Eamon Dunphy has accused RTE Sport of ‘ageism’ - saying anyone with a personality is “out” – as he pays an emotional tribute to “national treasure” Ted Walsh.
The famous father of jockey’s Ruby, Ted Jr and Katie Walsh stunned viewers and colleagues when he announced his retirement after 40 years on the final day of the Punchestown Racing Festival on Saturday.
Reacting to Walsh’s retirement, a devastated Dunphy said Ted will never be replaced – saying he believes the world of punditry was being “destroyed” by people who have no personality.
He told us: “I know Ted very well. I think he had a superb television presence with his knowledge, his personality, straight talking always. There will never be another Ted Walsh. He’s highly respected in the horse business, like all his family.
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“He’s still training winners. He’s a marvellous man. One of the treasures of the country. He’d go mad if I called him a national treasure, but he really is.
“He’s a great judge of horses and his father was before that. His father was also a trainer.”
The ex-Republic of Ireland international said he thought it was “terribly sad” to see Ted go – accusing the national broadcaster of ageism.
“I think it is terribly sad. There is no reason at all.
“There is a lot of ageism around. Ted is brilliant and he will be badly missed by viewers.”
The outspoken Dubliner slammed RTE Sport saying they “appear to want to destroy” the nature of punditry, as he agreed with Joe Brolly’s recent remarks about The Sunday Game’s coverage.
Dunphy told us: “Their coverage of sport had been very good traditionally. They appear to want to destroy it.
“It applies to soccer, racing now with Ted, the GAA with Pat Spillane and (Joe) Brolly. Anyone with a personality is out - or a brain.
“You need a number of qualities to be on television. One, you need to be able to express yourself, two, you need to know your subject and three ,you need to be committed to informing the viewer and giving the viewer the best information they can get.
“And if you don't have all of those things, then television isn’t the place for you.
“They should be the starting point. And Ted Walsh ticks all of those boxes big time.”
It comes in the wake of Brolly lashing out at The Sunday Game calling it “boring” and like “a f***ing morgue”.
The 1993 All-Ireland winner let rip at his former employers.
“When I started on the television, it was great fun. You had freedom and independence.. You were treated with respect, and you could go there, and it was most enjoyable.
“Then, obviously things changed from the top and it was a very different set-up then. You were like schoolchildren being sent texts and being told what to do.
“And now, it’s like a f****ng morgue, and they are set on podiums... This podium thing.. What are they going to do? A party-political broadcast? It is more boring than the news now.
“There’s no sense from RTE now that this is supposed to be entertainment, and makes people talk about it on a Monday morning. I genuinely mean that, and I don’t think there is anybody who thinks that.
“At the end of the day, this is our recreation and our love. We talk about games, and we want honest responses to it.”
But Dunphy has advised Ted that there is “life after RTE”.
“I can assure him though that there is life after RTE,” he said laughing.
Asked if he thought Ted would be replaced by Davy Russell, who recently announced his retirement from horse racing, Dunphy said: “There’s no comparison.
“I don’t want to be disparaging of Davy Russell but there is only one Ted Walsh. He’s as alive as there has been. He’s a rare person in that he tells you what he really thinks and he’s working for the viewers, for anyone who loves racing.
“He’s one of racing’s greatest representatives in these islands and racing needs it’s Ted Walsh’s because there aren’t many of them. They do make people fall in love with the game because of their own enthusiasm and love of it is infectious and that was Ted’s greatest gift I think to transmit his own love and knowledge to RTE’s viewers.
“I’m shocked. If it was Ted’s decision, fine, if it wasn't, people need to start looking at that place (RTE),” he added.
Ted stunned his colleagues and viewers when he announced his retirement live on RTE on Saturday.
He said on RTE: "I got a great chance from RTE and I want to thank them very much for giving me the opportunity to comment on a sport that I love, filled with people that I admire, a lot of them are my friends.
"I must say the late Tim O'Connor was a great help to me. Got me in it. It's 40 years. It's a long time to be doing anything and I've enjoyed every day of it.
"We've a great producer now in Ryan McCann and a good head of sport in Declan McBennett. Ryan, I know I've dropped you in it here with this, but at the same time you'll understand.
"There comes a time in everyone's life when they call it a day. Ruby called it a day pulling up here, so did Katie (Walsh) and Nina (Carberry) and so did Puppy Power and so is Ted Walsh."
Walsh went on to thank his family, saying: “Before I go off the air completely, I want to thank my family as well too. They’ve been great supporters of mine through. I’ve enjoyed the success that Ruby and Katie have had, and Jennifer and Ted, and their involvement in it as well too. And one particular person, my partner for life, Helen, without her, I don’t know what I would have done. Thanks Helen."
"People at home may think it’s sudden, but I went to Cheltenham to ride Attitude Adjuster with the view that I might stop at Punchestown here the following April. And when I was walking back down the shoot, I said this is as good a time as any.
"Standing here with ye, and a great meeting here at Punchestown, a place I love, I’ve been coming here since 1961. My first time here, I came here with my dad and mam. There’s no better place, I’ll be coming here again."
He added to his colleagues Jane Mangan, Barry Geraghty and Lisa O'Neill: "I want to wish you all the best. I hope all of you that are working for RTE get as much kick out of it and get 40 years out of it. You'll all look a bit shooker in 40 years time. I've loved it and I had a great response.
"I got myself into hot water here and there, but that happens on live television. I've enjoyed it. It's a great sport, a great game. It's been good to all of you. It's been very good to me and everyone connected with it. I thank you all very much and thank RTE."
A stunned Mangan, who was presenting the programme, responded by saying: "You've caught us all on the hop. I can honestly say from everyone here. You have raised not only a generation but multiple generations of racegoers."
A rep for RTE has been contacted.
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