Ray D'Arcy
Encyclopedia
Raymond 'Ray' D'Arcy is an Irish
television and radio presenter. He currently presents a weekday morning radio programme, The Ray D'Arcy Show
, on Today FM
. His professional partner on the show, Jenny Kelly
, became his personal partner and they have since had a daughter together.
Prior to becoming a father D'Arcy had a television career with Raidió Teilifís Éireann
, presenting children's television on The Den
, a quiz show called Blackboard Jungle
and the youth music show 2Phat
. He presented television coverage of The Rose of Tralee
beauty pageant each August for four consecutive years until 2010. He also outed himself as a competitor in the second season
of Celebrity Bainisteoir
.
D'Arcy is a household name in Ireland but does not consider himself a celebrity and rarely gives interviews.
. His grandmother died at the age of 54 from lung cancer
when he was 11.
D'Arcy attended Trinity College Dublin for a degree in psychology
. He graduated in 1985. He began a career at RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta
and in 1988 moved to RTÉ television, with a presenter spot on Jo Maxi
. He worked in RTÉ for 13 years.
as the presenter of The Den
, RTÉ's flagship children's television series
, from 1990 till 1999. His career in children's television later featured in the 2008 documentary Best Bitz From Back Den
. D'Arcy also presented the secondary school
quiz show Blackboard Jungle
at the time, and later moved onto presenting 2Phat
, a youth music quiz. In addition, he presented the UTV
and RTÉ collaborative travel
show, Bon Voyage! for one season.
In 2005 D'Arcy took over presenter duties at the International Rose of Tralee
festival which he went on to present for a number of years. On 1 April 2010, after five years as presenter, D'Arcy announced his decision to quit so that he could spend more time with his family as they grew older.
D'Arcy has presented a number of special one-off events, including Ireland's version of the Test The Nation
franchise and the Irish Young Scientist Awards
. Until 2005 he presented You're a Star
, the talent contest to find Ireland's entrant for the Eurovision Song Contest
. He hosted Eurosong 2008 in The University of Limerick Concert Hall. He presented an edition of The Panel on 6 November 2008. In 2008 he ruled out applying to host The Late Late Show
, despite being linked to the primetime slot.
On 1 December 2008, he announced on his radio show that he would be participating in the second season
of Celebrity Bainisteoir, in which he managed Rathangan GAA
, a team from Rathangan, County Kildare
. On The Saturday Night Show
in 2010, D'Arcy took on Enda Kenny
. 'vowing he would leave Ireland' after the February 2011 general elections if Kenny became Taoiseach
. The audience applauded as D'Arcy continued: "If you listened to Enda Kenny during the week, he said 'I'm now going to be myself'. He's the longest-serving TD, he's been eight years as leader of Fine Gael and now he decides he's going to be himself."
. There he took over the mid-morning show from Tim Kelly which went out from 10:00 to 12:45. This slot was later changed to 9:00 to 12:00, entering direct competition with The Gerry Ryan Show
on RTÉ 2fm
. He credits much of his show's success to the team that has served him over the years: Jenny Kelly
, Mairead Farrell and Will Hanafin
.
The D'Arcy Show has achieved something of a cult status due to some of its quirky segments. One of the most popular of these is called "Fix-It Friday", which, as is evident by its name, takes place each Friday. It involves D'Arcy and his assistant Jenny Kelly's attempts to find the solution to any question the listenership request of them. Another segment is the "Odd One Out Quiz" which takes place every day the show is on air. This involves D'Arcy asking a phone-in contestant a series of questions each involving three items, one of which is the odd one out. A regular example would be two consonants and a vowel. The fast-paced delivery is usually enough to unhinge the contestant although D'Arcy is usually generous in his delivery and will often repeat questions after the allotted time has run out.
The D'Arcy Show has also seen many unusual innovations. For instance D'Arcy and his production team, Jenny Kelly, Mairéad Farrell and Will Hanafin, once performed a spoof version of the OK Go
hit "Here It Goes Again
" in D'Arcy's back garden in frozen conditions. In June 2008 D'Arcy was one of over 1,200 people who stripped naked to participate in an Irish Spencer Tunick
art project and he later spoke of it on his show.
