John Creedon
Encyclopedia
John Creedon, also known as "Creedo", is an Irish language
enthusiast and veteran broadcaster with RTÉ Radio
. Host of The John Creedon Show, evenings on RTÉ Radio 1
, he has also filled in for Dave Fanning
on The Dave Fanning Show
.
His profile in the nation of Ireland was raised by his participation and eventual winning of the reality television series
, Fáilte Towers
in August 2008. Creedon has also served as a judge on The All Ireland Talent Show
on RTÉ One
and TG4
's Glór Tíre
.
but he went on to twice top the Irish Singles Chart
with his character, Terence the Cork hairdresser. Terence was a frequent contributor to The Gerry Ryan Show
in the early 1990s. Creedon won a Jacob's Award in 1992 for his RTÉ Radio 1
morning show, Risin' Time.
Creedon had previously hosted day-time radio show, The Creedon Show (15:30) but was replaced by Ronan Collins
in 2006. This change followed new radio chief, Ana Leddy's decision to move him on as part of widespread alterations across the station.
In August 2008 Creedon partook in the reality television series, Fáilte Towers
, a show that saw a group of well-known personalities attempt to run a hotel for a two week period whilst earning money for charity. Creedon was proclaimed winner of the show on 17 August. Creedon had chosen Our Lady's Hospital for Sick Children
in Crumlin
, Dublin as his charity for the show due to heavy personal involvement with the hospital in the past. In 2007, his granddaughter, Lucie was born prematurely to his daughter, Katie, and died just eight and a half weeks later. Katie had also had kidney
problems as a child. Commenting on the win, Creedon said: "The big fat guy never wins anything, this is great." After his victory, he presented a show for the RTÉ Concert Orchestra
and partook in TG4
series Faoi Lan Cheoil where, alongside Oscar-winning
actor Jeremy Irons
and international
and Premier League footballer Andy Reid
, he learnt a new musical instrument
over six months in preparation for a public performance. Creedon was then a judge on The All Ireland Talent Show
, representing the south of the country alongside Michael Healy Rae and Sinéad Sheppard, the ex-member of the band Six
. Judge Creedon warned fellow judge Dáithí Ó Sé
to stop stealing acts from Munster, alleging that he invaded County Clare
in series one and that he would be "answerable to me and to my gang" if he continued to persist. He was given his own weekday music show on RTÉ Radio 1 in 2009.
described Creedon's personality as being that of "somebody who gives space to others and is not intent on sucking up all of the available on-screen oxygen
". In March 2008, it was Creedon's radio show that befuddled Irish listeners turned to when, RTÉ shut down its 82-year-old medium wave service. Within hours the shutdown, they were contacting John Creedon’s RTÉ radio show, "wondering how they could tune in to the newfangled VHF
– or “VHI’’, as one gentleman insisted on calling it".
interview that he had once worked in a Penneys
branch. He previously lived in Goatstown
, Dublin but now resides with his wife Mona, their four daughters and his two dogs, Sandy and Pip, in a "sizeable art-deco building" dating from the 1930s and located in a quiet but cosmopolitan district of Cork
, on a steep hill overlooking the city centre. He is well-known for his eclectic musical taste, from local band Fred
to The Beatles
, Nina Simone
, Bruce Springsteen
and Van Morrison
. His record collection includes albums by Miles Davis
and John Coltrane
and selections from Americana
, Eric Bibb
, John Prine
and the Handsome Family
. This contrasts greatly with one of his daughters who is a Westlife
fan.
An avid Irish language
speaker, Creedon appeared on the first series of No Béarla
, broadcast in 2007. He has spoken to the BBC
about his search for his nation's favourite Irish word. He is also a sports fanatic and supports his local football club, Cork City F.C., a League of Ireland
Premier Division team. One of Creedon's favourite memories is the visit of Pope John Paul II
to Ireland almost three decades ago. He described the Pope
"landing that helicopter
by himself in Phoenix Park
in 1979" as "truly memorable".
Irish language
Irish , also known as Irish Gaelic, is a Goidelic language of the Indo-European language family, originating in Ireland and historically spoken by the Irish people. Irish is now spoken as a first language by a minority of Irish people, as well as being a second language of a larger proportion of...
enthusiast and veteran broadcaster with RTÉ Radio
RTÉ Radio
RTÉ Radio is a department of Irish national broadcaster Raidió Teilifís Éireann. RTÉ Radio broadcasts four analogue channels and five digital channels....
