A STAPLE OF the airwaves on RTÉ Radio 1, broadcaster Cathal Mac Coille signed off on his last edition of Morning Ireland today.

The presenter and journalist has had a long career in the Irish media, starting off with RTÉ in the 70s and had stints with TG4 and the Sunday Tribune newspaper.

He was a regular on Morning Ireland for four years, from 1986 onwards. After a hiatus, he returned to the RTÉ show, where he was featured since 2001.

“That’s almost it from us,” Rachael English said at around 9am this morning, before listing the usual credits for the show.

Then, Mac Coille said: ”Because this is my last Morning Ireland, I want to say a big thank you to my wonderful colleagues because of all they’ve done for me and with me for the last 16 years.

And of course, I want to thank you – the listener – for listening. That’s what matters most.

English added: “I know you don’t want any fuss so I promise no fuss – well maybe just a tiny bit of fuss just to say –  it’s been our absolute privilege to work with you.

Listeners will know your professionalism, your diligence, your determination, your good humour, [and] your fondness of hurling. They mightn’t be as familiar with your decency and kindness, traits that are always welcome but are particularly welcome at 5.30 in the morning.

So, on behalf of your colleagues and on behalf of all of our fantastic, loyal listeners I’d just like to say thanks. My gosh we’re going to miss you.

Finest hour?

Mac Coille has interviewed dozens of politicians over the years, but there may be one that sticks out in particular.

Almost seven years on, the infamous interview with the Taoiseach of the day, Brian Cowen, remains one of the enduring political moments of recent times.

In September 2010, Brian Cowen was forced to deny that he was “either drunk or hungover” after a decidedly lacklustre performance when speaking to Mac Coille on Morning Ireland.

The Taoiseach had been up late at the bar during the Fianna Fáil think-in, and spoke with an unusually deep voice during the interview.

Cowen also mistakenly referred to the Croke Park agreement as the Good Friday agreement during the encounter.

The story was picked up by news outlets around the world. Even Jay Leno took a pop at the Fianna Fáil leader on the Tonight Show.

It is expected that veteran Six One News anchor Brian Dobson will take over from Mac Coille on the most popular radio programme in the country.

In typical fashion, Mac Coille gave no hint that it was his last show in a series of early morning tweets.

Tributes

RTÉ later released a statement, with further tributes made to Mac Coille.

Jon Williams, managing director of RTÉ News and Current Affairs, said: “His greatest legacy is the generation of RTÉ journalists who were shaped by working with Cathal.”

Williams said Mac Coille imbued them “with his values of decency, curiosity and rigour” and added that he will “always be part of the RTÉ family”.

His colleague, Aine Lawlor, said that she had asked a colleague what Mac Coille was like when it was announced he was coming back to Morning Ireland in 2001.

That colleague, David Hanley, told Lawlor: “He’s quite mad you know. But he is quite brilliant as you’ll see… he’s also rather nice.”

Lawlor also called Mac Coille a “quiet, brilliant man” who was the “soul of the programme”.

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