Mooney (radio programme)

Mooney

Other names	Mooney Goes Wild
Genre	Chat, nature
Running time	90 minutes
Country	Ireland
Languages	English, Irish
Home station	RTÉ Radio 1
Hosts	Derek Mooney Brenda Donohue[1]
Starring	Dr Richard Collins Éanna Ní Lamhna Terry Flanagan Dermot O'Neill
Recording studio	Donnybrook, Dublin
Air dates	since 1995
Website	Official website
Podcast	Podcast

Mooney (previously Mooney Goes Wild) is an Irish radio programme broadcast on RTÉ Radio 1. Presented by Derek Mooney, the programme airs Monday to Friday from 15:00 to 16:30.

Mooney is the 18th most listened to programme in Ireland.^[2] It is presented by Brenda Donoghue or Aonghus McAnally^[3] when Derek Mooney is absent. Donoghue is currently pregnant.^[4] As Mooney Goes Wild, the programme was known for its coverage of nature and now features annual web broadcasts of Blue Tits nesting and hatching. In 2009, Mooney's Blue Tits nested live online in the gardens of Irish President, Mary McAleese.

History

Mooney Goes Wild started in 1995 on Saturdays on RTÉ Radio 1. It mainly focused on wildlife and nature. Jackie and Daw was broadcast on Mooney Goes Wild. Mooney Goes Wild on One won the prestigious Prix d'Europe in Berlin in 2000, with the award given for a programme that observed the lives of two nesting jackdaws.^[5]

On 2 October 2006, the programme moved to the weekday slot.^[6]

In early 2009, RTÉ weather presenter Nuala Carey launched a nationwide search to find herself a man on Mooney.^[4] Reports of her escapades at several dating events accompanied by her friend Ciara were broadcast on the radio programme.^[4]

In 2011, it featured a world record attempt at having the most people dressed up as a leprechaun in the one place.^[7][8][9] People came from Italy, Poland and Romania to participate in the "Largest Gathering of People Dressed as Leprechauns".^[10]

Format

The programme's focus changed more to general chat and interviews. It also has live music and music discussion. Recently Mooney was the first place to preview six contests going up to represent Ireland in the Eurovision Song Contest.^[11]

Dermot O'Neill is a frequent guest on the programme. As well as talking about gardening he was once offered to learn opera. He took up the challenge and performed at a New Year's Day concert on Mooney.^[12] Authors, such as Joan Geraghty, have spoken about their books on the show.^[3]

Mooney has also searched for a Little Orphan Annie to star in an Irish tour of the musical Annie.^[13] The finalists were reduced to three. The competition was won by Nastasia Vashko from Limerick.^[14]

Fridays are dedicated to the original format of the show. Mooney's guests talk about nature and wildlife in Ireland. Annually Nestwatch has cameras in birds' nests. It is similar to the setup of the BBC's Springwatch. One nest box was installed in the gardens of President Mary McAleese at Áras an Uachtaráin in 2009 at her own invitation.^[15] The male Blue Tit is currently missing and the female Blue Tit has only laid six eggs, half of what was initially expected.^[15]

Terry Flanagan, a reporter from the show, has visited national school students to observe their freshly hatched chicks.^[16]

The weekday programme originally lasted two hours, but was shortened when Drivetime was extended. There are news, sport and nuacht (news in Irish) bulletins during the programme.

References

1. ^ Larissa Nolan (8 July 2007). "Katy and Glenda 'fell out over man'". Irish Independent. http://www.independent.ie/entertainment/news-gossip/katy-and-glenda-fell-out-over-man-995323.html. Retrieved 20 December 2009. 
2. ^ "JNLR Stats" (in English/Irish). JLNR/RTÉ. http://www.rte.ie/radio/advertising/radio1_jnlr.html. Retrieved 2009-06-04. ^{[dead link]}
3. ^ ^{a b} "Local author talks fitness on RTÉ Radio". Mayo Advertiser. 2009-06-05. http://www.advertiser.ie/mayo/article/13168. Retrieved 2009-06-05. 
4. ^ ^{a b c} "RTE Nuala weathers a storm of bad dates". Evening Herald. 2009-06-05. http://www.herald.ie/entertainment/around-town/rte-nuala-weathers-a-storm-of-bad-dates-1763101.html. Retrieved 2009-06-05. 
5. ^ "Mooney Goes Wild wins international award". RTÉ. 22 October 2000. http://www.rte.ie/ten/2000/1022/mooney.html. Retrieved 22 October 2000. 
6. ^ "Mooney: About" (in English). RTÉ. http://www.rte.ie/radio/mooneygoeswild/about.html. Retrieved 2009-06-05. 
7. ^ "Mooney takes on Leno's leprechauns". RTÉ. 29 September 2011. http://www.rte.ie/ten/2011/0929/mooneyd.html. Retrieved 29 September 2011. 
8. ^ "More on Mooney's record bid". RTÉ. 30 September 2011. http://www.rte.ie/ten/2011/0930/mooneyd.html. Retrieved 30 September 2011. 
9. ^ "Mooney counts down to Leprechaun challenge". RTÉ. 15 November 2011. http://www.rte.ie/ten/2011/1115/mooneyd.html. Retrieved 15 November 2011. 
10. ^ "Mooney show breaks Leno's world record". RTÉ. 16 November 2011. http://www.rte.ie/ten/2011/1116/mooneyd.html. Retrieved 16 November 2011. 
11. ^ "Eurovision Mooney 2009" (in English). RTÉ. 2009-02-19. http://www.rte.ie/radio/mooneygoeswild/fp2009/february19.html. Retrieved 2009-06-05. 
12. ^ "Mooney New Year Concert 2009" (in English). RTÉ. 2009-01-01. http://www.rte.ie/radio/mooneygoeswild/fp2009/january01.html. Retrieved 2009-06-05. 
13. ^ "Mooney Annie Search" (in English). RTÉ. http://www.rte.ie/radio/mooneygoeswild/fp2009/april24.html. Retrieved 2009-06-05. 
14. ^ "Evening Herald: Nastasia Vashko" (in English). Evening Herald. http://www.herald.ie/entertainment/around-town/annie-nastasia-11-proves-it-doesnt-have-to-be-a-hardknock-life-as-she-lands-orphan-role-1720059.html. Retrieved 2009-06-05. 
15. ^ ^{a b} "Mystery of the missing blue tit mate". Irish Examiner. 2009-06-01. http://www.examiner.ie/opinion/columnists/richard-collins/mystery-of-the-missing-blue-tit-mate-93095.html. Retrieved 2009-06-05. 
16. ^ "Mooney goes wild in St. Tola’s". Westmeath Examiner. 2009-05-26. http://www.westmeathexaminer.ie/news/roundup/articles/2009/05/26/39832-mooney-goes-wild-in-st-tolas/. Retrieved 2009-06-05. 

External links

• Mooney at RTÉ Radio 1