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Cathal Mac Coille had spent the last 16 years as a regular on Morning Ireland Leon Farrell/Rollinngnews.ie

'My gosh we're going to miss you': Cathal Mac Coille signed off on his last Morning Ireland today

Cathal Mac Coille has been a regular on Morning Ireland for 16 years.

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.

nakedtaoiseach / YouTube

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”.

Read: ‘Ah Jaysis’: Vincent Browne was his usual self last night even with a fitting choral sendoff

Read: As it happened: The last Vincent Browne show

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    Dec 25th 2019, 3:38 PM

    The bit where the inlaws go home is my personal favorite.

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    Mute Sean71
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    Dec 25th 2019, 5:36 PM

    @Jason Byrne: ha ha your not wrong there mate

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    Mute Mark
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    Dec 25th 2019, 8:02 PM

    @Jason Byrne: Brilliant :-)

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    Mute Martin Harte
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    Dec 25th 2019, 3:34 PM

    The family around the table and the laugher is the best part of the Christmas Dinner

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    Mute Terry Cunningham
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    Dec 25th 2019, 3:40 PM

    The End of it.

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    Dec 25th 2019, 3:41 PM

    @Terry Cunningham: yes definitely

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    Mute Just Some Guy
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    Dec 25th 2019, 3:40 PM

    Some people mentioned Croquettes. That is a big thumbs up from me. Turkey and Stuffing always wins

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    Mute Greg Ward
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    Dec 25th 2019, 3:32 PM

    Roses and after dinner coma.

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    Dec 25th 2019, 3:41 PM

    I think a vegan option should have been included

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    Mute Clark Griswold
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    Dec 25th 2019, 3:41 PM

    @Clark Griswold: completely taking the piss obviously!

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    Mute Dow Dubrov
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    Dec 25th 2019, 3:54 PM

    @Clark Griswold: You couldn’t help yourself and ruined the joke

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    Mute Ole dan tucker
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    Dec 25th 2019, 5:24 PM

    @Clark Griswold: feck off with ur vegan humbug

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    Mute Sean71
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    Dec 25th 2019, 5:37 PM

    @Clark Griswold: jaysus there’s always one.. Enjoy your leaves

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    Dec 25th 2019, 3:34 PM

    Piggies in Blankets

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    Mute Marty Lawless
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    Dec 25th 2019, 4:50 PM

    Everything I can’t just pick one thing my wife is an awesome cook nearly as good as my mother god rest her

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    Dec 25th 2019, 4:53 PM

    Has to be the sausage meat!

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    Mute Mirabelle Stonegate
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    Dec 25th 2019, 6:09 PM

    Spiced beef. Despite it being available year round, I really only eat it at Christmas, which makes it extra special.

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    Dec 25th 2019, 3:38 PM

    Krabby patty

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    Dec 25th 2019, 4:16 PM

    @Eugene H. Krabbs: I cant hear you

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    Dec 25th 2019, 7:46 PM

    @Jonny Chip: AYE AYE CAPTAIN

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    Mute Kieran
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    Dec 25th 2019, 5:05 PM

    Bread sauce.

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    Dec 25th 2019, 7:29 PM

    @Kieran: homemade only

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    Dec 25th 2019, 8:04 PM

    Brussels Sprouts, par boiled for a few minutes and fried with smoked streaky bacon!!!!

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    Dec 25th 2019, 4:38 PM

    Croquettes…..hands down

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    Mute Sean71
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    Dec 25th 2019, 5:36 PM

    Stuffing without doubt

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    Mute Reuben Gray
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    Dec 25th 2019, 4:21 PM

    All of it, none of it is off limits at any time of the year to be honest. You can get Turkey and ham at any carvery on any given Sunday.

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    Mute Alex Nevin
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    Dec 25th 2019, 5:06 PM

    @Reuben Gray: You seem like good craic, do you write the jokes in the crackers

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    Mute Katie Wrest
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    Dec 25th 2019, 5:54 PM

    @Reuben Gray: might be able to have it any time during the year, but christmas is the only time we do it with the all out extras!!!

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    Dec 25th 2019, 4:23 PM

    Cabbage

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    Dec 25th 2019, 8:38 PM

    Has to be sausage meat stiffing

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    Dec 25th 2019, 5:39 PM

    All good except the farts on a fork. Aka sprouts.

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    Dec 25th 2019, 8:01 PM

    Sprouts

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    Dec 25th 2019, 5:24 PM

    Just having the one meal a year where I turn on the cooker and cook a meal…

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    Dec 25th 2019, 7:33 PM

    Turkey curry. It means the whole thing was yesterday.

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    Dec 25th 2019, 11:33 PM

    8 hrs later visit to the loo wit the rte guide

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    Dec 25th 2019, 7:30 PM

    Croutons and cream in the soup

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    Dec 25th 2019, 9:00 PM

    The Goose

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    Dec 26th 2019, 1:00 PM

    @David Grey: With you there. Far superior to turkey.

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    Dec 26th 2019, 4:11 AM

    Spiced Beef with Horse Radish… gorgeous.

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