Inside Ray D'Arcy's family life with wife Jenny and two kids

Extra.ie​

2 days ago

Ray D'Arcy has been a staple piece of RTE Radio and a welcome sound in Irish homes across the country for many years.
Ray is one of Ireland's best-known and most popular radio hosts and broadcasts his lively show on RTE every weekday from 3pm to 4.30pm with an always-entertaining mix of chat, comedy and music alongside a wide range of guests.
Recently, the 2FM DJ sadly lost his mother, Mary D'Arcy, after she peacefully passed away in Naas Hospital on Friday, July 18. Ray D'Arcy with his mother Mary and Dustin the Turkey celebrating 10 years of the Ray D'Arcy Show on Today FM in 2010. Pic: James Horan/Collins Photos
A post on RIP.ie says that Mary was predeceased by her husband Ray (Snr) and 'sadly missed by her loving children Joe, Jackie, Ray, Hughie, Anne, Paul, Marianne, Claire and Joan'.
While we all know the sound of his voice from his decades of service in the entertainment industry, here's a look at Ray's life away from the studio.
Ray was born into a family of nine in Kildare in 1964. His father worked as a non-commission officer.
Entertainment was his goal from the start, with Ray kicking-off his long DJ career in 1979 at the age of 15. He then attended Trinity College in Dublin to study psychology and graduated in 1985.
Ray met his wife, Jenny Kelly, back in 2005 when they began working together on his show at Today FM and the couple kept their relationship private at first.
Jenny was working at the show before Ray joined with the presenter and explained that she was there to help transition the programme from one host to another. Ray and Jenny tied the knot in 2013. Pic: VIPIRELAND.COM
Ray has previously shared that they had a platonic relationship at first, developing a romance only after becoming close friends.
The RTE host revealed their relationship for the first time live on-air during a chat with Miriam O'Callaghan on her show Saturday Night with Miriam.
Ray and Jenny got married in August 2013 at Tankardstown House in Slane, Co Meath.
The couple have gone on to have two children, a daughter and a son.
Their daughter Kate was born in November 2006, making her 18 years old today.
Meanwhile, their son Tom, who is now 13, was born in June 2012. Ray has been a long-standing icon of Irish media. Pic: Kieran Harnett
Ray has shared that one of the key reasons for his happy home life is that he and Jenny are first and foremost 'best friends'. He also added that the couple both gave up drinking and it brought 'calm' into their lives.
Recently, Kate underwent her Leaving Cert and Ray commented on how they were supporting her through what can be a very stressful time for young students.
He told the RTE Guide: 'I was talking to a guy recently and he described having somebody in Leaving Cert as playing that winter Olympic sport (curling), where you push the thing down and then everybody paves the way in front of it.
'It's like that and we're happy to do that. We're there for whatever she wants.
'I still have nightmares about my Leaving Cert all these years later. Now, I don't share that with Kate.'
He also discussed what it is like for a parent to see their child enter their teenage years, after Tom turned 13.
Ray added: 'Kate has been a teenager for five years, so she went off and did her own thing. And we're going to lose Tom soon now because he's hitting 13 next month.
'You can just see it – I asked him for a hug the other day on the couch and he wasn't up for it. The same evening his mother asked for a hug but she got one.'
Recently, Ray lost his mother Mary after she peacefully passed away in Kildare. Ray D'Arcy with his mother Mary in 2010. Pic: James Horan/Collins Photos
Speaking several years ago to the Independent, Ray spoke of how his relationship with his mother had changed over the years.
He shared: 'I didn't hug my mum until six or seven years ago.
'But I hug her all the time now and tell her that I love her. I'd never have done that years ago but as you get older, especially when you have your own children, you see the world differently.
'Also when you have children, you want to keep the generations connected and you feel more of a pull home.
'You want your children to be part of this family and to know the mother that you knew.'
Ray began working for RTE Raidió na Gaeltachta after graduating from Trinity College in 1985.
He then joined RTE television as a presenter on Jo Maxi in 1988 and stayed at the station for 13 years. Ray D'Arcy on Blackboard Jungle many years ago. Pic: RTE
During his time there he took on many different roles from working on The Den from 1990 to 1998 and presenting You're A Star.
In the late 1990's, Ray moved to Today FM but eventually returned to the national broadcaster in 2014 to present The Ray D'Arcy Show.
It was later announced that Jenny would join him at RTE to produce the new show, which began airing every weekday from 3pm to 4.30pm.