The 2 Johnnies' mammies have led tributes to the comedy duo as they signed off on their final RTÉ 2fm show on Friday.
Johnnie "Smacks" and Johnnie B were joined in studio by Aifric O’Connell who played voice messages from well-wishers from around the country - and the boys became emotional when their own mothers joined the chorus of listeners saying goodbye as the pair hang up their microphones on Drive It with The 2 Johnnies.
Just as their final show came to and end at 6pm on Friday, Johnnie B’s mother said in her voice message, "Hello, The 2 Johnnies. I want to let you know how much we’ll miss you on 2fm in the afternoon you were so funny and entertaining and always great craic.
"We’re very proud of you and wish you all the best in the future."
An emotional Aifric, who will be joining the 2FM Breakfast team of Carl Mullan and Donncha O’Callaghan this summer, then played a message from Johnnie Smacks’ mother.
"Hi, John, It’s Mammy Smacks here, just want to say that I’ll miss you do much," she said. "If I don’t get my daily phone call from you, I can always tune into 2fm and all will be forgiven.
"I want to wish you so much luck in your future career and I’m sure you’ll smash it as always. Love ya! Start the mixer!"
As their final show came to an end, Johnnie B said, "We came in not knowing what it was going to be like. I suppose we didn’t understand the job or respect how much was in it and what radio means to people.
"We came in from the internet wilderness and thought we’ll just horse into it and then you realise how much radio means to people all over the world. That was the job and who knows what’s going to happen down the line."
Earlier in the show, the duo took calls from some of their favourite listeners over their two and a half years on 2fm, including Paddy from Coalisland, who managed to blag tickets for the 2 Johnnies Pints in a Field show at St Anne’s Park in Dublin next week.
"World class rally driver" Gary Jennings, the show’s "agricultural correspondent" Bob from Waterford and Lorcan, "the King of Omeath", also rang in to say goodbye.
In her voice message, Sinéad from Dublin said, "Just want to say it’s been an absolute pleasure listening to you over the past number of years. As a Dub, I’ve never liked listening to cluchies as much as I’ve liked listening to the two of yese."
Sarah said, "Can’t believe you’re finishing up. You were a great voice for all of us culchies. My daughter, Aoife, is meant to be studying for her Junior Cert but she tells me that listening to ye last day on air is way more important."
James said, "Well done, The 2 Johnnies. You really sum up how ordinary lads can make it and you’re always giving people hope that maybe another two people brought up in ordinary community can make it too. Best of luck in the future."
The 2 Johnnies have just released their debut album, Small Town Heroes, and speaking to RTÉ Entertainment about their decision to leave 2fm, Johnnie B said, "We will be sad walking out of here on Friday but something had to give and we weren’t going to give up on our podcast, which we’ve worked so hard to build up, we weren’t going to give up our Patreon podcast or our music or our gigs.
"We love the radio but the energy it would have taken to rejuvenate the show and keep it fresh for three years, I don’t think we had it, don’t think we had it . . . "
