Pat Kenny -- a different view

There has been a lot of comment about Pat Kenny stepping down from the Late Late. I only have a personal anecdote to add.

My mother used to work in RTE (up until 1982). At that time, she knew Kenny quite well.

Four years ago, she turned 60 years of age. As a birthday present, I went around her old acquaintances and friends with a camcorder to get a birthday message from them.

I rang Kenny. At the time, he was going through a lot busy stuff. But not only did he immediately say yes to it, he said I could come onto the set of the Late Late and that he would record the message from there.

On the appointed Friday night, I turned up. He brought me out onto the stage, where I set up my cheap camcorder and tripod. He spoke for two full minutes (which is quite a long time, as anyone who's tried to make a video podcast knows).

When he was finished, he insisted on walking me out to the front door of the RTE television building. This, with five minutes to go until the show started.

So call Kenny anything you like. To me, the guy is a courteous, thoughtful gentleman.

Comments

[Emma Kytzia]

That's a lovely story Adrian. It certainly offers a different perspective on the man. And no matter what people think about him, we certainly seem to enjoy talking about him these days...surely better than if he'd ended his Late Late stint to resounding silence.

[Adrian]

Thanks Emma.

Obviously, there are folks who don't like his broadcasting style. But as a bloke, he's a gent.

[Emmet Ryan]

Lovely story, really nice of him.