Donncha O’Callaghan hits out at ‘rats chipping away’ at Doireann Garrihy as presenter bids her farewell to 2FM

The Dancing with the Stars host presented her last 2FM Breakfast with co-hosts O’Callaghan and Carl Mullan this morning.

Garrihy announced she would be leaving the station earlier this month, after five years.

O’Callaghan said Garrihy had the “resilience to keep going when all the rats kept chipping away”.

“We just want to say how grateful we are to you. You are an incredible teammate, you’ve been like a sister to the two of us. When we do get in the holes and know that we need someone at our back, you’re always there,” he said.

“I had brilliant teammates, but you’re right up there – an unbelievable talent and work rate like no one else has. Your ability to keep going is incredible, serious craic to be fair to you.

“I think I speak on behalf of myself and Carl – that ability, that resilience to keep going when all the rats keep chipping away, you are incredible. And we are so, so proud of you.

“The greatest compliment I can give you personally is, as a dad of three girls, I’d love if they ended up like you. So thank you so much for all this.

“You never say goodbye to the good ones. So we’ll see along the way,” he said.

Her co-hosts paid tributes to their colleague throughout today’s show, including the Friday song by Mullan where he dubbed her the “swan” to the melody of Take That’s Never Forget.

During the song, Mullan mentioned the controversy over Garrihy advertising porridge oats in an RTÉ studio.

Garrihy struck the brand deal with Flahavan’s two years ago, which saw her paid to post Instagram stories promoting the breakfast. The deal was separate to her work for RTÉ.

The Irish Independent revealed the radio presenter had used a 2FM studio to shoot an advert for Flahavan’s porridge.

The post was taken down after RTÉ told the Irish Independent Garrihy did not have permission “for the use of RTÉ facilities” for that advertisement.

While wrapping up her last show today, Garrihy said presenting 2FM Breakfast has been “the time of my life”.

“I just want to thank the both of you [Donncha and Carl] from the bottom of my heart for every single day,” she said.

Garrihy also said she “found brothers for life” in co-hosts O’Callaghan and Mullan.

“It’s been the time of my life, I’ve enjoyed every single second of it and thank you so much to everyone outside the glass as well – I know I didn’t go upstairs too often but I love you all.

“Thank you all so much for being so welcoming all the way back in 2019 when I came in the door and I didn’t know anyone,” she said, adding RTÉ is an “amazing place to work”.

She also thanked the listeners who have been “through thick and thin” and “beyond reliable”.

Meanwhile, Mullan described Garrihy as “funny”, “quick”, “professional”, and “warm”.

“She has got a work ethic like you have never seen before. She’s just all-around sickeningly talented.

“It’s becoming a dad that made me realise the qualities in people that I want to try highlight in my kids, D has them in abundance.

“She’s been there for all of us in this team when there’s been things going on in the background that might not make it to the airwaves, she’s the definition of a great teammate and a great friend.

“So Doireann, thank you for every single second of the last three years and thank you for being above all else an absolutely brilliant pal,” he added.

Announcing her departure earlier this month, Garrihy said “it’s time for new ventures” after five years on the 2FM Breakfast show.

“What an absolute blast of craic, ridiculous immaturity and lifelong bond-building. Anyone would be blessed to work with one gentleman every day, I was beyond blessed to work with two,” she said at the time.

It comes as other 2FM’s high-profile departures from the station include Jennifer Zamparelli and 2Johnnies.