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It's no joke: Hundreds of people have responded to this ad looking for the next Ray D'Arcy

A decision on Ray’s replacement isn’t expected before February. Interviews are set to take place in the New Year.

COMMUNICORP BOSSES HAVE been inundated with responses to the above ad seeking a replacement for Ray D’Arcy at Today FM.

The ad appeared in the Irish Independent and The Irish Times in the wake of the Kildare broadcaster’s departure from the station earlier this month.

And — in spite of the fact that the ad reads more as a love letter to D’Arcy than a standard recruitment notice — a spokesperson for Today FM said it wasn’t intended as a joke.

“I don’t really know what to say to that. The ad is the ad. It’s a recruitment ad that appeared in the national press.”

The station isn’t asking for much. Just…

  • An abundance of fearless opinions and the eloquence, intelligence and passion to express them
  • Not just to know but to be in tune with modern Ireland
  • To be able to enthrall and entertain a million people every week

Graham Hughes / Photocall Ireland! Graham Hughes / Photocall Ireland! / Photocall Ireland!

Alison Curtis has been hosting the mid-morning show following D’Arcy’s decision to return to RTÉ after 14 years in commercial radio. The Canadian, who’s stood in for Ray before, is one of several names being linked with the full-time gig.

Anton Savage and Paul McLoone have also covered for the popular broadcaster in the past. There’s also been speculation that Sean Moncrieff or Tom Dunne could make a sideways move from sister station Newstalk.

Comments by a guest on Savage Sunday the weekend before last sparked a rumour that MTV presenter Laura Whitmore could take over the hotseat. A spokesperson for the star said there was “no truth” in it.

The Today FM spokesperson said the recruitment process wouldn’t be moving forward until January, but that management were looking “both internally, at the station, and externally”.

Interviews are expected to take place in the New Year.

A radio industry source told TheJournal.ie that it would be February at the earliest before any decision is made.

Read: Ray D’Arcy is leaving Today FM for RTÉ >

More: 14 years after falling for Ireland, Alison becomes a citizen

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    Mute Billy.
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    Apr 1st 2019, 7:00 PM

    I don’t see customs problem. Seems like a fine wedding gift to me.

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    Mute John Brendan Mullen
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    Apr 1st 2019, 7:14 PM

    @Billy.: different wedding customs to us obviously

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    Mute Michael Kavanagh
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    Apr 1st 2019, 7:25 PM

    Something green is the new something blue perhaps !?!

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    Mute Gods Curse
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    Apr 1st 2019, 9:06 PM

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    Mute Pixie McMullen
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    Apr 1st 2019, 7:36 PM

    Sure it didn’t read weed and gift? Some peoples handwriting is brutal altogether.

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    Mute Fergus Murphy
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    Apr 1st 2019, 8:16 PM

    What a shame, it would have been quite the wedding reception

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    Mute Sean O' Donovan
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    Apr 1st 2019, 10:13 PM

    @Fergus Murphy: How to upstage the Ferrero Rocher platter.

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    Mute Eileen Roche
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    Jan 17th 2020, 12:57 AM

    12 Israelis have already been caught smuggling khat in suitcases around Europe. It is legal in Israel.

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