. Host of The John Creedon Show, evenings on RTÉ Radio 1
RTÉ Radio 1
RTÉ Radio 1 is the principal radio channel of Irish public-service broadcaster Raidió Teilifís Éireann and is the direct descendant of Dublin radio station 2RN, which began broadcasting on a regular basis on 1 January 1926...
, he has also filled in for Dave Fanning
Dave Fanning
Dave Fanning is an Irish rock journalist, DJ, retired film critic and veteran broadcaster. He currently hosts The 11th Hour on RTÉ Two and two radio shows: Drivetime with Dave on RTÉ Radio 1 and The Dave Fanning Show on RTÉ 2fm. He also fills in for other presenters on RTÉ Radio, including acting...
on The Dave Fanning Show
The Dave Fanning Show
The Dave Fanning show is a radio program broadcast on RTÉ Radio 1. The show is presented by Dave Fanning and covers a range of various topics.The show "takes a look at the world of the arts through music and film.....
.
His profile in the nation of Ireland was raised by his participation and eventual winning of the reality television series
Reality television
Reality television is a genre of television programming that presents purportedly unscripted dramatic or humorous situations, documents actual events, and usually features ordinary people instead of professional actors, sometimes in a contest or other situation where a prize is awarded...
, Fáilte Towers
Fáilte Towers
Fáilte Towers was an RTÉ reality TV show that was broadcast as a one off during August 2008. The concept of the show involves thirteen celebrities running a hotel for sixteen days and nights in order to win money for their designated charities. The show format was not repeated nor was it exported...
in August 2008. Creedon has also served as a judge on The All Ireland Talent Show
The All Ireland Talent Show
The All Ireland Talent Show was an RTÉ television series billed as Ireland's biggest-ever talent contest. It was first announced in November 2008 and the first series commenced broadcasting on 4 January 2009, completing on 15 March 2009. Modelled on Britain's Got Talent, it is produced by Tyrone...
on RTÉ One
RTÉ One
RTÉ One is the flagship television channel of Raidió Teilifís Éireann , and it is the most popular and most watched television channel in Ireland. It was launched as Telefís Éireann on 31 December 1961, it was renamed RTÉ Television in 1966, and it was renamed as RTÉ One upon the launch of RTÉ...
and TG4
TG4
TG4 is a public service broadcaster for Irish language speakers. The channel has been on-air since 31 October 1996 in the Republic of Ireland and since April 2005 in Northern Ireland....
's Glór Tíre
Glór Tíre
Glór Tíre is a reality based talent search for Ireland's newest country and western music star. It has been running for a number of seasons on TG4. Glór Tíre is literally translated as Country Voice. It is produced by Gaelmedia for TG4. It is now in its 7th season...
.
Career
Creedon's career began with an initial failed audition for a job on RTÉ 2fmRTÉ 2fm
RTÉ 2fm, or 2FM as it is more commonly referred to, is Raidió Teilifís Éireann's second national radio station. It broadcasts popular music programming aimed at a young Irish audience.- History :...
but he went on to twice top the Irish Singles Chart
Irish Singles Chart
The Irish Singles Chart is Ireland's music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by the Irish Recorded Music Association and compiled on behalf of the IRMA by Chart-Track. Chart rankings are based on sales, which are compiled through over-the-counter retail data captured...
with his character, Terence the Cork hairdresser. Terence was a frequent contributor to The Gerry Ryan Show
The Gerry Ryan Show
The Gerry Ryan Show was RTÉ 2fm's mid-morning radio show...
in the early 1990s. Creedon won a Jacob's Award in 1992 for his RTÉ Radio 1
RTÉ Radio 1
RTÉ Radio 1 is the principal radio channel of Irish public-service broadcaster Raidió Teilifís Éireann and is the direct descendant of Dublin radio station 2RN, which began broadcasting on a regular basis on 1 January 1926...
morning show, Risin' Time.
Creedon had previously hosted day-time radio show, The Creedon Show (15:30) but was replaced by Ronan Collins
Ronan Collins
Ronan Collins is an Irish radio and television presenter. His radio show on RTÉ Radio 1 has been running for many years. He began his national radio career on RTÉ Radio 2, having worked on pirate radio. He presented the celebrity game show Play the Game from 1984 to 1995...
in 2006. This change followed new radio chief, Ana Leddy's decision to move him on as part of widespread alterations across the station.