On the weekend of 21–22 March 2009, an unknown person placed satirical naked pictures of Brian Cowen
in the National Gallery of Ireland
and the gallery of the Royal Hibernian Academy
. The artist, Conor Casby, emailed The Ray Darcy Show anonymously, claiming responsibility for the creation of the paintings, but not their hanging. Gardaí
subsequently raided the Today FM studios and the producer, Will Hanafin
, was asked to hand over the emails, claiming that the placing of the paintings constituted indecency, incitement and criminal damage. Hanafin refused to provide the emails without a warrant.
D'Arcy has played a major role in Today FM’s Shave Or Dye Campaign.
D'Arcy has been approached by RTÉ over the years and has considered leaving Today FM.
. His road safety campaign earned an award.
, one of the producers and co-presenters of his radio show. The pair were stalked by the press when D'Arcy publicly exposed their partnership on Saturday Night With Miriam
in 2005. Afterwards, D'Arcy was dismissive of the public interest in the relationship:
come under attack on The Late Late Show
.
D'Arcy is now an atheist
but attended Mass until he was in his twenties when he became disillusioned by the whole process.
, cementing his position as one of Ireland's most popular radio presenters. D'Arcy always maintains that this should be seen as a group award, and that credit should be shared with Jenny Kelly, Mairead Farrell
and producer Will Hanafin
, who also contributes to presenting the show. Despite this, it was only ever awarded to himself so he can claim the credit here. In 2008 D'Arcy was beaten by his namesake Ray Foley
who launched a daily campaign to dethrone him.
In 2006 The Ray D'Arcy Show won the Community/Social Action award at the PPI Irish Radio Awards for their work in highlighting road safety problems and deaths on the roads in Ireland. This was due in part, to their "Don't be a Fucking Eejit" radio adverts, which contained real-life stories.
In 2007 The Ray D'Arcy Show won the Best Light Entertainment Programme award at the PPI Irish Radio Awards.
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| 1993 || Ray D'Arcy || Jacob's Award ||
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| 2005 || Ray D'Arcy || Best Irish DJ at the Meteor Awards ||
|-
| 2006 || Ray D'Arcy || Best Irish DJ at the Meteor Awards ||
|-
| 2006 || The Ray D'Arcy Show || Community/Social Action award at the PPI Irish Radio Awards ||
|-
| 2007
|| Ray D'Arcy || Best Irish DJ at the Meteor Awards ||
|-
| 2007 || The Ray D'Arcy Show || Best Light Entertainment Programme award at the PPI Irish Radio Awards ||
|-
| 2008
|| Ray D'Arcy || Best Irish DJ at the Meteor Awards ||
|-
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
television and radio presenter. He currently presents a weekday morning radio programme, The Ray D'Arcy Show
The Ray D'Arcy Show
The Ray D'Arcy Show is Today FM's weekday mid-morning radio show presented by Ray D'Arcy. It is on air from 09:00–12:00 midday, competing with RTÉ 2fm's Ryan Tubridy, RTÉ Radio 1's Pat Kenny and Newstalk's Tom Dunne .The production team of Jenny Kelly, Will Hanafin and Mairead Farrell and...
, on Today FM
Today FM
Radio Ireland Ltd, trading as 100-102 Today FM is an Irish commercial FM radio station which is available nationally. The station, which commenced broadcasting on Saint Patrick's Day in 1997, can be received nationally and carries a mix of music and talk...
. His professional partner on the show, Jenny Kelly
Jenny Kelly
Jennifer "Jenny" Kelly is an Irish radio personality famed for her partnership to the presenter Ray D'Arcy, a household name in Ireland. She is D'Arcy's producer and co-presenter on The Ray D'Arcy Show on Today FM...
, became his personal partner and they have since had a daughter together.
Prior to becoming a father D'Arcy had a television career with Raidió Teilifís Éireann
Raidió Teilifís Éireann
Raidió Teilifís Éireann is a semi-state company and the public service broadcaster of Ireland. It both produces programmes and broadcasts them on television, radio and the Internet. The radio service began on January 1, 1926, while regular television broadcasts began on December 31, 1961, making...
