Derek Mooney facts for kids

Derek James Mooney (born 4 March 1967) is an Irish radio and television presenter. He is also a radio producer. He used to present a weekday afternoon radio show called Mooney on RTÉ Radio 1 until January 2015. Currently, he is the executive producer for nature and wildlife shows on RTÉ Radio 1.

On television, Derek Mooney has hosted many game shows and talent competitions. Some of the shows he presented include Echo Island, Gridlock, Winning Streak, You're a Star, The Big Money Game, Fame: The Musical, The Genealogy Roadshow, and Who Knows Ireland Best?. He is known for his special farewell phrase at the end of his shows.

Derek Mooney's Career Highlights

Derek Mooney is a well-known television personality in Ireland. He is also a leading broadcaster in the field of natural history. As a child, he looked up to the famous presenter Gay Byrne. Mooney's first job at RTÉ was during the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. He worked as a runner, helping behind the scenes.

Early TV and Radio Shows

Derek Mooney was one of the presenters for the RTÉ children's TV show Echo Island. He joined the show when it started in 1994 and left in February 1996. Later in the 1990s, he hosted Gridlock. He has also presented several nature-focused radio shows for RTÉ Radio 1. These include Habitats, The Nature Line, and Nature Trails. In November 2011, he won an award for the best environmental piece in print, radio, or television. His TV shows about nature include programs on RTÉ and Nature Detectives for the BBC.

The Mooney Radio Show

The radio show Mooney first aired in 1995. It was originally called Mooney Goes Wild on One and focused on nature and wildlife. This show was broadcast on weekends on RTÉ Radio 1. In October 2006, the show's name changed to simply Mooney. Its format also changed to include general chat and discussions. It was given a regular weekday slot, first for two hours, then reduced to ninety minutes in 2007.

Hosting Winning Streak and Other Game Shows

After Mike Murphy retired from Winning Streak in 2001, Derek Mooney became the new host of the Saturday night game show. He was temporarily replaced by Laura Woods while he hosted You're a Star from December 2005 to March 2006. In 2004, he was nominated for the Television Personality of the Year Award. This was at the Irish Film and Television Awards. Besides these, Mooney has also presented and produced RTÉ's Liveline. He also worked on various religious and daily magazine programs.

In July 2008, it was announced that Mooney would leave Winning Streak after seven years. RTÉ relaunched the show as Winning Streak: Dream Ticket in autumn 2008. New presenters, Aidan Power and Kathryn Thomas, took over with new games and a fresh look.

In 2008, Mooney hosted the Lotto's first Millionaire Raffle draw. This happened during a break in the Rose of Tralee festival.

Mooney was the second host of the game show The Big Money Game. He took over in 2009 and hosted until 2011. He was then replaced by Brian Ormond and Sinéad Kennedy in 2012. Also in 2009, he offered to take a 10% pay cut due to the economic situation. This decision was praised by many.

Later Projects and Eurovision

In 2010, Derek Mooney presented Fame: The Musical. This was an RTÉ reality talent competition. In 2011, he presented The Genealogy Roadshow. He once dressed as a leprechaun to try and beat a world record. This record was set by American talk show host Jay Leno. People from countries like Italy, Poland, and Romania came to take part. He hosted Mooney Tunes for RTÉ during Christmas 2011. This was a fun play on words, linking his name to the famous Looney Tunes cartoons.

In 2012, he presented RTÉ's quiz show Who Knows Ireland Best?.

Derek Mooney announced the points given by Ireland to other countries in the Eurovision Song Contest in 2009, 2010, and 2011. He had also done this in 2000. He is now closely linked with this role in Irish life. He has mentioned that he wished he had the chance to present The Late Late Show.

In February 2015, he started his role as executive producer for RTÉ Radio 1's nature and wildlife programming.

Derek Mooney's Style and Personality

Derek Mooney is often seen announcing the points for Ireland in the Eurovision Song Contest from different places in Europe. He is recognized by Graham Norton on the BBC. He is known for his special farewell phrase, "BYEEEE!"

He once said about his interview style:

In interviews I don't ask anybody anything too personal. I wouldn't like to think I would leave somebody in a situation where their whole life is destroyed because of something stupid I had said, or by me putting them on the spot.

—Mooney on himself

Personal Life and Interests

Derek Mooney loves nature. He grew up in Donnybrook and now lives in Kilmacud, a suburb in south Dublin. He has nephews and nieces.

He enjoys traveling, going to the cinema, exercising at the gym, and spending time with friends. He works out to manage his cholesterol levels. He is a close friend of presenter Alan Hughes. In 2012, he had a guest role in the comedy series Mrs. Brown's Boys.

Mooney has a constant ringing in his left ear called tinnitus. This started after a wet shave where an electronic device was used on his face. He felt a vibration and then a "zzzz" sound that never left. Because of this, he leaves a television or radio on at night.

In 2012, Derek Mooney helped save a man's life. He scaled a bridge and crossed a County Meath motorway to reach a 57-year-old man who had collapsed. Mooney performed chest compressions and helped the man recover. Mooney and the man later appeared together on Liveline with Joe Duffy.