In August 2008 Creedon partook in the reality television series, Fáilte Towers
Fáilte Towers
Fáilte Towers was an RTÉ reality TV show that was broadcast as a one off during August 2008. The concept of the show involves thirteen celebrities running a hotel for sixteen days and nights in order to win money for their designated charities. The show format was not repeated nor was it exported...
, a show that saw a group of well-known personalities attempt to run a hotel for a two week period whilst earning money for charity. Creedon was proclaimed winner of the show on 17 August. Creedon had chosen Our Lady's Hospital for Sick Children
Our Lady's Hospital for Sick Children in Crumlin
Our Lady's Hospital for Sick Children in Crumlin, Dublin is Ireland's largest and best known paediatric hospital. It has been caring for Ireland's youth since 1956. It has almost 1200 staff and 243 beds all dedicated to the care of children.-External links:...
in Crumlin
Crumlin, Dublin
Crumlin is suburb in Southside Dublin, Ireland. It is the site of Ireland's largest hospital for children.-Location:Crumlin covers the area from the River Poddle near the KCR to the Drimnagh Road, to Bunting Road, and is situated not far from the city centre, on the Southside of Dublin city....
, Dublin as his charity for the show due to heavy personal involvement with the hospital in the past. In 2007, his granddaughter, Lucie was born prematurely to his daughter, Katie, and died just eight and a half weeks later. Katie had also had kidney
Kidney
The kidneys, organs with several functions, serve essential regulatory roles in most animals, including vertebrates and some invertebrates. They are essential in the urinary system and also serve homeostatic functions such as the regulation of electrolytes, maintenance of acid–base balance, and...
problems as a child. Commenting on the win, Creedon said: "The big fat guy never wins anything, this is great." After his victory, he presented a show for the RTÉ Concert Orchestra
RTÉ Concert Orchestra
The RTÉ Concert Orchestra is one of the two full time professional orchestras in Ireland that are part of RTÉ, the national broadcasting station. Since its formation as the Radio Éireann Light Orchestra in 1948, the RTÉ Concert Orchestra, has grown from a small studio-based recording group to...
and partook in TG4
TG4
TG4 is a public service broadcaster for Irish language speakers. The channel has been on-air since 31 October 1996 in the Republic of Ireland and since April 2005 in Northern Ireland....
series Faoi Lan Cheoil where, alongside Oscar-winning
Academy Award for Best Actor
Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role is one of the Academy Awards of Merit presented annually by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to recognize an actor who has delivered an outstanding performance while working within the film industry...
actor Jeremy Irons
Jeremy Irons
Jeremy John Irons is an English actor. After receiving classical training at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School, Irons began his acting career on stage in 1969, and has since appeared in many London theatre productions including The Winter's Tale, Macbeth, Much Ado About Nothing, The Taming of the...
and international
Republic of Ireland national football team
The Republic of Ireland national football team represents Ireland in association football. It is run by the Football Association of Ireland and currently plays home fixtures at Aviva Stadium in Dublin, which opened in May 2010....
and Premier League footballer Andy Reid
Andy Reid (footballer)
Andrew Matthew "Andy" Reid is an Irish footballer who currently plays for Nottingham Forest in the Football League Championship. He plays as a midfielder and has also represented the Republic of Ireland.-Personal life:...
, he learnt a new musical instrument
Musical instrument
A musical instrument is a device created or adapted for the purpose of making musical sounds. In principle, any object that produces sound can serve as a musical instrument—it is through purpose that the object becomes a musical instrument. The history of musical instruments dates back to the...
over six months in preparation for a public performance. Creedon was then a judge on The All Ireland Talent Show
The All Ireland Talent Show
The All Ireland Talent Show was an RTÉ television series billed as Ireland's biggest-ever talent contest. It was first announced in November 2008 and the first series commenced broadcasting on 4 January 2009, completing on 15 March 2009. Modelled on Britain's Got Talent, it is produced by Tyrone...
, representing the south of the country alongside Michael Healy Rae and Sinéad Sheppard, the ex-member of the band Six
Six (band)
Six were an Irish pop group who formed on the television programme Irish Popstars in 2002. The programme aired on RTÉ One on Sunday nights in the autumn and winter of 2001-02...
