Ray D'Arcy paid tribute to the late, great DJ Tony Fenton on his RTÉ Radio 1 show today saying he was "a true legend" and "the real deal."
As a former colleague of Tony's Ray said,"I knew Tony for over 25 years. We use the word legend an awful lot but Tony was a true legend.
"He was the real deal. A real DJ, a real disc jockey."
Reminiscing about Tony's 30th birthday party Ray added, "He was an amazing larger than life character, I remember going to his 30th birthday party, which would be 23 years ago, I'm getting old.
"It was in one of those hotels off the dual carriageway in Dublin and Aslan were playing at it because he had connections did Tony and on the invitation there was a thing in capital letters K.I.T.A.S.B. I couldn't figure it out at all, so I arrived up anyway and just in complete Tony style, when you arrived he got a picture taken of you and him by a professional photographer, so when I arrived I asked what K.I.T.A.S.B. mean and he said 'keep it tight and sound butch'."
Before playing a musical tribute to Tony with the Aretha Franklin classic Say A Little Prayer For You he said, "So Tony, we'll always remember you, Tony the man who loved life, who loved radio, he loved music. He just really loved music and whenever he was asked what his favourite song of all time was he'd always say, 'It's depends on what day it is' but he always came back to this, I heard him mention on a number of occasions that this was his favourite. So Tony Fenton, RIP, you're in the great disco in the sky and we dedicate this to you."
Fans and colleagues have also been paying tribute to Tony on Twitter:
Farewell dude X pic.twitter.com/D3sqhg6fzA
— Today FM (@todayfmofficial) March 12, 2015No, I can't believe it. Tony Fenton! I used to listen to him on 2fm on the radio, I can still sing the jingle off by heart. Sad news :(
— Emma O'Reilly (@emmaormusic) March 12, 2015R.I.P. Tony Fenton can't believe he will never again be heard over the airwaves condolences to his family & friends @todayfmofficial
— helenhanley (@glenameadenelli) March 12, 2015#tonyfenton Such sad news, tragic. You will be missed by so many Tony, R.I.P.
— Hilary Band (@Hilzcat) March 12, 2015#rip #tonyfenton sympathy to all family, friends and work colleagues @todayfmofficial x
— Smiley (@smiley2108) March 12, 2015Gutted to hear about Tony Fenton passing. #RIPTonyFenton
— Stephen Staunton (@stephenstaunton) March 12, 2015RIP Tony Fenton. Such a powerful voice and an excellent radio DJ. A big loss to Irish airwaves.
— Kevin Moran (@morankp) March 12, 2015So sad to hear about Tony Fenton, a true Irish radio legend!! R.I.P X
— Chris Haze (@chrishazemusic) March 12, 2015Loss of a legend. Such a warm vibrant person. RIP #TonyFenton
— Rory Carron (@rorycarron) March 12, 2015Heading home from school,heading home from work & finally heading home from college all with Tony Fenton on the radio.Won't be the same #RIP
— Philip Bagley (@Philip_Baggers) March 12, 2015RIP the legend that is Mr. Tony Fenton sad day for Irish Broadcasting. #TheWinner
— Andrew Morrissey (@AndrewRadioDJ) March 12, 2015Sad news about Tony Fenton. The slickest voice on Irish radio #rip
— Seamie Kiernan (@seamiekiernan) March 12, 2015This afternoon our thoughts are with the family, friends and colleagues of Tony Fenton. Radio Legend who will be sadly missed. RIP Tony.
— Kate Bowe PR (@katebowepr) March 12, 2015Such a sad day. RIP Tony Fenton. You were a pleasure to work with, a privilege to know and an absolute legend #TonyFenton
— Fergal O'Brien (@FergalOBrienTV3) March 12, 2015A legend of Irish radio, Tony Fenton, gone too soon. RIP #louthchat #lmfmradio
— Dave Kavanagh (@Davekav_advice) March 12, 2015He provided the soundtrack during my teens and was hands down the most positive guy I've ever met. RIP. #dude #tonyfenton
— Damian Farrell (@theotherdamo) March 12, 2015Very sad to hear the passing of the gentleman of the airwaves Tony Fenton may his family find strength
— Brian Dunphy (@HKBrianDunphy) March 12, 2015Tony Fenton was a large part of the soundtrack to my childhood. A great loss to the world and radio. May he Rest in Peace
— Sam Dowzard (@SDowzard) March 12, 2015I did the DJ for A Day twice with #tonyfenton A gentleman. He was a reat support when I started my career in @RTE2fm too. #YoureTheWinner
— Ruth Scott (@DJRuthScott) March 12, 2015Can't believe @tonyfenton is gone. He was everyone's friend. We'll miss ye Tony. #tonyfenton pic.twitter.com/sKPbhRkhY8
— jason byrne (@thejasonbyrne) March 12, 2015Everyone here at @todayfm has been devastated by the news of the death of our great friend Tony Fenton. We will all miss him enormously.
— Matt Cooper (@cooper_m) March 12, 2015Tony Fenton you will be missed. There will forever be a void on irish radio that will never be filled. #yourethewinner you always were. X
— Ronan Keating (@ronanofficial) March 12, 2015So very sad to hear of the passing of Tony Fenton. What an incredible career, and a very kind man on the occasion I met him.
— Louise McSharry (@louisemcsharry) March 12, 2015Such sad news, he was an inspiration to us all & never matched! RIP to the legend that was Tony Fenton x #tonyfenton
— Jenny Greene (@djjennygreene) March 12, 2015heartbroken to hear of Tony Fenton's passing. Audrey and I loved him very much. We had so many great times with him, so many
— Tom dunne (@tomhappens) March 12, 2015