Ronan Collins has announced that his final Ronan Collins Show will be broadcast on RTÉ Radio 1 on Friday, December 23.

Collins shared the news this afternoon, live on the show – which he began presenting in 1985.

In the most recent JNLR survey, published in November, The Ronan Collins Show was still the most-listened-to music show on Irish radio, drawing 232,000 listeners every weekday.

The iconic broadcaster's voice will continue to heard on RTÉ Radio 1 on Bank Holidays at 12pm, with The Collins Collection – which is set to air next on January 2, and will feature Collins performing with his own band, along with the RTÉ Concert Orchestra, as well as special guests Gavin James and Róisín Ó.

“I’ve been working on afternoon radio on RTÉ Radio 1 for nearly 38 years, plus six years before that on Radio 2, and nobody will ever know how grateful I have been for all the opportunities over the past 40 years and going forward with RTÉ," Collins commented. "I often ask myself ‘how much longer can I continue to do this?,' and the answer always is ‘just keep going.’ New challenges await now on RTÉ in 2023, and I will continue to be on RTÉ Radio 1 with The Collins Collection on Bank Holidays.”

Peter Woods, Head of RTÉ Radio 1, has described Collins as "a legend on Irish radio."

"He has fronted the biggest music programme in the country and leaves it at the top of his game," Woods continues. "He has had a career that is unlikely to be paralleled or exceeded at any time in the future - playing discs on national radio for 44 years. He will continue with Radio 1, with The Collins Collection, and we are so very grateful to him for the part he has played on this station and with the Ronan Collins Show in particular - long may he continue.”

Bill Whelan took to Twitter to share his reaction to the news – noting that Collins has been a "great supporter of Irish music over the years".

"[H]is service to those depending on making a living from music in Ireland has been unflinching," the Irish composer resumed. "To be sorely missed. And a great drummer to boot! Slán Ró."

Back in 2020, Collins spoke to Hot Press in what was remarkably insightful and wide-ranging  interview – discussing his early days in 2fm, appearing naked on the cover of Hot Press, the National Lottery “fix”, the end of music radio, nostalgia for the showbands, and the current state of Irish music.

“It was very exciting, going from a pirate station to RTÉ,” he said. “But it was also very difficult. I probably wasn’t very good. I didn’t have much experience and I was surrounded by others in the same boat. We were making it up as we went along. Back then we saw the job as music radio, although that doesn’t seem to have much priority anymore...”

You can read the full interview here.

Our colleague, friend and legendary broadcaster Ronan Collins has just announced that his final Ronan Collins Show on RTÉ Radio 1 will air on Friday 23rd December. 🎙️ We will miss you Ronan 🎶💙 pic.twitter.com/STR8Jkonsf

— RTÉ Radio 1 (@RTERadio1) December 9, 2022