. Judge Creedon warned fellow judge Dáithí Ó Sé
Dáithí Ó Sé
Dáithí Ó Sé is a television presenter with TG4 in Ireland, where he presents the weather forecast and does continuity announcements. He has also presented various programmes on TG4, including travel programme Dáithí ar Route 66, about the U.S...
to stop stealing acts from Munster, alleging that he invaded County Clare
County Clare
-History:There was a Neolithic civilisation in the Clare area — the name of the peoples is unknown, but the Prehistoric peoples left evidence behind in the form of ancient dolmen; single-chamber megalithic tombs, usually consisting of three or more upright stones...
in series one and that he would be "answerable to me and to my gang" if he continued to persist. He was given his own weekday music show on RTÉ Radio 1 in 2009.
Critique
After his turn on Fáilte Towers, journalist and RTÉ colleague Joe O'SheaJoe O'Shea
Joe O'Shea is an Irish broadcaster and journalist. He lives and works in Dublin and makes regular appearances on Irish TV & Radio.-Career:...
described Creedon's personality as being that of "somebody who gives space to others and is not intent on sucking up all of the available on-screen oxygen
Oxygen
Oxygen is the element with atomic number 8 and represented by the symbol O. Its name derives from the Greek roots ὀξύς and -γενής , because at the time of naming, it was mistakenly thought that all acids required oxygen in their composition...
". In March 2008, it was Creedon's radio show that befuddled Irish listeners turned to when, RTÉ shut down its 82-year-old medium wave service. Within hours the shutdown, they were contacting John Creedon’s RTÉ radio show, "wondering how they could tune in to the newfangled VHF
Very high frequency
Very high frequency is the radio frequency range from 30 MHz to 300 MHz. Frequencies immediately below VHF are denoted High frequency , and the next higher frequencies are known as Ultra high frequency...
– or “VHI’’, as one gentleman insisted on calling it".
Personal life
John Creedon was raised with eleven other children. He claimed in a 2008 Late Late ShowThe Late Late Show
The Late Late Show, sometimes referred to as The Late Late, or in some cases by the acronym LLS, is the world's longest-running chat show by the same broadcaster and the official flagship television programme of Irish broadcasting company RTÉ...
interview that he had once worked in a Penneys
Primark
Primark is a clothing retailer, operating over 223 stores in Ireland , the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Germany, Spain, Portugal and Belgium...
branch. He previously lived in Goatstown
Goatstown
Goatstown is a suburb of Dublin located in Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County, Ireland. To the west is Dundrum, to the east is Mount Merrion and Stillorgan, to the south is Sandyford, and to the north is Roebuck and Clonskeagh....
, Dublin but now resides with his wife Mona, their four daughters and his two dogs, Sandy and Pip, in a "sizeable art-deco building" dating from the 1930s and located in a quiet but cosmopolitan district of Cork
Cork (city)
Cork is the second largest city in the Republic of Ireland and the island of Ireland's third most populous city. It is the principal city and administrative centre of County Cork and the largest city in the province of Munster. Cork has a population of 119,418, while the addition of the suburban...
, on a steep hill overlooking the city centre. He is well-known for his eclectic musical taste, from local band Fred
Fred (band)
Fred are a five-piece Irish alternative band from Cork. They have released four albums, the latest of which, Leaving My Empire, was released in Ireland in 2011.- Career :...
to The Beatles
The Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
, Nina Simone
Nina Simone
Eunice Kathleen Waymon , better known by her stage name Nina Simone , was an American singer, songwriter, pianist, arranger, and civil rights activist widely associated with jazz music...
, Bruce Springsteen
Bruce Springsteen
Bruce Frederick Joseph Springsteen , nicknamed "The Boss," is an American singer-songwriter who records and tours with the E Street Band...
and Van Morrison
Van Morrison
Van Morrison, OBE is a Northern Irish singer-songwriter and musician. His live performances at their best are regarded as transcendental and inspired; while some of his recordings, such as the studio albums Astral Weeks and Moondance, and the live album It's Too Late to Stop Now, are widely...