, presenting children's television on The Den
The Den (television)
The Den was the brand of the children's television strand on Irish public broadcaster RTÉ Two. It first broadcast on 29 September 1986 on RTÉ One, before moving to RTÉ Two in September 1988. The strand began to diversify throughout the late 1990s and the 2000s...
, a quiz show called Blackboard Jungle
Blackboard Jungle (TV series)
Blackboard Jungle is an Irish quiz show hosted by Ray D'Arcy that aired for seven series on Network 2 between 1991 and 1997. The show, which aired up to three times a week, featured two teams of three representing two competing secondary schools. A grand final was held at the end of each series....
and the youth music show 2Phat
2Phat
2Phat was an Irish television programme that was shown twice weekly on Network 2 from 1998 to 2000. It reunited Ray D'Arcy and Zig and Zag, who had previously appeared together on The Den...
. He presented television coverage of The Rose of Tralee
Rose of Tralee (festival)
The Rose of Tralee festival is an international competition which is celebrated among Irish communities all over the world. The festival takes its inspiration from a nineteenth century ballad of the same name about a woman called Mary, who because of her beauty was called The Rose of Tralee. The...
beauty pageant each August for four consecutive years until 2010. He also outed himself as a competitor in the second season
Celebrity Bainisteoir (season 2)
The second season of Celebrity Bainisteoir was broadcast in Ireland on RTÉ One from 22 March 2009 until 10 May 2009.The eight bainisteoirí were model Andrea Roche, veteran broadcaster Derek Davis, former Irish pop star-turned children's television presenter Emma O'Driscoll, journalist and...
of Celebrity Bainisteoir
Celebrity Bainisteoir
Celebrity Bainisteoir is a prime-time reality programme produced for Radio Telefís Éireann, which was produced by Animo Television/Kite Entertainment...
.
D'Arcy is a household name in Ireland but does not consider himself a celebrity and rarely gives interviews.
Early life
D'Arcy began DJing in 1979. He was born in Kildare in 1964, and was always interested in music and broadcasting, and DJ'ed his first disco at the age of 15. He is from a working class family of nine, with one earner, a male non-commissioned officerNon-commissioned officer
A non-commissioned officer , called a sub-officer in some countries, is a military officer who has not been given a commission...
. His grandmother died at the age of 54 from lung cancer
Lung cancer
Lung cancer is a disease characterized by uncontrolled cell growth in tissues of the lung. If left untreated, this growth can spread beyond the lung in a process called metastasis into nearby tissue and, eventually, into other parts of the body. Most cancers that start in lung, known as primary...
when he was 11.
D'Arcy attended Trinity College Dublin for a degree in psychology
Psychology
Psychology is the study of the mind and behavior. Its immediate goal is to understand individuals and groups by both establishing general principles and researching specific cases. For many, the ultimate goal of psychology is to benefit society...
. He graduated in 1985. He began a career at RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta
RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta
RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta , abbreviated RnaG, is the Irish-language radio service of the public-service broadcaster Raidió Teilifís Éireann. The station is available on FM in Ireland and via satellite and on the Internet.- History :...
and in 1988 moved to RTÉ television, with a presenter spot on Jo Maxi
Jo Maxi
Jo Maxi was an Irish teenage entertainment show which would report on teenage issues. The presenters would discuss issues relating to teenagers through reports and studio discussions. They would also review books, movies and other TV shows. Gig Guides and job/study information was also reported...
. He worked in RTÉ for 13 years.
Television career
D'Arcy replaced Ian DempseyIan Dempsey
Ian Michael Dempsey is an Irish presenter of television and breakfast radio. He is the long-running presenter of the breakfast show on Today FM, self-titled The Ian Dempsey Breakfast Show, which runs from 07:00 - 09:00 each weekday morning...
as the presenter of The Den
The Den (television)
The Den was the brand of the children's television strand on Irish public broadcaster RTÉ Two. It first broadcast on 29 September 1986 on RTÉ One, before moving to RTÉ Two in September 1988. The strand began to diversify throughout the late 1990s and the 2000s...
