RTÉ has announced that presenter Ray D'Arcy is to leave RTÉ Radio 1, having presented his final show on air yesterday.
In a statement issued this afternoon, RTÉ said: "After over 11 years on RTÉ Radio 1, The Ray D’Arcy Show is set to come to an end this week - Ray presented his show for the final time yesterday."
The RTÉ statement adds that during its tenure, "Ray and his team produced thousands of hours of live radio, capturing real-life stories and a huge range of personal experiences".
RTÉ’s Director of Audio, Patricia Monahan, said that she wants to thank Mr D'Arcy for his contribution to RTÉ Radio 1 over the last 11 years.
She added: "While The Ray D’Arcy Show is not part of our future plans, we wish him well in his future endeavours."
Details of future plans for RTÉ Radio 1 will be announced soon.
Ms Monahan also confirmed that "Shay Byrne will present for the remainder of the week".
Mr Byrne is the presenter of the morning music programme, Rising Time, on RTÉ Radio 1.
In a statement this afternoon, Mr D’Arcy said: "First off, I am hugely disappointed with RTÉ management and how my departure from Radio 1 has been handled.
"I’ve been with Radio 1 for the past 11 years. In that time I have worked with some brilliant people. I want to thank them."
"I love radio and daily radio is part of who I am. I look forward to the opportunities ahead," he added.
The 61-year-old Kildare native and father-of-two Mr D'Arcy began his broadcasting career on RTÉ television in the 1990s, presenting Jo Maxi before becoming the host of The Den.
He also presented the schools quiz show called Blackboard Jungle and the youth music show 2Phat and hosted The Rose of Tralee.
He moved to Today FM in the late 1990s and presented the weekday morning radio show before he rejoined RTÉ in 2015.
Mr D'Arcy, who won numerous Jacob's and Meteor Award during his broadcasting career, also hosted his own Saturday night chat show on RTÉ One from 2015 to 2019.
RTÉ Six One presenter David McCullagh will take over the Today with Claire Byrne radio slot.