. His record collection includes albums by Miles Davis
Miles Davis
Miles Dewey Davis III was an American jazz musician, trumpeter, bandleader, and composer. Widely considered one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century, Miles Davis was, with his musical groups, at the forefront of several major developments in jazz music, including bebop, cool jazz,...
and John Coltrane
John Coltrane
John William Coltrane was an American jazz saxophonist and composer. Working in the bebop and hard bop idioms early in his career, Coltrane helped pioneer the use of modes in jazz and later was at the forefront of free jazz...
and selections from Americana
Americana (music)
Americana is an amalgam of roots musics formed by the confluence of the shared and varied traditions that make up the American musical ethos; specifically those sounds that are merged from folk, country, blues, rhythm and blues, rock and roll and other external influential styles...
, Eric Bibb
Eric Bibb
Eric Bibb is an American acoustic blues singer-songwriter. He is based in London and launched his career in Europe. Today he lives in Finland.-Biography:...
, John Prine
John Prine
John Prine is an American country/folk singer-songwriter. He has been active as a recording artist and live performer since the early 1970s.-Biography:...
and the Handsome Family
The Handsome Family
The Handsome Family is an alternative country band, formed in Chicago, Illinois.-History:The band was formed in 1993 by husband-and-wife duo Brett Sparks and Rennie Sparks and drummer Mike Werner, although the band would later revolve around Rennie, who writes the lyrics, and Brett, who writes...
. This contrasts greatly with one of his daughters who is a Westlife
Westlife
Westlife are an Irish boy band established on 3 July 1998. They are to disband in 2012. The group's line-up was Nicky Byrne, Kian Egan, Mark Feehily, Shane Filan, and Brian McFadden . The group are the only act in British and Irish history to have their first seven singles peak at number one...
fan.
An avid Irish language
Irish language
Irish , also known as Irish Gaelic, is a Goidelic language of the Indo-European language family, originating in Ireland and historically spoken by the Irish people. Irish is now spoken as a first language by a minority of Irish people, as well as being a second language of a larger proportion of...
speaker, Creedon appeared on the first series of No Béarla
No Béarla
No Béarla is a four-part documentary style programme broadcast on Irish language television channel TG4 and produced by Dearg Films RTÉ/TG4. It follows presenter Manchán Magan as he journeys throughout Ireland attempting to show that Irish is spoken only by a minority of the population...
, broadcast in 2007. He has spoken to the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
about his search for his nation's favourite Irish word. He is also a sports fanatic and supports his local football club, Cork City F.C., a League of Ireland
League of Ireland
The League of Ireland is the national association football league of the Republic of Ireland. Founded in 1921, as a league of eight clubs, it has expanded over time into a two-tiered league of 22 clubs. It is currently split into the League of Ireland Premier Division and the League of Ireland...
Premier Division team. One of Creedon's favourite memories is the visit of Pope John Paul II
Pope John Paul II
Blessed Pope John Paul II , born Karol Józef Wojtyła , reigned as Pope of the Catholic Church and Sovereign of Vatican City from 16 October 1978 until his death on 2 April 2005, at of age. His was the second-longest documented pontificate, which lasted ; only Pope Pius IX ...
to Ireland almost three decades ago. He described the Pope
Pope
The Pope is the Bishop of Rome, a position that makes him the leader of the worldwide Catholic Church . In the Catholic Church, the Pope is regarded as the successor of Saint Peter, the Apostle...
"landing that helicopter
Helicopter
A helicopter is a type of rotorcraft in which lift and thrust are supplied by one or more engine-driven rotors. This allows the helicopter to take off and land vertically, to hover, and to fly forwards, backwards, and laterally...
by himself in Phoenix Park
Phoenix Park
Phoenix Park is an urban park in Dublin, Ireland, lying 2–4 km west of the city centre, north of the River Liffey. Its 16 km perimeter wall encloses , one of the largest walled city parks in Europe. It includes large areas of grassland and tree-lined avenues, and since the seventeenth...
in 1979" as "truly memorable".
External links
- Official site of The John Creedon Show
- John Creedon rap from The All Ireland Talent ShowThe All Ireland Talent ShowThe All Ireland Talent Show was an RTÉ television series billed as Ireland's biggest-ever talent contest. It was first announced in November 2008 and the first series commenced broadcasting on 4 January 2009, completing on 15 March 2009. Modelled on Britain's Got Talent, it is produced by Tyrone...
- Late Date archives: February 2008 April 2008
- 2003 letter to the Sligo Weekender