Ray Foley

Raymond Foley (born 21 September 1980) is an Irish television host and radio presenter. Having worked at Dublin's 98FM and SPIN 1038 early in his career, Foley moved to Today FM in 2004. In 2006, he moved to midday and presented The Ray Foley Show, with sidekick JP Gilbourne and Adelle McDonnell. He hosted the breakfast slot on 98FM from October 2012 until December 2015. He also hosts TV dating show Take Me Out on TV3. On Friday 12 October 2012, Foley and JP announced on the show that both of them would be transferring to Today FM's sister station 98FM to present the breakfast show. They both have expressed how difficult the decision was for them, due to their fondness of their workmates and friends in Today FM.[2] In 2022, Foley returned to Today FM with an afternoon show from 2pm - 4:30pm.

For the baseball player, see Ray Foley (baseball).

Ray Foley
Born (1980-09-21) 21 September 1980
Ballina, County Mayo, Ireland[1]
Other namesThe King
The King of the Afternoons
The Boss
Raydar
EducationJournalism degree
Alma materDublin Institute of Technology (DIT)
OccupationDisc jockey
Employer98FM (2012–15)[1]
Known forThe Ray Foley Show
The Blast
The Essential Rock Anthems with Ray & JP
SpouseKate Carolan
Websiterayfoleyshow.blogspot.com

Early career

Following an entry in the DJ For a Day competition on 2FM (on Tony Fenton's Hotline show) in 1997, Foley got a taste for broadcasting. This led to him beginning his studies as a journalist in Dublin Institute of Technology, from which he graduated in October 2004[3] While there he started working at East Coast FM, and thence moved to 98FM and as a newsreader on Lite FM, before moving to SPIN 1038, "to get re-acquainted with presenting again".[4] While there, he presented The Zoo Crew with Clionadh O'Leary on week nights.

Today FM career

In 2004, at the age of 23, Foley moved to Today FM and began presenting late night show, The Blast, from 22:00 to 00:00, Monday to Thursday, with his college friend, JP Gilbourne, from Dundalk. Foley and JP regularly filled-in for Ray D'Arcy, Tony Fenton and Tom Dunne during this time. When the radio schedule was changed in 2006, Foley moved to a midday slot, which was vacated by Tony Fenton. Foley was disciplined by Irish authorities when he broadcast the Lily Allen song "Fuck You Very Much" on lunchtime radio in 2008.[5]

Today FM afternoon show (2006–2012, 2022-present)
The Ray Foley Show
GenreChat / music
Running time14:00 - 16:30
Country of originIreland
Language(s)English
Home stationToday FM
Recording studioMarconi House, Digges Lane, Dublin 2
Original release2022
Audio formatFM and Digital radio
WebsiteOfficial site
PodcastRay Foley Show Podcast

For 6 years Foley broadcast during the 12:00 to 14:30 time slot on Today FM, directly after The Ray D'Arcy Show. The tagline for the show was "Just a bit of fun for your lunchtime, nothing too serious". The show consisted of taking calls from listeners on random topics, chart music and some regular spots, along with the National Lunchtime News from 12:45 to 13:00. Sometimes contributors included Ann Gleeson, Alan Metcalfe (Funky Phone Boy Al) and reviewer Eoghan Doherty (Nordy Eoghan).

Essential Rock Anthems

In 2009, Foley and JP presented The Essential Rock Anthems in "The Essential..." slot on Sunday Nights 19:00 – 20:00. This was so popular, that they presented two further shows, which then became a regular almost monthly feature of the slot. In November 2009, Ray Foley and JP's Essential Rock Anthems CD was launched, a two-CD collection, including tracks from artists such as Meat Loaf, Therapy?, Pixies, Thin Lizzy, Whitesnake, Motörhead, Placebo, Blondie, Radiohead, The Knack, Status Quo, The Jam and Journey.

98FM (2012–2015)

On 12 October 2012, it was announced that Ray and JP were leaving Today FM to host the breakfast show on 98FM. Following their departure from the station, former evening presenter KC started as their replacement.

