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22nd Feb 2023

‘Gonna split the scene for a while’ – Dave Fanning leaving 2fm after 44 year-run

Simon Kelly

Dave Fanning

The long-time RTÉ 2FM presenter has announced he is stepping away from the weekend show to pursue other projects.

In an Instagram post, Dave Fanning revealed he’ll be launching a brand new podcast, the Fanning podcast on RTÉ Radio Player and presenting a new music show on RTÉ Gold, the network’s online channel.

“So, I’m gonna split the scene for a while.

I’ve been thinkin’ ‘bout this for the past few years and have decided to step back from my weekend show on 2FM to spread the word of Fanning on the digital empire.”

While his regular weekend show will no longer be around, he stated that he’ll be “turning up on 2FM on Bank Holidays starting with this coming St. Patrick’s Day Friday with a U2 special to celebrate the launch that day of the band’s new 40-year retrospective album.”

https://www.instagram.com/p/Co9526iMk2Z/?hl=en

The 66-year-old has been presenting The Dave Fanning show on RTÉ since 1979 in its various iterations. The show has switched between 2FM and Radio 1. Alongside Larry Gogan, he was one of only two of the original DJs to make it as far as the station’s 40th anniversary in 2019.

Last year, Fanning hit out at RTÉ’s “ridiculous” retirement policy saying he had no intention of retiring any time soon.

“Am I ready to retire? F***, no way. If I was on RTE staff I’d be gone,” he told the Daily Mirror. “It’s ridiculous that you have to go at 65. Some of the greatest minds I’ve known in RTE had to go just because they reached 65.”

Fanning signed off his announcement by saying, “A busy year ahead; see you along the way.”

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