Waterford Radio Legend Billy McCarthy Dies

Hot Press is greatly saddened to hear the news of the death of WLR broadcaster, Billy McCarthy. The sad news was announced by WLR this morning.

“Billy was a much loved friend and colleague of all of us here at WLR FM,” WLR boss Des Whelan said. "His untimely death is a huge loss not just to our listeners but to all of us who had the fortune to work with him for many years.”

The winner of a PPI Radio Award for Best Current Affairs Programme in 2003, Billy was with WLR from the start, and remained a stalwart of the station. His programme Déise FM, which occupied the key 10am to midday slot, was the county’s most listened to show for 27 years on the trot. Billy was the man behind the mic all the way from 1989.

“Billy and I first met when we were teenagers,” Des Whelan added. “Even at that young age he was always listening to music and practising how to be a radio presenter. He was very proud to have the opportunity to be a part of RTE’s schedule when the national station’s community service first started broadcasting in Waterford in the 1970’s. Billy’s friends and colleagues at WLR FM and everyone at the Broadcast Centre are all shocked & deeply saddened by his passing and extend their sincere sympathies to his partner Des O’Keeffe, his mother Kay, his sister Celine, brothers Declan and Ronan and his extended family, relatives and many friends. To his listenership, for whom to many, Billy was an integral part of their daily lives.”

The station will broadcast a special memorial programme in the Déise FM slot, on Monday November 21st.

A statement was issued by Gabrielle Cummins, CEO of Beat FM, the youth station which also operates from the broadcast centre in Waterford.

“We are all in shock at the Broadcast Centre,” Gabrielle said. "Billy was a mentor to many of us and happily shared his vast expertise with all of us at Beat when we were starting out in 2003. He loved the excitement of getting to know lots of new young radio talent. He is a huge loss not just to our sister station WLR FM but to broadcasting in general in Ireland. Our thoughts are also very much with his broadcasting family; Managing Director of WLR FM Des Whelan, Programme Director Michael Byrne, Billy’s producer Jennifer Long and all the team at the station.

“I know there are also thousands of listeners across Waterford and beyond who are absolutely devastated by this news. There was, without doubt, only one Billy McCarthy. RIP.”

A statement was also issued by John Purcell, Chairman of the Independent Broadcasters of Ireland.

“The news that Billy McCarthy has passed away will be greeted with great shock and enormous sadness by his colleagues in the radio industry the length and breadth of the country,: Purcell said.

“Billy was a trailblazer in Irish radio broadcasting, on air from the very start of the industry in the 1980’s. From that time forward he was considered one of the best broadcasters in the country, a reputation that he maintained right up until his untimely death and which was reflected in his continued popularity with the listening public in his beloved Waterford.

“As well as being a great broadcaster Billy was enormously well liked and respected not only by his listeners but also by his colleagues in the radio industry. His passing leaves a gap in Irish radio and also in the lives of so many people.

“On behalf of everyone involved in independent radio in Ireland I want to express our heartfelt condolences to Billy’s family and his partner Des O’Keeffe; Des Whelan and all the team in WLR FM, all his colleagues in the Broadcast Centre in Waterford, his countless listeners and friends throughout Waterford who will miss Billy’s voice from the airwaves and who will have so great many memories of him over the years.

“May he rest in peace.”

Hot Press would also like to express its condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of Billy McCarthy. He was a greatly loved and hugely popular broadcaster. His immense contribution to radio in Ireland, and to the community in Waterford will live on. May he rest in peace.