, RTÉ's flagship children's television series
Children's television series
Children's television series, are commercial television programs designed for, and marketed to children, normally scheduled for broadcast during the morning and afternoon when children are awake. They can sometimes run in the early evening, for the children that go to school...
, from 1990 till 1999. His career in children's television later featured in the 2008 documentary Best Bitz From Back Den
Best Bitz From Back Den
Best Bitz From Back Den is an Irish television special and DVD released in November 2008. It was broadcast on RTÉ One on 27 October 2008 at 18:30. The title is a play on the Irish children's television favourite The Den...
. D'Arcy also presented the secondary school
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
quiz show Blackboard Jungle
Blackboard Jungle (TV series)
Blackboard Jungle is an Irish quiz show hosted by Ray D'Arcy that aired for seven series on Network 2 between 1991 and 1997. The show, which aired up to three times a week, featured two teams of three representing two competing secondary schools. A grand final was held at the end of each series....
at the time, and later moved onto presenting 2Phat
2Phat
2Phat was an Irish television programme that was shown twice weekly on Network 2 from 1998 to 2000. It reunited Ray D'Arcy and Zig and Zag, who had previously appeared together on The Den...
, a youth music quiz. In addition, he presented the UTV
UTV
UTV is a television channel based in the UK region of Northern Ireland. The channel is the Channel 3 or Independent Television licensee for Northern Ireland and is operated by UTV Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of UTV Media.- Terrestrial :* Analogue: Normally tuned to 3 * Freeview : 3...
and RTÉ collaborative travel
Tourism
Tourism is travel for recreational, leisure or business purposes. The World Tourism Organization defines tourists as people "traveling to and staying in places outside their usual environment for not more than one consecutive year for leisure, business and other purposes".Tourism has become a...
show, Bon Voyage! for one season.
In 2005 D'Arcy took over presenter duties at the International Rose of Tralee
Rose of Tralee (festival)
The Rose of Tralee festival is an international competition which is celebrated among Irish communities all over the world. The festival takes its inspiration from a nineteenth century ballad of the same name about a woman called Mary, who because of her beauty was called The Rose of Tralee. The...
festival which he went on to present for a number of years. On 1 April 2010, after five years as presenter, D'Arcy announced his decision to quit so that he could spend more time with his family as they grew older.
D'Arcy has presented a number of special one-off events, including Ireland's version of the Test The Nation
Test the Nation
Test the Nation is a television programme, first broadcast in 2001 by BNN in the Netherlands where the concept is owned by Eyeworks Holding who license it to TV production companies around the world.-Show format:...
franchise and the Irish Young Scientist Awards
Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition
The BT Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition , commonly called "the Young Scientist", is an annual competition that has been held in Dublin, Ireland every January since 1965 for encouraging interest in science in secondary and primary schools, currently sponsored by BT Ireland...
. Until 2005 he presented You're a Star
You're A Star
You're a Star was a singing contest in Ireland,similar to th X Factor in the United Kingdom and American Idol in the USA created by Screentime ShinAwiL and Radio Telefís Éireann. It was shown weekly on RTÉ One over the winter months of each year...
, the talent contest to find Ireland's entrant for the Eurovision Song Contest
Eurovision Song Contest
The Eurovision Song Contest is an annual competition held among active member countries of the European Broadcasting Union .Each member country submits a song to be performed on live television and then casts votes for the other countries' songs to determine the most popular song in the competition...
. He hosted Eurosong 2008 in The University of Limerick Concert Hall. He presented an edition of The Panel on 6 November 2008. In 2008 he ruled out applying to host The Late Late Show
The 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...
, despite being linked to the primetime slot.
On 1 December 2008, he announced on his radio show that he would be participating in the second season
Celebrity Bainisteoir (season 2)
The second season of Celebrity Bainisteoir was broadcast in Ireland on RTÉ One from 22 March 2009 until 10 May 2009.The eight bainisteoirí were model Andrea Roche, veteran broadcaster Derek Davis, former Irish pop star-turned children's television presenter Emma O'Driscoll, journalist and...
of Celebrity Bainisteoir, in which he managed Rathangan GAA
Rathangan GAA
Rathangan GAA Club is a Gaelic football club based in Rathangan, County Kildare, Ireland. It was founded in 1889 and had many difficulties early on as there were many different local teams in the parish...
