The 2 Johnnies have said an emotional goodbye to RTÉ 2FM on their final drive-time show.
The duo announced their departure from the station earlier this month after two years, and hosted the final Drive It with the 2 Johnnies this afternoon.
The pair gave a fitting send-off with their co-host Aifric O’Connell, who was announced as Doireann Garrihy’s spot on the 2FM breakfast show.
“Three hours left to get fired” they joked as they began their show for the last time, adding “We’re leaving it in a great place and we’ve had a great time.”
They began to listen to voice notes sent in by listeners wishing them the best in their further ventures, sharing their favourite memories from the show
Some familiar faces sent some sweet messages to the duo including Anne Doyle, Dustin the Turkey, Brendan O’Connor, Brenda O’Donoghue, Justine Stafford
Signing off their final show, Johnny B emotionally said: “Thanks for organising all that to today lads, it’s was amazing.”
“We’re so sad you’re leaving but we’re so glad you came,” Aifric confessed, holding back tears.
Johnny Smacks added: “We’re the same. I never thought you’d get us to cry. It’s emotional but it was unbelievable.”
We’ve loved talking to everybody, everyday from 3 to 6. To the listeners as well, the main reason that we did it, thanks a million.”
“Thanks to the team you worked your arses off,” he added.
Johnny B continued: “We came in not knowing what it was going to be like. I suppose at first, we didn’t understand the job or respect the job enough or what was in it”
“You come from the internet wilderness and think ‘sure we’ll just horse anyting into it and you realise how much radio means to people.”
“The messages we’ve got of what people have been going through, that it cheers people up. That was the job.”
Johnny Smacks added: “Listen, who knows whats going to happen down the line.”
“Thanks a million to everyone for having us. Thanks to ye, thanks to Andrew and Aifric, Caroline, Anita. A small team and I’ll tell ya we had some craic.”
The announcement of their exit came right after social media star and radio host Doireann Garrihy revealed she was leaving 2FM, with Jennifer Zamparelli following suit just this week.
Johnny Smacks and Johnny B took over the show replacing DJ Jenny Greene in 2022. However, like Doireann Garrihy, who just announced she is also leaving this month, the pair also had a successful podcast on the side as well as other commercial deals.
Head of RTÉ 2Fm, Dan Healy said of the news: “After two very successful years, The 2 Johnnies are leaving 2FM. Johnny B and Johnny Smacks have brought their original South Tipp humour and interesting music choices to 2FM audiences right across Ireland.”
“The listenership for the drivetime show has been very strong from the very start and the most recent listenership results continued that trend. They’ve been a great part of the 2FM family here and we’ll be sad to see them go but wish them well as they continue their adventures”.
Speaking about leaving the station Johnny Smacks said, “We’ve had unreal craic over the last two and half years working on 2FM. We came in with the idea to have a laugh on the afternoons and cheer people up and get more mad scones on the radio from every county in Ireland telling stories and auld yarns. After two and a half years my jaws need a rest from all the laughing.
“Thank you to our unbelievable team who backed us and brought our crazy ideas to life with us, to our brother Aindriú de Paor, our producers/mammies Anita and Caroline and to our on-air sister Aifric O’Connell, the show wouldn’t be what it is without you thank you so much. And the biggest thank you of all is for you the listeners, the show was all about ye, ye made it what it was.”
“So, to Bob in Waterford, geezer John, Mouse and the lads, Pip in Toronto and all our listeners, thanks for laughing along with us. There’s great people working in 2FM and we wish them all the success in the world. Who knows, we may be back on the radio someday, but for now as we say on the show… We’re out the gap!”.
Johnny B added: “We’ve loved our time on the show. The team are legends, our sister Aifric O Connell, the great Aindriú de Paor, Producers Caroline, and Anita.
“Our listeners have been the funniest, maddest, soundest crowd alive. The stories they’ve come on air to tell have been outrageous. It’s made me proud to be Irish to talk with the nation every evening. The Parish Quiz has thrown up some wild characters, we’ve tried to reach every inch of the island of Ireland. We’ll keep the mixer going and the ball pucked out”.
The duo also shared the news on their Instagram page.
Dan Healy continued: “I want to acknowledge the great content created on the drivetime show by Aifric O’Connell, Aindriú De Paor and Emma Power who shared the airwaves with The 2 Johnnies over the period. Also, a very big thanks to the producers who worked on the show particularly Caroline Clarke and Anita Ward. We are fortunate to have such great talent working at 2FM and with them the station will continue to prosper”.
The pair insisted that if they had not left the station, they “would have been burnt out”.
Johnny B and Johnny Smacks spoke to Brendan O’Connor on RTÉ Radio 1 and opened up about their shock exit.
“We haven’t time,” Johnny B admitted. “To be honest, we’ve been working seven days a week for the last two years, and we’re working all day today and all day tomorrow again on our new show.”
“We can’t stop doing our podcast, we can’t stop doing our Patreon podcast, we can’t stop doing live gigs. Something had to go like. We could’ve stopped doing telly, but that’s very sporadic work.
“So if we ever want to have our lives back, unfortunately radio was the one that had to go. And we loved doing it, Brendan.”
