Billy McCarthy, presenter of Waterford local radio's well known current affairs programme “Deise AM” has passed away peacefully at University Hospital Waterford surrounded by his family; after a short illness.
The 62 year old was at the helm of WLR FM’s controversial local radio show for over 25 years. Billy was known for getting to the heart of all important issues in Waterford.
WLR FM is a sister station of Beat 102-103; both stations are located at the Broadcast Centre in Waterford.
CEO of Beat Gabrielle Cummins has extended her sympathy to his loved ones "On behalf of everyone at Beat, we extend our sincere sympathy to his partner Des, his mum Kay, sister Celine, brothers Declan and Ronan and his many extended relatives and friends. We are all in shock at the Broadcast Centre. 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."
Beat's Head of Station Sound Niall Power said "I'm incredibly saddened at the news. When I returned to my home city of Waterford in 2003 to launch my on-air career in speech broadcasting, Billy showed nothing but support and friendship. The ultimate professional who could show incredible empathy with listeners and five minutes later tear a Government minister apart; Billy has done Waterford City and County some incredible service."
Billy McCarthy first presented “The Good News Programme" on Saturday mornings on the then WLR pirate station from 1983 to 1988. On obtaining a broadcast licence, Billy took over the mid-morning current affairs programme Deise AM in December 1989. Billy was also Programme Director of WLR from 1989 to 2014.
Since then, the programme has consistently been the most listened to radio show in Waterford for the last 27 years. In 2003, Billy McCarthy won a much coveted national PPI Radio Award for Best Current Affairs Programme; this was a fitting tribute to all that he had achieved during an impressive broadcasting career that has been cut short far too soon.
Managing Director Des Whelan says “Billy’s untimely death leaves a huge gap which will never be filled in the station’s broadcast schedule. Billy and I first met when we were teenagers, 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.”
Programme Director Michael Byrne who worked closely with Billy said “this is a huge loss for his partner Des, his family and all his friends at the station; he was a brilliant colleague and an even better friend. He had great passion for radio, he loved Waterford and most of all loved broadcasting to Waterford and beyond every morning. I’ll miss him very much.”
It's expected huge numbers will turn out to bid a fond farewell to one of Waterford's best known citizens when his funeral takes place in the coming days.
