Kelly is joining hubby Ray D'Arcy at RTE for his new Radio show". evoke.ie. 5 January 2015. Archived from the original on 2 March 2015. Retrieved 5 January 2015.
  29. ^ "Ray D'Arcy admits to 'odd day' as he returns home to Radio 1". Irish Independent. 3 February 2015. Retrieved 3 February 2015.
  30. ^ "Ray D'Arcy all set for new show". RTÉ. 25 September 2015. Archived from the original on 25 September 2015. Retrieved 25 September 2015. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  31. ^ "Broadcasting Authority of Ireland Broadcasting Complaint Decision December 2015" (PDF). Retrieved 25 May 2015.[permanent dead link]
  32. ^ McGreevy, Ronan (25 May 2016). "BAI finds Ray D'Arcy interview on abortion lacked objectivity". The Irish Times.
  33. ^ Broadcasting Complaints Decisions. Broadcasting Authority of Ireland. December 2016. pp. 4–18. Retrieved 21 December 2016.
  34. ^ Nolan, Larissa (30 July 2006). "Pregnancy finally fixes the big Ray and Jenny question". Sunday Independent. Retrieved 10 November 2008.
  35. ^ "Archive Search – Results 0.0054 seconds". ireland.com.
  36. ^ "D'arcy engaged and expecting second child". Raidió Teilifís Éireann. 3 January 2012. Retrieved 3 January 2012.
  37. ^ "Baby joy for radio jock Ray D'Arcy". The Sun. 19 June 2012. Retrieved 19 June 2012.
  38. ^ "Bark in the park for Ray as D'Arcy's dog gets into scrap on family day out". evoke.ie. 15 February 2015. Archived from the original on 2 March 2015. Retrieved 15 February 2015.
  39. ^ https://www.irishtimes.com/news/social-affairs/ray-d-arcy-mourns-death-of-father-1.3340937
  40. ^ https://www.rte.ie/entertainment/2017/1229/930153-ray-darcy-mourns-death-of-father/
  41. ^ "Snow Patrol big winners at Meteors". RTÉ. 2 February 2007. Retrieved 2 February 2007.
  42. ^ "Eight awards in a row for Westlife". Daily Star. 16 February 2008. Archived from the original on 24 July 2012. Retrieved 16 February 2008. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |dead-url= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  43. ^ "Recognising the Best in Irish Radio Broadcasting". PPI Radio Awards 2006. Archived from the original on 22 October 2007. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
Media offices
Preceded by
----
 Host of You're a Star
2002–2005 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Host of The Rose of Tralee
2005–2009 		Succeeded by
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ray_D%27Arcy&oldid=852872425"