, a team from Rathangan, County Kildare
Rathangan, County Kildare
Rathangan is a town in the west of County Kildare, Ireland, with a population of 1,718. It is located from the centre of Dublin, and from Kildare, at the intersection of the R401, R414, and R419 regional roads. The Slate River and the Grand Canal run through the town.Rathangan is situated beside...
. On The Saturday Night Show
The Saturday Night Show
The Saturday Night Show is an Irish chat show hosted by Brendan O'Connor that has been broadcast on RTÉ One since 2010. The show features guest interviews, audience participation and live music...
in 2010, D'Arcy took on Enda Kenny
Enda Kenny
Enda Kenny is an Irish Fine Gael politician, and has been the Taoiseach since 2011. He has led Fine Gael since 2002. He served as Minister for Tourism and Trade from 1994 to 1997. He is also a two-term Vice President of the European People's Party.Kenny has been a Teachta Dála for Mayo since...
. 'vowing he would leave Ireland' after the February 2011 general elections if Kenny became Taoiseach
Taoiseach
The Taoiseach is the head of government or prime minister of Ireland. The Taoiseach is appointed by the President upon the nomination of Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Oireachtas , and must, in order to remain in office, retain the support of a majority in the Dáil.The current Taoiseach is...
. The audience applauded as D'Arcy continued: "If you listened to Enda Kenny during the week, he said 'I'm now going to be myself'. He's the longest-serving TD, he's been eight years as leader of Fine Gael and now he decides he's going to be himself."
Radio career
In the late 1990s D'Arcy moved to a radio career on Today FMToday FM
Radio Ireland Ltd, trading as 100-102 Today FM is an Irish commercial FM radio station which is available nationally. The station, which commenced broadcasting on Saint Patrick's Day in 1997, can be received nationally and carries a mix of music and talk...
. There he took over the mid-morning show from Tim Kelly which went out from 10:00 to 12:45. This slot was later changed to 9:00 to 12:00, entering direct competition with The Gerry Ryan Show
The Gerry Ryan Show
The Gerry Ryan Show was RTÉ 2fm's mid-morning radio show...
on RTÉ 2fm
RTÉ 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 :...
. He credits much of his show's success to the team that has served him over the years: Jenny Kelly
Jenny Kelly
Jennifer "Jenny" Kelly is an Irish radio personality famed for her partnership to the presenter Ray D'Arcy, a household name in Ireland. She is D'Arcy's producer and co-presenter on The Ray D'Arcy Show on Today FM...
, Mairead Farrell and Will Hanafin
Will Hanafin
William 'Will' Hanafin is an Irish journalist, a researcher, television producer and radio presenter from Youghal, County Cork. He can currently be heard on The Ray D'Arcy Show on Today FM, largely in the background offering advice to listeners but he sometimes presents the show solo. He has been...
.
The D'Arcy Show has achieved something of a cult status due to some of its quirky segments. One of the most popular of these is called "Fix-It Friday", which, as is evident by its name, takes place each Friday. It involves D'Arcy and his assistant Jenny Kelly's attempts to find the solution to any question the listenership request of them. Another segment is the "Odd One Out Quiz" which takes place every day the show is on air. This involves D'Arcy asking a phone-in contestant a series of questions each involving three items, one of which is the odd one out. A regular example would be two consonants and a vowel. The fast-paced delivery is usually enough to unhinge the contestant although D'Arcy is usually generous in his delivery and will often repeat questions after the allotted time has run out.
