# Nob Nation

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Radio show

Nob Nation RTÉ Supporting the Nobs Genre Satirical comedy [citation needed] Running time 3-5mins Country of origin Ireland Language English Home station RTÉ 2fm Starring Oliver Callan Announcer Gerry Ryan Original release November 2006 – present Website rte.ie/2fm/nobnation/ www.nobnation.com Podcast rte.ie/radio1/podcast/podcast_nobnation.xml

***Nob Nation*** is the title of a series of topical comedy pieces broadcast since November 2006 on two national radio stations in Ireland, [RTÉ 2fm](/source/RT%C3%89_2fm) and [RTÉ Radio 1](/source/RT%C3%89_Radio_1). The programmes are broadcast Monday through Saturday each week. *Nob Nation* is written and produced by [Oliver Callan](/source/Oliver_Callan).

The series features almost 100 characters, including [BIFFO](/source/Brian_Cowen), [Dame Enda](/source/Enda_Kenny), [Garret FitzGerald](/source/Garret_FitzGerald), and others based on people from Irish and international public life involved in politics, sport and entertainment. All voice acting is performed by Callan. Two CDs of *Nob Nation* sketches have been released, in 2007 and a follow-up in 2008.

In 2011, RTÉ paid defamation damages to an 84-year-old gentleman after *Nob Nation* inaccurately claimed he was running a brothel.

## Background

Originally broadcast on *The Derek Mooney Show* on [RTÉ Radio 1](/source/RT%C3%89_Radio_1)[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*] and subsequently on the *2fm Breakfast Show*,[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*] the sketches were moved to just after the 10:00 news on *[The Gerry Ryan Show](/source/The_Gerry_Ryan_Show)* on RTÉ 2fm in January 2007. *Nob Nation* was then repeated at night on Damien Farrelly's *The Frequency* on 2FM. One comedy sketch was selected and was featured on *Playback on Radio One* on Saturday mornings and on *The Saturday Show* on 2fm on Saturday afternoons.[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*] It has also featured on Ireland's most popular[1][2] radio show, *[Morning Ireland](/source/Morning_Ireland)*, on RTÉ Radio 1.

*Nob Nation* was reported in the *[Sunday Independent](/source/Sunday_Independent_(Ireland))* on 20 January 2008 as being Ireland's most popular [podcast](/source/Podcast) of the previous year, with figures showing a total of 736,711 downloads on [RTÉ.ie](/source/RT%C3%89.ie) between April and December 2007. *Nob Nation* also features prominently on the [iTunes](/source/ITunes) free podcast chart.[3] Following a number of complaints about Callan's portrayal of [Taoiseach](/source/Taoiseach) [Brian Cowen](/source/Brian_Cowen) "swaying and snorting in booze-filled sing-songs about his difficulties in office", the popularity of the slot has "simply exploded" according to RTÉ, with over 250,000 hits each month and making up almost a third of all downloads from RTÉ.ie.[4]

In January 2009, *Nob Nation* satirised the RTÉ staff pay cut controversy by suggesting Gerry Ryan would try to get out of taking a pay cut by broadcasting for longer but without charging extra for it and that Pat Kenny would contribute to the economy by doing a nixer for free in the RTÉ canteen – to the dismay of all who preferred their full Irish breakfast to the delicacies favoured by the Kenny palate.[5]

## CD releases

The first *Nob Nation* CD, containing twenty sketches,[6] was released in Ireland on 2 November 2007.[7] Those parodied on the compilation include politicians [Bertie Ahern](/source/Bertie_Ahern) and [Enda Kenny](/source/Enda_Kenny), former [Republic of Ireland national football team](/source/Republic_of_Ireland_national_football_team) manager [Steve Staunton](/source/Steve_Staunton), broadcaster [Gay Byrne](/source/Gay_Byrne) and newsreaders [Bryan Dobson](/source/Bryan_Dobson) and [Colm Murray](/source/Colm_Murray).[8] The album reached number 5 on the [Irish Albums Chart](/source/Irish_Albums_Chart) on 9 November 2007, according to [IRMA](/source/Irish_Recorded_Music_Association), the official chart tracking body in Ireland.[9]

A second compilation, *Nob Nation 2: The Recession Album*, was released on 7 November 2008. And a third album "Nob Nation Uncensored" was released in the Irish Daily Mail in November 2009, containing tracks not previously broadcast and a series of sketches that had not been played on RTÉ.

