{{short description|Irish broadcaster}} {{Use dmy dates|date=May 2015}} {{Use Hiberno-English|date=May 2015}} {{Infobox presenter |name = Dan Hegarty |image = |image_upright = 1 |caption = |birth_name = Daniel Hegarty |birth_date = |birth_place = |death_place = |show = ''The Alternative'' |station = [[RTÉ 2fm]] |timeslot = Monday - Thursday, 23:00 – 00:00 |show2 = |station2 = |timeslot2 = |style = [[Disc jockey]] |country = Ireland |prevshow = |website = {{URL|www.rte.ie/radio/2fm/dan-hegarty-the-alternative/}} }} '''Dan Hegarty''' is an Irish radio presenter employed by [[RTÉ]]. He presents his show ''The Alternative'' on [[RTÉ 2fm]] Monday to Thursday from 11pm–12am (the show is broadcast live each morning on [[RTÉ 2XM]] from 11am to 12pm). He is regularly dispatched to important musical events such as the [[Eurosonic Festival]] in The Netherlands, [[Electric Picnic]]<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.hotpress.com/archive/4740012.html |title=RTÉ announces Picnic broadcast schedule |work=[[Hot Press]] |date=28 August 2008 |access-date=17 October 2008 |url-status=bot: unknown |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100222082711/http://hotpress.com/archive/4740012.html |archive-date=22 February 2010 |df=dmy }}</ref> and [[Oxegen]]<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.rteguide.ie/2008/0711/oxegen.html |title=RTÉ 2fm's Oxegen site goes live |date=11 July 2008 |access-date=19 October 2008 |work=[[RTÉ Guide]] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081003194200/http://www.rteguide.ie/2008/0711/oxegen.html |archive-date= 3 October 2008 }}</ref> for live broadcasting purposes, as well as being sent around the country to present the 2fm 2moro 2our.<ref>{{cite news|first=Jim|last=Carroll|author-link=Jim Carroll (journalist)|url=http://www.irishtimes.com/blogs/ontherecord/2007/04/13/some-2fm-djs-hit-the-road/|title=(Some) 2FM DJs hit the road|work=The Irish Times|date=13 April 2007|access-date=19 October 2008}}</ref> In 2008 Hegarty featured on the panel of judges for the [[Choice Music Prize]] and was sent to The Music Show to distribute advice.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.hotpress.com/archive/4788959.html|title=Stars of 2fm to feature at Music Show|work=[[Hot Press]]|date=15 September 2008|access-date=17 October 2008}}</ref>

==Early life== Hegarty is originally from [[Sandymount, Dublin]]. He graduated from the radio broadcasting course at [[Dún Laoghaire]] [[Dún Laoghaire Institute of Art, Design and Technology|College of Art and Design]].

==Career== Hegarty was one of a number of RTÉ 2fm's newer recruits who were seized from [[TXFM|Phantom FM]] in 2003 - also snatched were [[Cormac Battle]] and [[Jenny Huston]]. Programme producer John McMahon revealed he had been aware of the presenter for some time before signing him. Hegarty was drafted in to replace [[Jay Ahern]], on the Sunday night/Monday morning album show, airing from 12 midnight to 02:00.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.hotpress.com/archive/2667665.html |title=Three times lucky? |work=[[Hot Press]] |date=9 July 2003 |access-date=17 October 2008 |url-status=bot: unknown |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071118022056/http://www.hotpress.com/archive/2667665.html |archive-date=18 November 2007 |df=dmy }}</ref> He was later given the same time slot from Tuesday - Thursday before progressing to his current four nights per week show.

In August 2010 Dan returned to presenting "The Alternative To Sleep" Mondays to Thursdays (11pm to 1am), after briefly presenting "There Is No Alternative" since January.

Over the years, Dan championed acts such as Buck 65, [http://www.mylifeonastick.com/shop Super Delta Three] aka [https://web.archive.org/web/20110210103208/http://www.ziggiville.co.uk/ Ziggi Baker], God Is An Astronaut, And So I Watch You From Afar, and countless others. In addition to this the show broadcasts weekly live music from acts like The Prodigy, Gogol Bordello, Muse, and Santigold.

Another aspect of the show is the 2FM Sessions, which have since their inception featured everyone from U2 to Scary Eire, and Power Of Dreams - it gave The Thrills their first radio coverage.

As well as being a deejay, Dan has also released two books in his career. Buried Treasure, Overlooked Forgotten and Uncrowned Albums, features albums from all decades and genres that did not receive the full credit they deserve. The books features ebullient descriptions of albums alongside images of album artwork, with comments from the band on the process of creating the album.

==Personal life== Hegarty lives in [[Dublin]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.hotpress.com/archive/2749243.html |title=At Home With Dan Hegarty |work=[[Hot Press]] |date=23 August 2004 |access-date=17 October 2008 |url-status=bot: unknown |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071117172012/http://www.hotpress.com/archive/2749243.html |archive-date=17 November 2007 |df=dmy }}</ref>

==Awards== Hegarty was nominated in the category of Best National Radio DJ - National at the [[2009 Meteor Awards|2009]] and [[2010 Meteor Awards]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.rte.ie/arts/2010/0107/meteornominees.html |title=Meteor Ireland Awards Nominees |work=RTÉ |date=7 January 2010 |access-date=7 January 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100117085832/http://www.rte.ie/arts/2010/0107/meteornominees.html |archive-date=17 January 2010 }}</ref>

{{cquote|With the exception of people like Dan Hegarty, it is next to impossible to get your music played on 2fm. <small> &mdash; [[Choice Music Prize]] nominee.<ref>{{cite news|first=John|last=Meagher|url=http://www.independent.ie/entertainment/day-and-night/columnists/loaded-whose-choice-is-right-2080709.html|title=Loaded: Whose choice is right?|newspaper=Irish Independent|date=26 February 2010|access-date=3 March 2010}}</ref> </small> }}

{{awards table}} |- | [[2009 Meteor Awards|2009]] || Dan Hegarty || Best Radio DJ - National at the Meteor Awards || {{nom}} |- | [[2010 Meteor Awards|2010]] || Dan Hegarty || Best Radio DJ - National at the Meteor Awards || {{nom}} |- {{end}}

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== * [http://2fm.rte.ie/dan Official website] {{2fm}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Hegarty, Dan}} [[Category:Year of birth missing (living people)]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:People from Sandymount]] [[Category:TXFM presenters]] [[Category:RTÉ 2fm presenters]] [[Category:Broadcasters from County Dublin]]