Dave Fanning

Broadcaster joins other longtime RTÉ stars on its Gold digital radio service, and announces a podcast via the RTÉ Radio Player app.

Fanning's relationship with U2 will be among his defining legacies to Irish music - regarded as one of the Irish media figures who helped 'break' the band early on, the four-piece has continued to world-premiere new singles via the Dave Fanning Show over the course of their career. RTÉ broadcaster Dave Fanning has announced via social media that he is to 'step back' from his weekend show on RTÉ 2FM after 44 years, but will continue broadcasting on digital radio, on TV and online. In an Instagram post, Fanning announced his intentions to kick off a new music show on RTÉ Gold, a digital service dedicated to nostalgia-themed music shows, as well as launching a music podcast via the state broadcaster's RTÉ Radio Player app.

The presenter said he will be recording a podcast and presenting a show on RTÉ Gold as well as other projects including his Fanning at Whelan's TV show and a U2 ...

Dave's judgement to move his content to the world of digital audio is smart and also no surprise. “I felt it was better that I get out ahead of these changes which were inevitable, but I had to look at my life and figure out what do I want out of the rest of my life and time is the one thing that I would like, time to do other things,” he said at the time. “I always had a fear that I’m in danger of wearing myself out here completely and I had a fear that other circumstances might make me have to stop doing it. [Dan Healy](https://www.irishmirror.ie/showbiz/2fm-boss-told-young-carl-29168741), said: "Dave Fanning is and will always be a cultural leader in Ireland. In an Instagram post, Fanning said: "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." The presenter said he will be recording a podcast and presenting a show on RTÉ Gold as well as other projects including his Fanning at Whelan's TV show and a

Dave Fanning has been a mainstay on 2FM since the station's launch as RTÉ Radio 2 in 1979. Photograph: Marc O'Sullivan.

In an Instagram post, Fanning said he was stepping back from his weekend show on 2FM though he will continue his long tradition of debuting U2′s albums. I am thrilled that Dave will continue to be an important part of RTÉ.” Fanning (66) has been a mainstay on radio station since the station’s launch as RTÉ Radio 2 in 1979.

Dave Fanning has announced he is stepping away from 2FM's weekend show, ending a 44-year spell with 2FM/RTE Radio 2, to concentrate on the “digital empire”.

“I’ve been thinking ‘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. Posting to Instragam to announce the news, Dave said: “Very shortly I’ll be launching the Fanning podcast on RTE Radio Player (and wherever else you get your stuff) and presenting a new music show on RTE Gold. “And with programmes like Fanning at Whelan’s on the telly and a bunch of new series on Gold (ranging from the 10-hour Fanning’s Fabbest 50s to other 10-parters like Irish Music: 60s-2000s), I’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.

Dave Fanning famously championed U2 more than 40 years ago before they hit the big time.

With characteristic immodesty I argued that since some people were prepared to lay their necks on the line for U2, those people deserved Hot Press support. We were asking for him to put U2 on the cover with an interview inside. "I am thrilled that Dave will continue to be an important part of RTÉ." Head of RTÉ 2FM, Dan Healy, said: "Dave Fanning is and will always be a cultural leader in Ireland. The music host also said it will be “pretty massive” for U2 to open up a new €2 billion venue in Las Vegas in 2023. He's now set to record a podcast and present a show on RTÉ Gold - plus he'll continue his Fanning at Whelan's TV show.

Fanning said that he has left his post on the radio show in order to record his own podcast,The Fanning podcast, and to present a new music show on RTE ...

He was one of two original DJs to make it to the station's 40th anniversary in 2019, along with Larry Gogan. He wrote on Instagram: "So, I'm gonna split the scene for a while. He added that he will return to 2FM to provide cover for upcoming bank holidays.

For a station hell-bent on attracting a youth audience, Dave Fanning must have felt as if he was a dinosaur walking the corridors of 2FM in recent years.

With more than 70 million songs available with a few swipes on your phone, the days of waiting expectantly for your favourite DJ to play your beloved band’s new song have been consigned to history. In truth, the importance of a DJ like Fanning has diminished over the last 20 years. He was one of their early champions, something Bono and the band never forgot. There is simply so much choice today when it comes to entertainment. Fanning’s early days in RTE coincided with the growth of the fledgling U2. For generations of Irish rock lovers, Fanning’s then nightly show was an essential listen.