Speaking on the passing of musician and producer Tony McMahon, RTÉ Director-General Dee Forbes said: “Tony McMahon was an icon among Irish musicians. He joined RTÉ as a radio producer in 1974, having previously worked as freelance presenter across a range of traditional music programmes for the station. His radio series The Long Note placed traditional music in a wider, social context, and was required listening in an era when commercial recordings were rare. Tony introduced his audience to a community of musicians, both at home and abroad, and gave airtime to a generation of younger musicians.”
Tony McMahon worked across the television series The Green Linnet and Come West along the Road as well as The Pure Drop.
Peter Woods, Head of RTÉ Radio 1, said: “As a producer, Tony McMahon was an innovator. He placed an emphasis on individual musicians, their contribution to the tradition and their artistic intent. He was an important figure in RTÉ and nationally for the recognition and context his programme making gave to those musicians. For those who worked with him he was a sounding post. His musical values remained constant and challenging. He made space. In his programmes the music came first. Of Tony McMahon it can definitely be said, Ní bheid a leithéid ann arís.”