The D'Arcy Show has also seen many unusual innovations. For instance D'Arcy and his production team, Jenny Kelly, Mairéad Farrell and Will Hanafin, once performed a spoof version of the OK Go
OK Go
OK Go is a rock band originally from Chicago, Illinois, USA, now residing in Los Angeles, California, USA. The band is composed of Damian Kulash , Tim Nordwind , Dan Konopka and Andy Ross , who joined them in 2005, replacing Andy Duncan...
hit "Here It Goes Again
Here It Goes Again
"Here It Goes Again" is an alternative rock/power pop song by OK Go, and is the third released single from the album Oh No. It also appears on the compilation album Now 23. It remains the band's only single to chart on the Billboard Hot 100, where it entered the Top 40 at #38, mostly due to the...
" in D'Arcy's back garden in frozen conditions. In June 2008 D'Arcy was one of over 1,200 people who stripped naked to participate in an Irish Spencer Tunick
Spencer Tunick
Spencer Tunick is an American photographer. Tunick is best known for organizing large-scale nude shoots. Since 1994 he has photographed over 75 human installations around the world.-Biography:...
art project and he later spoke of it on his show.
On the weekend of 21–22 March 2009, an unknown person placed satirical naked pictures of Brian Cowen
Brian Cowen nude portraits controversy
Two oil paintings depicting Brian Cowen, then-Taoiseach of Ireland, in the nude, were briefly displayed in Dublin art galleries in March 2009 as an act of guerilla art...
in the National Gallery of Ireland
National Gallery of Ireland
The National Gallery of Ireland houses the Irish national collection of Irish and European art. It is located in the centre of Dublin with one entrance on Merrion Square, beside Leinster House, and another on Clare Street. It was founded in 1854 and opened its doors ten years later...
and the gallery of the Royal Hibernian Academy
Royal Hibernian Academy
The Royal Hibernian Academy is an artist-based and artist-oriented institution in Ireland, founded in Dublin in 1823.-History:The RHA was founded as the result of 30 Irish artists petitioning the government for a charter of incorporation...
. The artist, Conor Casby, emailed The Ray Darcy Show anonymously, claiming responsibility for the creation of the paintings, but not their hanging. Gardaí
Garda Síochána
, more commonly referred to as the Gardaí , is the police force of Ireland. The service is headed by the Commissioner who is appointed by the Irish Government. Its headquarters are located in the Phoenix Park in Dublin.- Terminology :...
subsequently raided the Today FM studios and the producer, Will Hanafin
Will Hanafin
William 'Will' Hanafin is an Irish journalist, a researcher, television producer and radio presenter from Youghal, County Cork. He can currently be heard on The Ray D'Arcy Show on Today FM, largely in the background offering advice to listeners but he sometimes presents the show solo. He has been...
, was asked to hand over the emails, claiming that the placing of the paintings constituted indecency, incitement and criminal damage. Hanafin refused to provide the emails without a warrant.
D'Arcy has played a major role in Today FM’s Shave Or Dye Campaign.
D'Arcy has been approached by RTÉ over the years and has considered leaving Today FM.
Philanthropy
D'Arcy has used his high profile to help numerous charitable causes. Cancer awareness is one of his favourite things to do. His regular "Shave Or Dye Campaign" raises funds for the Irish Cancer SocietyIrish Cancer Society
The Irish Cancer Society is the national charity in the Ireland dedicated to eliminating cancer as a major health problem, and improving the lives of those living with cancer ....
. His road safety campaign earned an award.
Personal life
D'Arcy was previously engaged to marry television presenter Geri Maye only for the wedding to be halted at the last minute. He is currently in a relationship with Jenny KellyJenny Kelly
Jennifer "Jenny" Kelly is an Irish radio personality famed for her partnership to the presenter Ray D'Arcy, a household name in Ireland. She is D'Arcy's producer and co-presenter on The Ray D'Arcy Show on Today FM...