## Live performances

*Nob Nation* has featured on [RTÉ Television](/source/RT%C3%89_Television)'s prime time chat shows *[Tubridy Tonight](/source/Tubridy_Tonight)*[10] and *[The Late Late Show](/source/The_Late_Late_Show_(Ireland))*. In December 2007 Callan was introduced by then Taoiseach Bertie Ahern to perform at Fianna Fáil's Cairde Fáil dinner. Callan performed a number of acts at the dinner, including mimicking Ahern himself. In February 2008 Callan also performed a live show at Ógra Fianna Fáil's National Youth Conference. In 2008 a debut Irish live show was commissioned as part of the [Bulmers International Comedy Festival](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Bulmers_International_Comedy_Festival&action=edit&redlink=1). Callan performed his pieces in [Dublin](/source/Dublin)'s [Olympia Theatre](/source/Olympia_Theatre%2C_Dublin) on 6 September 2008.[11]

## Defamation case

An 84-year-old guesthouse owner of the Maryland in the city sued RTÉ over a *Nob Nation* sketch claiming it claimed he was running a [brothel](/source/Brothel) in [County Waterford](/source/County_Waterford). His Senior Counsel warned the jury before the sketch was played to them that they might wince as, he said, it was the "most vulgar type of broadcast imaginable".[12] The court awarded €70,000 damages.[13]

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** ["Tubridy rides crest of airwaves"](http://www.independent.ie/national-news/tubridy-rides-crest-of-airwaves-1538956.html). *[Irish Independent](/source/Irish_Independent)*. 14 November 2008. Retrieved 17 November 2008.{{[cite news](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Cite_news)}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service ([link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:CS1_maint:_deprecated_archival_service))

1. **[^](#cite_ref-The_matriarchs_of_Montrose_2-0)** ["The matriarchs of Montrose"](http://www.independent.ie/lifestyle/the-matriarchs-of-montrose-1510015.html). *[Irish Independent](/source/Irish_Independent)*. 25 October 2008. Retrieved 10 June 2009.{{[cite news](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Cite_news)}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service ([link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:CS1_maint:_deprecated_archival_service))

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** ["RTÉ may cash in on podcast success"](http://www.independent.ie/opinion/analysis/rte-may-cash-in-on-podcast-success-1269609.html). *[Irish Independent](/source/Irish_Independent)*. 20 January 2008. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20110520083016/http://www.independent.ie/opinion/analysis/rte-may-cash-in-on-podcast-success-1269609.html) from the original on 20 May 2011. Retrieved 31 October 2008.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** ["RTÉ's biting satire ruffles feathers of Cowen circle"](http://www.independent.ie/national-news/rtes-biting--satire-ruffles-feathers-of-cowen-circle-1605908.html). *[Irish Independent](/source/Irish_Independent)*. 18 January 2009. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20090118230533/http://www.independent.ie/national-news/rtes-biting--satire-ruffles-feathers-of-cowen-circle-1605908.html) from the original on 18 January 2009. Retrieved 18 January 2009.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** O Morain, Padraig (31 January 2009). ["How the bad lad Dunphy turned hero with pay cut"](http://www.herald.ie/opinion/how-the-bad-lad-dunphy-turned-hero-with-pay-cut-1622157.html). *Evening Herald*. Retrieved 31 January 2009.{{[cite news](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Cite_news)}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service ([link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:CS1_maint:_deprecated_archival_service))

