There was a huge turnout of people from the music, entertainment and media industries at the funeral of broadcaster Tony Fenton, which took place this morning.It was an occasion that would have brought a big smile to the lips of the larger than life Today FM DJ, who died late last week at St.Vincent’s Hospital, in Dublin as a result of prostate cancer. Among the most moving moments, in a very special memorial service, came when all four members of U2 launched into an acoustic version of ‘Ordinary Love’ – the track from Mandela: Long Walk To Freedom, which won a Golden Globe for the band at the end of 2013.
Bono had recently recorded an interview with Tony – whose real name was Tony Fagan – an exclusive delivered to the ailing DJ, which will be broadcast by Today FM just before U2 launch into their upcoming world tour. A clip from the interview was used as part of a short radio package featuring Tony’s voice, which was played towards the end of the service.
Other musicians in attendance included Andrea Corr, Jim Corr, who was a close friend of the DJ, bass player Keith Duffy, Aslan’s Billy McGuinness, Peter Devlin, Brendan Murphy and Declan Murphy of The Four of Us, Simon Carmody, ex-Emotional Fish man Dave Frew, and Something Happens Tom Dunne and Eamonn Ryan, as well as Paul Harrington – who superbly led the tribute band through a series of classics (selected by Tony), including ‘Wichita Lineman’, Van Morrison’s ‘Into The Mystic', Bobby Womack’s ‘Across 110th Street' and the gorgeous song written by Burt Bacharach and Hal David, and originally recorded by Dionne Warwick, ‘Say A Little Prayer’. Others in the band included Bill Shanley of Cauldron Studios and saxaphone maestro Richie Buckley.
Tony was mourned by his brothers and sister, Paul, Ann, Colm and Kevin Fagan as well as his long-time sweetheart, Sinéad Lynch. The priest, Fr. Brendan Kiely was an old mate of Tony’s and participated by telling yarns about trips abroad with the fun-loving DJ. He was assisted by Fr. Brian Darcy. Among the close friends in attendance were restauranteur Ronan Ryan and his wife Pamela Flood, and chef Derry Clarke.
Many of the leading figures in Irish broadcasting were there to pay tribute, including his Today FM colleagues Mario Rosenstock, who was among those who paid tribute to Tony from the altar, Ian Dempsey, Paul McLoone, Louise Duffy and station CEO, Peter McPartlin, as well as Today FM owner Denis O’Brien and Communicorp chairperson and INM director, Lucy Gaffney.
Also paying their respects were many of his old mates from the Dublin pirate radio days, as well as RTÉ 2fm, including Barry Laing, who remained one of his closest friends, Ray D’Arcy, Dave Fanning, Larry Gogan, John Clarke, producer Paul Russell, Brenda Donoghue, Jim Lockhart of Horslips, Ronan Collins, Mark Cagney of TV3, Lorraine Keane, Declan Meehan, David Harvey, Jim O’Neill, Willie O’Reilly, Karl Tsigdinos, Ray Foley, Jenny Greene, Colm Hayes, Martin Block, Morah Ryan and Lottie Ryan, Ali Hewson, who accompanied Bono – and far too many more to list in full here.
The leading promoters were all represented, among them Daryl Downey, who was another of Tony’s closest friends, John Reynolds of POD Concerts, Peter Aiken and Bren Berry of Aiken Promotions and Robert Matthews of MCD.
All of the leading lights in the record business came too, including Mark Crossingham and Dave Harris of Universal Music, Annette Donnelly of Sony Music, Pat Creed of Warners, and Dick Doyle of the PPI, as well as former EMI staffers David Gogan and Pete Murphy. Others to pay their respects to the broadcaster included Lyndsey Holmes, Dan Oggly, Sorcha O’Flanagan, John Fisher, Jedda Downey, Janine Nallen, Dave Reid, Robbie Fox, Ken Sweeney, Hot Press editor Niall Stokes and many more, in what was a jam-packed house, for the dude’s last show.
The old Irish phrase "Ní fheicimíd a leithéad arís” – 'we’ll never see his like again' – is bandied around just a little bit too often on occasions like this, but in Tony Fenton’s case it couldn’t be more true. They made him, and then broke the mould. Truly, he was one of a kind.
He will not be forgotten.