Emotional RTE presenter Ronan Collins has announced he will move to RTE Gold in February - as he said a last farewell to listeners to his lunchtime radio show after 43 years.
The star made the announcement on his final radio show on Friday to Liveline host Joe Duffy, who paid a glowing tribute to Collins.
Ronan told Joe and his listeners: “I’ve had so many people looking to get in touch with me over the last couple of weeks, I’m now starting to feel like Joe Duffy, there are so many people getting in touch, wanting to talk to me and I am absolutely flattered.
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“I’m starting to feel a bit of a fraud now because I’m finishing on lunchtime today and I’ve done RTE radio since 1985….,and then I had many years before in 2FM before that but I’m going to be coming back here in January and we’ll have the Collins Collection on Holiday Mondays on Radio 1.
“Lots of people asked where they are going to hear Elvis, The Beatles, Bruce Springsteen, Jackson Brown – a lot of the favourites we played on this programme and they’re wondering where they are going to hear that now.
“They’re afraid they won’t hear them on Radio 1, well you might, I don’t know, but you’ll certainly hear them on RTE God and I will be on RTE Gold in February of which further details will be announced.
“They found a clause in the contract, I couldn’t leave the building,” he joked.
His pal Joe Duffy paid tribute to Ronan saying: “Often times we were the only people that met each other during the lockdown and you always insisted on coming in and doing your programme and getting the sense of the way the world was.
“Once again, you put your finger on the pulse.
The number of emails you got and letters I see them there over the last two weeks that you were retiring – not retiring – retiring from the daily show today have been incredible and a testament to your popularity and above all your connection with people.
“You're leaving thank god in the full of your health and the full of your happiness and the full of your voice above all. The full of your talented creativity and long may it continue, be it on the Bank Holiday here or wherever else you decided to display your multi talent.
“Ronan thank you for all the laughs you had, thank you for all the stories you had before we were on air. Thank God you for all the gossip, I didn’t believe half of it but it all turned out to be true.”
Joe wished him good health and happiness in the “many, many busy years ahead.”
Ronan said: “I’ll miss you. How many can say that?,” he said laughing.
But signing off for the final time on his radio show, Ronan broke down in tears on air.
“A little bit emotional,” he said.
He “You always hoped your numbers would be good but that was never important. What was important was that the contact was made, and the music was played.”
He played two final songs, Adios by Linda Ronstadt and Andrew Gold’s Thank You For Being A Friend.
But Ronan said he never was given enough time on his radio show – and paid tribute to “sometimes hard hit RTE management”.
“I could thank lots and lots of people. I could rattle off names here till the cows come home but as always happens on this programme, there is never enough time to do what I wanted to do.
“Thank you to everybody for being in touch and a particular word of thanks for the sometimes hard hit RTE management who get a hard time and I gave them a hard time for time to time and I’m sure it was deserved and what they gave back to me was deserved as well but I’m still here after 43 and a half years.
“Thank you very much. It’s been a pleasure and a privilege.”
Louise Duffy will replace Ronan, making her the first female presenter of the show and has previously filled in on The Ronan Collins Show and most recently was the presenter of RTE’s The Ballycotton Sessions.
Louise previously told Brendan O’Connor on Saturday that she was aware she had "very big shoes to fill".
"I’m so excited. I’m delighted and really grateful for the opportunity," she said. "I’ve very very big shoes to fill and I’m excited to kick off 2023 with something I love to do so much."
"As soon as Ronan made his plans to move to a different schedule himself we started talking about it. I had covered a few shows over the summer and really enjoyed it so much, it was such a pleasure to do.
"It didn't feel real though until the last couple of days when it all started moving."
Louise said she was "honoured" to be asked to fill the shoes of a "great broadcaster" and said is looking forward to discovering new up-and-coming Irish music talent.
In a statement she said: "I am honoured to be given the opportunity to host the biggest music radio show in Ireland, and follow in the footsteps of a great broadcaster like Ronan Collins. I look forward to connecting with music lovers all over the country, discovering new talent, and complementing the line-up of great broadcasters at RTÉ Radio 1."
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