A concise record of Marty Whelan’s broadcasting career: how he moved from pirate radio to RTÉ, survived a high-profile setback, and became a familiar voice on radio, TV and Eurovision.
Whelan began in Dublin pirate radio, joined RTÉ Radio 2 in 1979 at age 23, and chose Thunderclap Newman’s "Something in the Air" as his first record.
From 2000 he served for decades as Ireland’s Eurovision commentator, and in 2026 he was inducted into the IMRO Radio Awards Hall of Fame.
Whelan returned to 2FM breakfast in 2005 and has been a long-running presenter on TV shows including The Rose of Tralee and Winning Streak.
# Overview Marty Whelan has been a standard presence in Irish broadcasting for nearly half a century. At 70 and still on air, he received the IMRO Radio Awards Hall of Fame recognition in 2026. His story mixes early pirate radio roots, a defining early break at RTÉ, a risky move to commercial radio that failed, and a sustained second act across television and radio.
# Early steps: pirate radio to Radio 2 Whelan began by broadcasting on Dublin's pirate stations, using the name Marty Hall and working days selling insurance. In 1979, at 23, he joined RTÉ's newly launched Radio 2. His first record on the station was Thunderclap Newman's "Something in the Air," which remains his favourite song.
# Television and Eurovision
# Radio gamble and its fallout In 1989 Whelan left RTÉ to join Century Radio, a new national commercial station. The venture failed within two years. Whelan described that period later as the scariest time in his career, spending time wondering what came next. The closure of Century left him temporarily out of work and prompted a career pivot.
# Rebuilding through television
# Return to radio and weekend TV
# Recognition and style In 2026 IMRO inducted Whelan into its Radio Awards Hall of Fame, an award that acknowledges long-standing contribution to radio. His broadcasting style has been described in the coverage as warm, unmistakable and conversational—the kind of voice that sounds like "the person sitting beside you on the sofa who just happens to have the microphone." His Eurovision commentary, in particular, blends affection and mischief and has become a notable recurring element of the contest for Irish viewers.
# Bottom line Marty Whelan's career illustrates persistence and reinvention. A bold move to commercial radio led to a public setback, but he rebuilt his career through television and returned to radio with long-running roles. The IMRO Hall of Fame induction in 2026 marks formal recognition of that longevity and visibility across Irish broadcasting.
Marty Whelan has said he is "thrilled" to be inducted into the IMRO Radio Awards Hall of Fame, describing the honour as "a big deal".
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