"Please don't read too much into this song, we just like it!" Alison Curtis has just kicked off what was The Ray D'Arcy Show with Taylor Swift's Shake It Off... Now Curtis has the arduous task of covering this morning's papers - most of which are leading with D'Arcy's impromptu departure from Today FM for RTE.
As a career choice, it makes perfect sense. It's a later time slot so he's not up at dawn's crack. RTE is where his career effectively started, so - to quote the man himself - "it's a bit like coming home." Also, as he's following Joe Duffy, it's a good fit for crossover listeners. As for whether Ray's listeners (of which I was one and currently at a total loss as to what to do with myself between 9am-12pm) will move with him, I'm not sure...
Presumably most listeners are currently feeling a bit abandoned and bemused. No goodbye, no fond farewell, no thanks for all the memories. AND just before Christmas. Ray certainly went out with a bang with The Best of Ireland Awards on Friday, but we would've appreciated it all the more if we knew it was the last Ray D'Arcy Show ever. Personally speaking, I'll be waiting to see what Today FM come up with as a replacement in January; there's a good 40 years left in me before the dial/dust is left to rest on RTE Radio 1.
Message to #RayDarcy: Don't assume you can waltz back into #RTE & hang out with me & the other cool guys - Ryle & Dobbo. Try Ronan Collins
— Des Cahill (@sportsdes) December 7, 2014
Ray will get a good ten years out Radio 1 and then he'll be nearly old enough to join 2FM. #raydarcy #gottahaveadream
— Dustin The Turkey (@DustinOfficial) December 7, 2014
Anybody else find it strange that Ray Darcy didn't even get to do a finishing up show? What went down? Poor form! #raydarcy #todayfm #rte
— Tony McBride (@tonymaccers) December 8, 2014
so has #raydarcy already left Today FM? Not even a goodbye and good luck show???
— Mary Anne S (@maryannestokes) December 8, 2014
So #raydarcy leaves TodayFM? Not even a goodbye to the listeners of his show? Not impressed with that to be honest!
— Michael Staunton (@mdsrally1) December 7, 2014
Can understand why Ray is leaving but I love the show and am gutted he's going immediately. Surely we deserved a goodbye at least #RayDArcy
— Aisling Tinsley (@Aitins) December 7, 2014
I'd like to congratulate @SeanMoncrieff on the increase of his 2015 listenership following Ray Darcy's takeover of the Mooney Show.
— John Finn (@carrigman) December 7, 2014
Sad there was no "last show" with all the best bits from over the yrs...it won't b the same...best of luck #raydarcy
— Wesley McLoughlin (@wmcloughlin) December 8, 2014
What's to stop us having our own Best Bits, hah? Let's just take a minute to remember all the Shave or Dye events. All the moments he reunited people with first loves, engagement rings and lost toy monkeys. That time he got naked for Spencer Tunick. All the times he made no bones about saying exactly what we we thinking regarding the state of the nation, no matter how controversial. All the times we laughed together and cried together (not even taking the piss; I'm distraught. It's like he crawled out of the bathroom window in the middle of the night after a 15 year relationship).
The pinnacle of all his work to date, however, seemed to culminate with Ray D'Arcy's Half Million Half Marathon, which took place back in April of this year. It was possibly the most magical event ever to take place in the Phoenix Park. The atmosphere, the fact so much money (in the region of 6000,000) had been raised for Laura Lynn powered by people's feet and good will was one of the most uplifting experiences I've ever had the privilege to witness.
There's not much more to say apart from all the best with the future, Ray, you've played an absolute blinder.
Watch: Jenny Kelly's emotional goodbye from The Ray D'Arcy Show on Today FM (get tissues)
Mairead Farrell leaves Ray D'Arcy for The Ian Dempsey Breakfast Show