Today FM has announced a number of major changes to its daytime schedule, which will see the departure of Fergal D’Arcy from the station.
The new daytime timetable now includes Ray Foley as the new voice of afternoons while Pamela Joyce is set to take over from Mairead Ronan’s lunchtime show.
It will also see popular Early Breakfast presenter Paula MacSweeney take up a new slot in the evenings.
Meanwhile, breakfast radio veteran Ian Dempsey has been moved up the schedule to the earlier time of 6am, adding an extra hour to his morning show.
Announcing changes on Monday, Today FM said D’Arcy’s departure comes “as a result of the refreshed schedule”.
Commenting on Fergal’s time with Today FM, Managing Editor, Music & Entertainment, Bauer Media Audio Ireland, James Brownlow said: “I’d like to sincerely thank Fergal for the huge contribution he’s made since he joined Today FM. Fergal is very passionate about radio and about music and we wish him continued success in both.”
It comes after the radio DJ triumphed in the latest Joint National Listenership Report (JNLR), adding 7,000 listeners to his audience in the past year - up to 132,000 as he finished out 2021.
Fergal will continue to present his afternoon show in the coming weeks, before the new schedule kicks off in February.
No stranger to Today FM listeners, having presented a multi-award-winning show on the station for many years, the changes will see Ray Foley take over, in a return to weekday afternoons in the 2-4.30pm slot.
Commenting on the new gig, he said: "You just can’t imagine how excited I am to start afternoons on Today FM, I’m so buzzing to get started with a brand-new show.
“Every day for the last nine years, my key card for the building hasn’t worked, so we might need to get that looked at.
“Our last song in 2012 was Example - We’ll Be Coming Back For You One Day and now we are!”
Elsewhere, Pamela Joyce has been revealed as the new lunchtime host on Today FM following the departure of Mairead Ronan.
She will make the move from her current evening slot.
Commenting on the move, she said: “I am beyond and excited and honoured to have my name above the door at lunchtimes on Today FM.
“This is a huge step for me personally and professionally and I can’t wait to sink my teeth into the show.
“You can expect all the best tunes, loads of craic and plenty of divilment. I can’t wait to keep the listeners company through their lunchtime.”
Early breakfast host Paula MacSweeney is also making a move within the timetable, to become the new voice of evenings on the station.
Departing her 5am-7am slot, Paula will now present a three-hour music show Monday to Thursday from 7-10pm.
Welcoming the new change and the end of the early wake up call, she said: “After ten years of early starts, I'm switching over to the dark side - literally!
“I am so excited to bring all the fun we have on Early Breakfast to evenings... and I'm also excited to knock that 3.30am alarm clock off!”
It was also announced that their ratings winning Ian Dempsey Breakfast Show will now broadcast for an extra hour each morning with a new start time of 6am.
Taking the earlier start in his stride, the seasoned star said: “I’m going to try and still get up at the same time (5am) but just do things quicker at home.
“There will be days that I may have forgotten to brush my hair (nobody will notice that) but I hope we can bring our famed music, entertainment, information and positivity to our legendary listeners whenever they wake up!”
The new schedule comes on the back of a hugely successful JNLR book for Today FM, which marked a seven year high for the station surpassing 900,000 listeners weekly (911,000) reinforcing Today FM’s position as the biggest independent radio station in the country.
James Brownlow added: “This is a hugely exciting time for Today FM, we have a stellar line-up that includes radio royalty in Ian Dempsey, heavy hitters Dermot and Dave who now have the biggest mid-morning audience on commercial radio and The Last Word with Matt Cooper serving up cutting-edge drive time radio.
“Today FM is providing the nation with the best trailblazing entertainment radio”
The revamped schedule on Today FM will come into effect in early February.