On 22 December 2015 the Irish Independent reported that his 98FM show would finish up on 24 December.[6] He has since been replaced by Steven Cooper and Luke O'Faolain.[7]

TV3 career

Foley eventually broke into television.[8][9] He became the Irish Paddy McGuinness by presenting Take Me Out. Seán Munsanje from Xposé took him shopping to style him for the job.[10] He was also mentioned in relation to The Apprentice.[11]

Awards

Foley won a Meteor Music Award for Best National DJ in 2008, 2009 and again in 2010.[12] Foley celebrated winning the 2008 award by singing a version of Journey's "Don't Stop Believin'", and in 2009 with the theme tune to TV's Home and Away[13] as part of his acceptance speech. In 2008 he launched a successful daily campaign to dethrone namesake Ray D'Arcy.

Foley achieved the PPI Radio Award's Music Broadcaster of the Year Award in 2009 and 2010.[14][15] Also in 2009 Foley and JP won the award for Best Specialist Music Programme for their Sunday evening show, The Essential Rock Anthems with Ray & JP.[14]

Year Nominee / work Award Result
2008Ray FoleyBest Irish DJ at the Meteor AwardsWon
2009Ray FoleyBest Irish DJ at the Meteor AwardsWon
2009Ray FoleyMusic Broadcaster of the Year Award at the PPI Irish Radio AwardsWon
2009Ray Foley and JPBest Specialist Music Programme at the PPI Irish Radio AwardsWon
2010Ray FoleyBest Irish DJ at the Meteor AwardsWon
2011Ray FoleyMusic Broadcaster of the Year at the PPI Irish Radio AwardsNominated
2012Ray FoleyMusic Broadcaster of the Year at the PPI Irish Radio AwardsNominated
2012Ray FoleyGeneral Music Programme at the PPI Irish Radio AwardsNominated
2013Ray FoleyMusic Broadcaster of the Year at the PPI Irish Radio AwardsNominated

Personal life

Foley married RTÉ 2fm newsreader Kate Carolan in 2007. They met while working at SPIN 1038.[4] He proposed to Carolan on O'Connell Street in Dublin City Centre and they spent their honeymoon attending the Oxegen Music Festival. On Monday 2 April 2012, Foley announced on-air that Kate had given birth to their first child on 1 April 2012. Foley announced the birth of their second child in June 2014.

References
  1. "Mayo DJs honoured". The Mayo News. 19 February 2008. Retrieved 7 April 2009.
  2. "Ray Foley leaving TodayFM, but where is he going? · The Daily Edge". Thedailyedge.thejournal.ie. 12 October 2012. Retrieved 2 August 2014.
  3. "Quite a blast from Ray". Western People. Thomas Crosbie Holdings. 19 January 2005. Archived from the original on 22 June 2011. Retrieved 7 April 2009.
  4. "Radio Star". The Mayo News. 27 July 2006. Retrieved 7 April 2009.
  5. "Complaints about report and song upheld". The Irish Times with Olivia Kelly. 12 November 2008. Retrieved 12 November 2008.
  6. Calnan, Denise (22 December 2015). "Popular radio presenter Ray Foley is leaving 98fm". Irish Independent.
  7. "Dublin, Get Ready For The Big Breakfast". 98FM. 22 January 2016.
  8. Foley, Ray (19 August 2010). "Radio Ray's going on the box". JOE. Archived from the original on 10 September 2010. Retrieved 19 August 2010.
  9. "TV3 launches autumn schedule in Dublin". RTÉ Ten. 19 August 2010. Retrieved 19 August 2010.
  10. "Shopping with Ray Foley". TV3. Archived from the original on 13 September 2012.
  11. Finn, Melanie (13 August 2010). "Today FM star may cast a fresh Ray of light on to TV3 Apprentice spin-off". Evening Herald. Retrieved 13 August 2010.
  12. "The Script and Sharon Shannon bag Meteors". Hot Press. Retrieved 18 March 2009.
  13. "Podcast including audio from Meteor Awards 2009". Today FM. Archived from the original on 18 March 2009. Retrieved 18 March 2009.
  14. "PPI Radio Awards 2009 – Recognising the Best in Irish Radio Broadcasting". Retrieved 5 October 2009.
  15. "PPI Radio Awards 2010 – Recognising the Best in Irish Radio Broadcasting". Archived from the original on 8 January 2011. Retrieved 10 December 2010.
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