, one of the producers and co-presenters of his radio show. The pair were stalked by the press when D'Arcy publicly exposed their partnership on Saturday Night With Miriam
Saturday Night With Miriam
Saturday Night with Miriam is a television chat show which was first broadcast in Ireland on RTÉ One in the summer of 2005. The show runs for six weeks as a summer filler, and is presented by Miriam O'Callaghan, the co-host of Prime Time.- Format :...
in 2005. Afterwards, D'Arcy was dismissive of the public interest in the relationship:
"I guess once we have actually told people we are together that will be the end of it. Our listeners probably care that we are a couple, but beyond that I don't know why anyone would be interested."D'Arcy and Kelly have a baby daughter, Kate (born 25 November 2006), together. Jenny went into labour with his baby while watching Pat Kenny
Pat Kenny
Patrick "Pat" Kenny is an Irish broadcaster and former disc jockey and continuity announcer. He is employed by Raidió Teilifís Éireann and is their highest paid presenter. He presents Today with Pat Kenny on RTÉ Radio 1 each weekday morning between 10:00 and midday...
come under attack on The Late Late Show
The 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...
.
D'Arcy is now an atheist
Atheism
Atheism is, in a broad sense, the rejection of belief in the existence of deities. In a narrower sense, atheism is specifically the position that there are no deities...
but attended Mass until he was in his twenties when he became disillusioned by the whole process.
Awards
D'Arcy won a Jacob's Award in 1993 for his presentation of The Den. In 2005, 2006 and 2007 Ray won the Best Irish Radio DJ award at the Meteor Music AwardsMeteor Music Awards
The Meteor Ireland Music Awards are a group of music awards in Ireland...
, cementing his position as one of Ireland's most popular radio presenters. D'Arcy always maintains that this should be seen as a group award, and that credit should be shared with Jenny Kelly, Mairead Farrell
Mairead Farrell (Irish radio presenter)
Mairéad Farrell is an Irish radio presenter. She is a long-standing member of Ray D'Arcy's team on Today FM. She has vowed to never leave D'Arcy, who she has described as being "like my mammy".-Early life:...
and producer Will Hanafin
Will Hanafin
William 'Will' Hanafin is an Irish journalist, a researcher, television producer and radio presenter from Youghal, County Cork. He can currently be heard on The Ray D'Arcy Show on Today FM, largely in the background offering advice to listeners but he sometimes presents the show solo. He has been...
, who also contributes to presenting the show. Despite this, it was only ever awarded to himself so he can claim the credit here. In 2008 D'Arcy was beaten by his namesake Ray Foley
Ray Foley
Raymond 'Ray' Foley is an Irish radio presenter. He currently presents The Ray Foley Show on Today FM at weekday lunch times. Having worked at 98FM and Spin 1038 early in his career, Foley moved to Today FM in 2004, presenting the night time show The Blast with, "JP" Gilbourne...
who launched a daily campaign to dethrone him.
In 2006 The Ray D'Arcy Show won the Community/Social Action award at the PPI Irish Radio Awards for their work in highlighting road safety problems and deaths on the roads in Ireland. This was due in part, to their "Don't be a Fucking Eejit" radio adverts, which contained real-life stories.
In 2007 The Ray D'Arcy Show won the Best Light Entertainment Programme award at the PPI Irish Radio Awards.
|-
| 1993 || Ray D'Arcy || Jacob's Award ||
|-
| 2005 || Ray D'Arcy || Best Irish DJ at the Meteor Awards ||
|-
| 2006 || Ray D'Arcy || Best Irish DJ at the Meteor Awards ||
|-
| 2006 || The Ray D'Arcy Show || Community/Social Action award at the PPI Irish Radio Awards ||
|-
| 2007
2007 Meteor Awards
The 2007 Meteor Music Awards ceremony was held in the Point Theatre, Dublin on Thursday, 1 February 2007. It was the seventh edition of Ireland's national music awards and the last to be held at the Point before it shut for redevelopment...
|| Ray D'Arcy || Best Irish DJ at the Meteor Awards ||
|-
| 2007 || The Ray D'Arcy Show || Best Light Entertainment Programme award at the PPI Irish Radio Awards ||
|-
| 2008
2008 Meteor Awards
The 2008 Meteor Music Awards ceremony was held in the RDS, Dublin on Friday, 15 February 2008. Nineteen awards were presented. It was the eighth edition of Ireland's national music awards. The event was later broadcast on RTÉ Two on Saturday, 16 February at 21:00...
|| Ray D'Arcy || Best Irish DJ at the Meteor Awards ||
|-