Ray Foley

Following an entry in the DJ For a Day competition on 2FM (on Tony Fenton's Hotline show) in 1997, Foley got a taste for broadcasting. This led to him beginning his studies as a journalist in Dublin Institute of Technology, from which he graduated in October 2004[3] While there he started working at East Coast FM, and thence moved to 98FM and as a newsreader on Lite FM, before moving to SPIN 1038, "to get re-acquainted with presenting again".[4] While there, he presented The Zoo Crew with Clionadh O'Leary on week nights.

In 2004, at the age of 23, Foley moved to Today FM and began presenting late night show, The Blast, from 22:00 to 00:00, Monday to Thursday, with his college friend, JP Gilbourne, from Dundalk. Foley and JP regularly filled-in for Ray D'Arcy, Tony Fenton and Tom Dunne during this time. When the radio schedule was changed in 2006, Foley moved to a midday slot, which was vacated by Tony Fenton. Foley was disciplined by Irish authorities when he broadcast the Lily Allen song "Fuck You Very Much" on lunchtime radio in 2008.[5]

On 12 October 2012, it was announced that Ray and JP were leaving Today FM to host the breakfast show on 98FM. Following their departure from the station, former evening presenter KC started as their replacement. The slot is now held by Al Porter, a comedian and DJ formerly associated with Two fm.

On 22 December 2015 the Irish Independent reported that the show would finish up on 24 December.[6] He has since been replaced by Steven Cooper and Luke O'Faolain.[7]

Foley eventually broke into television.[8][9] He became the Irish Paddy McGuinness by presenting Take Me Out. Seán Munsanje from Xposé took him shopping to style him for the job.[10] He was also mentioned in relation to The Apprentice.[11]

Foley won a Meteor Music Award for Best National DJ in 2008, 2009 and again in 2010.[12] Foley celebrated winning the 2008 award by singing a version of Journey's "Don't Stop Believin'", and in 2009 with the theme tune to TV's Home and Away[13] as part of his acceptance speech. In 2008 he launched a successful daily campaign to dethrone namesake Ray D'Arcy.[14]

Foley achieved the prestigious PPI Radio Awards Music Broadcaster of the Year Award in 2009 and 2010.[15][16] Also in 2009 Foley and JP won the award for Best Specialist Music Programme for their Sunday evening show, The Essential Rock Anthems with Ray & JP.[15]

Foley married his girlfriend, RTÉ 2fm newsreader, Kate Carolan in 2007. They met while they both worked on SPIN 1038.[4] He proposed to Kate on O'Connell Street in Dublin City Centre and spent their honeymoon attending the Oxegen Music Festival. Foley and Carolan are often seen together in public.[17] Foley has spoken on air of his beloved family goldfish called Zoey, who lived for 15 years, despite a near death experience on a carpet.[18] On Monday 2 April 2012, Ray announced on-air that Kate had given birth to their first child, a boy, Matthew, on 1 April 2012. Ray announced the birth of their second child, Andrew in June 2014.

• Ray Foley's Bog