JNLR listenership figures day is tense for presenters and radio higher-ups around the country . Station head honchos, whose shows may have been bruised by the numbers, usually have some creative explaining to do.
This week, Dan Healy at 2FM didn’t deviate from form when he hailed an increase of some 9,000 for 2FM’s morning show with Doireann Garrihy, Donnacha O’Callaghan and Carl Mullen. He called it: ‘A very good book for 2FM. Doireann, Donnacha and Carl have had a stunning result.’
But his statement ignores the fact that the Breakfast Show is down by around 20,000 on just two years ago when Doireann co-hosted with ex-presenter Eoghan McDermott, attracting 142,000 listeners.
One radio insider told Extra.ie: ‘It’s typical spin. Eoghan McDermott’s reasons for not being on air have been well documented. But he was a seasoned presenter. And while Eoghan is gone it’s unfathomable that there is nobody else in 2FM or elsewhere that has that ability.’
Last week, Mr McDermott found himself back in the news after it was revealed that he had split from his long-term girlfriend Aoife Melia.
Ms Melia, a doctor, has since moved on and is looking quite chipper as she is now dating the heir to the Tayto Crisps empire, Charlie Coyle.
Former 2FM breakfast show host Mr McDermott had been dating Ms Melia for a number of years until he quit his job overnight at the national broadcaster amid false allegations made about him which have since been retracted.
Mr McDermott broke his silence over the split with a post on social media and revealed that he is ‘sorry for all the turmoil’.
In a social media post, the broadcaster revealed he had been contacted by reporters following the split, but was hesitant to see the story play out in the public eye.
The ex-2FM star posted a screenshot of the Extra.ie article regarding the split alongside comments where he praised Aoife and said she’s the ‘most wonderful person he’s ever known’.
‘Been sent this by a lot of people today and had reporters asking for comment the last few months at this stage, which has been tough, anticipating that a private story would play out in public,’ Eoghan began.
‘All I can say is that the last 18 months have been devastating & life-altering in ways that I haven’t fully processed yet. I met Aoife 15 years ago & think she has been and will remain the most wonderful person I’ve ever known.’
I’m sorry we didn’t get to see our story have a happy ending and so sorry for the turmoil that upended her life, through no fault of her own. All I can do is thank her for the many wonderful years together and wish her every happiness in her new life’.
Eoghan went on to that thank Aoife for the impact she has had on his life, writing; ‘pretty much every bit of myself I’ve worked on & improved over the years has been on account of wanting to live up to her standards and match her best qualities.’
