Carl Mullan 'upset' when Doireann Garrihy and Donncha O'Callaghan quit 2FM
The trio split after Doireann and Donncha left 2FM last year, with Doireann returning to the station to host Drivetime several months later.
Carl said he was 'really worried' that it would also be the end of his friendship with the pair.
Speaking to the RTÉ Guide, Carl said: 'From my point of view, I was upset that two people I'd become very close to were leaving. Donncha, Doireann and I had managed to land on something with that show that was very special.
'We enjoyed it so much. I was really worried at the time that with them leaving the show, it would be the end of our friendship and that's what upset me the most," he admitted.
"But very quickly, I realised they're not going anywhere and sure we're in touch all the time. I can't get rid of them," he said, jokingly.
Speaking about co-hosting breakfast radio with co-hosts Roz Purcell and Aisling Bonner, Carl said the trio have 'found their groove'.
"It's all settling in now and with Roz and Aisling, we've found our groove. It's a different dynamic and new personalities but that's the thing I'm enjoying most about it.
'My worry was that I would be always comparing but we get on so well; it's different but that's OK and it makes it exciting," he added. 2FM Breakfast presenters Carl Mullan, Aisling Bonner and Roz Purcell (Image: Andres Poveda)
The dad of three opened up about how he landed the breakfast gig, saying he pitched himself in a video to 2FM bosses.
He said: "I always had a scratch I wanted to itch to be on air, but I almost felt if I said it out loud people would think that I had this massive ego.
'Then one day something clicked and I realised that no one cared about what I was doing. I was totally overthinking it.
'So, I started knocking on doors and asking the bosses in 2FM to meet for coffee."
He got his first chance on air on St Stephen's Day in 2014 as holiday cover. There was a "technical issue" while he was on, with the result that he put the entire station off the air. "Thankfully, they told me it happens to everyone at least once."
From there, he did Weekend Breakfast and did bits with Nicky Byrne and Jenny Greene until the job on the Breakfast show came up.
"I don't think I ever told this but when the Breakfast show opportunity came up and I had put myself forward for it, I knew I needed to do something extra to stand out. I knew I needed to throw myself into it, so I sat down and recorded a video for the bosses in 2FM where I pitched myself.
'I remember hitting 'send' and thinking that either sinks me or it's what gets me the job."
The gamble paid off and he was announced in the lineup with Doireann and Donncha in 2021.
"It's been a big learning curve for me over the years, that idea that opportunity will come and find you. It will not, you have to keep knocking at the doors," he added.
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13 hours ago
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Carl Mullan 'upset' when Doireann Garrihy and Donncha O'Callaghan quit 2FM
RTÉ star Carl Mullan says he was 'upset' when Doireann Garrihy and Donncha O'Callaghan quit hosting 2FM Breakfast. The trio split after Doireann and Donncha left 2FM last year, with Doireann returning to the station to host Drivetime several months later. Carl said he was 'really worried' that it would also be the end of his friendship with the pair. Speaking to the RTÉ Guide, Carl said: 'From my point of view, I was upset that two people I'd become very close to were leaving. Donncha, Doireann and I had managed to land on something with that show that was very special. 'We enjoyed it so much. I was really worried at the time that with them leaving the show, it would be the end of our friendship and that's what upset me the most," he admitted. "But very quickly, I realised they're not going anywhere and sure we're in touch all the time. I can't get rid of them," he said, jokingly. Speaking about co-hosting breakfast radio with co-hosts Roz Purcell and Aisling Bonner, Carl said the trio have 'found their groove'. "It's all settling in now and with Roz and Aisling, we've found our groove. It's a different dynamic and new personalities but that's the thing I'm enjoying most about it. 'My worry was that I would be always comparing but we get on so well; it's different but that's OK and it makes it exciting," he added. 2FM Breakfast presenters Carl Mullan, Aisling Bonner and Roz Purcell (Image: Andres Poveda) The dad of three opened up about how he landed the breakfast gig, saying he pitched himself in a video to 2FM bosses. He said: "I always had a scratch I wanted to itch to be on air, but I almost felt if I said it out loud people would think that I had this massive ego. 'Then one day something clicked and I realised that no one cared about what I was doing. I was totally overthinking it. 'So, I started knocking on doors and asking the bosses in 2FM to meet for coffee." He got his first chance on air on St Stephen's Day in 2014 as holiday cover. There was a "technical issue" while he was on, with the result that he put the entire station off the air. "Thankfully, they told me it happens to everyone at least once." From there, he did Weekend Breakfast and did bits with Nicky Byrne and Jenny Greene until the job on the Breakfast show came up. "I don't think I ever told this but when the Breakfast show opportunity came up and I had put myself forward for it, I knew I needed to do something extra to stand out. I knew I needed to throw myself into it, so I sat down and recorded a video for the bosses in 2FM where I pitched myself. 'I remember hitting 'send' and thinking that either sinks me or it's what gets me the job." The gamble paid off and he was announced in the lineup with Doireann and Donncha in 2021. "It's been a big learning curve for me over the years, that idea that opportunity will come and find you. It will not, you have to keep knocking at the doors," he added. Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest news from the Irish Mirror direct to your inbox: Sign up here. The Irish Mirror's Crime Writers Michael O'Toole and Paul Healy are writing a new weekly newsletter called Crime Ireland. Click here to sign up and get it delivered to your inbox every week
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