RTÉ has announced that presenter Ray D’Arcy is to leave RTÉ Radio 1, having presented his final show on air yesterday.
In a statement issued this afternoon, RTÉ said: “After over 11 years on RTÉ Radio 1, The Ray D’Arcy Show is set to come to an end this week – Ray presented his show for the final time yesterday.”
The RTÉ statement adds that during its tenure, “Ray and his team produced thousands of hours of live radio, capturing real-life stories and a huge range of personal experiences.”
RTÉ’s Director of Audio, Patricia Monahan, said that she wants to thank D’Arcy for his contribution to RTÉ Radio 1 over the last eleven years.
She added: “While The Ray D’Arcy Show is not part of our future plans, we wish him well in his future endeavours.”
Details of future plans for RTÉ Radio 1 will be announced soon. Ms Monahan also confirmed that “Shay Byrne will present for the remainder of the week.”
Mr Byrne is the presenter of the morning music programme, Rising Time, on RTÉ Radio 1.
61-year-old Kildare native and father of two D’Arcy began his broadcasting career on RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta in 1985. He moved to RTÉ television in the 1990s to present Jo Maxi before becoming the host of The Den.
He also presented schools quiz show called Blackboard Jungle and the youth music show 2Phat and hosted The Rose of Tralee.
He moved to Today FM in the late nineties and presented the weekday morning radio show before he rejoined RTÉ in 2015.
He also hosted his own Saturday night chat show on RTÉ One.
Mr D’Arcy has won numerous Jacob’s and Meteor Award during his broadcasting career.
Additional reporting by Alan Corr