The kids are all right? Whatever the case when The Who originally made the claim, in the swinging London of 1965, it seems a dubious assertion in Ireland 60 years later. “Irish teenagers are succeeding in school but struggling in life,” the reporter Kate Carolan baldly declares on Morning Ireland (RTÉ Radio 1, weekdays), summing … Read more
Irish radio heavy hitters lose listeners as Callan and Savage enjoy big audience gains The Journal 2FM top for younger listeners as RTÉ Radio 1 holds lead RTE.ie JNLRs: Slight drop for Joe Duffy’s ‘Liveline’ as RTÉ breaks from tradition and issues casting call for successor The Irish Independent RTÉ’s Oliver Callan enjoys biggest gain in radio listenership, … Read more
Radio review Presenter Pat Kenny remains a rare voice of reason. Photo: Getty Pat Kenny is easily the oldest Irish broadcaster covering the hydra-headed creature that is Donald Trump, and he’s easily the best. In fact he’s almost as old as Trump himself – though you’d never know it unless you looked it up. I … Read more
Radio reviews: The Hard Shoulder; Morning Ireland; and The News at One Michael Lowry is at the centre of another scandal. Photo: PA A few months ago, I was driving in the south of Wicklow from Avoca to Arklow, when I saw long lines of people on both sides of the road, wearing hi-vis jackets … Read more
Never let it be said that Shane Coleman and Ciara Kelly are lofty elitists. On Wednesday the presenters of Newstalk Breakfast (weekdays) throw themselves at the mercy of the public by inviting listeners to come up with slogans for their show. As suggestions arrive, the pair’s fancy seems particularly tickled by the snappy “Let’s go … Read more
It hardly needs to be repeated that the world is an uncertain and scary place right now. A certain amount of kudos is therefore due to Kieran Cuddihy for bringing a sense of perspective when the deceptively chirpy-sounding host asks, on Monday’s edition of The Hard Shoulder (Newstalk, weekdays), “Are we all going to be … Read more
The appeals board has received new submissions from developers, Bartra, on the badger sett at the centre of the planning disputeThe Kennys have until 5.30pm tomorrow to respond and Mr Kenny said he and his wife will be making a submission to An Bord Pleanála Pat Kenny. Photo: Steve Humphreys Broadcaster Pat Kenny said that … Read more
He may have made his name as a current-affairs broadcaster, but did Pat Kenny (Newstalk, weekdays) miss his calling as a consumer affairs advocate? The attention to detail that is the veteran presenter’s trademark when dealing with news stories goes out of the window when the subject is shoddy workmanship, even of the hypothetical variety. … Read more