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** ["NOB NATION – As heard on RTÉ Radio's Gerry Ryan Show"](http://www.cdworld.ie/product-detail/269011/NOB+NATION+-+As+heard+on+RT+Radios+Gerry+Ryan+Show) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20110721123220/http://www.cdworld.ie/product-detail/269011/NOB+NATION+-+As+heard+on+RT+Radios+Gerry+Ryan+Show) 21 July 2011 at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine). CD World.ie. Retrieved 31 October 2008.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** ["NOB NATION ON SALE TOMORROW!"](https://www.rte.ie/2fm/story/1169591.html) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20081228133851/http://www.rte.ie/2fm/story/1169591.html) 28 December 2008 at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine). RTÉ. Retrieved 19 November 2008.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** ["Nob Nation – Oliver Callan"](https://www.rte.ie/arts/2007/1108/callano.html). [RTÉ](/source/RT%C3%89). 8 November 2007. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20080511195507/http://www.rte.ie/arts/2007/1108/callano.html) from the original on 11 May 2008. Retrieved 31 October 2008.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** ["Irish Charts Week 45 – 2007 Top 50 Albums"](http://www.irma.ie/charts_archive/week45_07.asp) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20080621215316/http://irma.ie/charts_archive/week45_07.asp) 21 June 2008 at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine). IRMA. Retrieved 31 October 2008.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** ["Tubridy Tonight returns with packed line-up"](https://www.rte.ie/arts/2008/0926/tubridytonight.html). [RTÉ](/source/RT%C3%89). 26 September 2008. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20080927083752/http://www.rte.ie/arts/2008/0926/tubridytonight.html) from the original on 27 September 2008. Retrieved 26 September 2008.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** ["Nob Nation"](http://www.bulmerscomedy.ie/nob-nation/) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20080916212831/http://www.bulmerscomedy.ie/nob-nation/) 16 September 2008 at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine). Bulmers Comedy. Retrieved 31 October 2008.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** ["RTÉ sued over 'Nob Nation' brothel claim"](https://web.archive.org/web/20150302013053/http://www.rte.ie/news/2011/0712/303587-otoolev/). RTÉ News. 12 July 2011. Archived from [the original](https://www.rte.ie/news/2011/0712/otoolev.html) on 2 March 2015. Retrieved 12 July 2011.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** ["€70,000 awarded over 2FM sketch defamation"](https://web.archive.org/web/20150302013222/http://www.rte.ie/news/2011/0715/303766-defamation/). RTÉ News. 15 July 2011. Archived from [the original](https://www.rte.ie/news/2011/0715/defamation.html) on 2 March 2015. Retrieved 15 July 2011.

## External links

- [Official website](https://web.archive.org/web/20100729170831/http://nobnation.com/)

- [*Nob Nation* Podcast](https://www.rte.ie/radio1/podcast/podcast_nobnation.xml)

v t e RTÉ 2fm Presenters Weekday Marie Crowe Beta Da Silva Doireann Garrihy Jenny Greene Dan Hegarty Carl Mullan Ruby Walsh Weekend Cormac Battle Conor Behan Dave Clarke Aindriú de Paor Laura Fox Mo K Aifric O'Connell Emma Power Roz Purcell Dave Tracey Bláthnaid Treacy DJ Wax Former Jay Ahern Bazil Ashmawy Johnny B Nicky Byrne Stephen Byrne Mark Cagney Michael Cahill Tracy Clifford Ronan Collins Ian Dempsey Leo J. Enright BP Fallon Dave Fanning Tony Fenton Larry Gogan Emilia Golightly Jimmy Greeley Chris Greene Vincent Hanley Colm Hayes Nikki Hayes Avril Hoare Jenny Huston Lucy Kennedy Pat Kenny Ciara King Denzil Lacey Will Leahy Aidan Leonard Michael Lyster Maxi Mark McCabe Damien McCaul Eoghan McDermott Paddy McKenna Alan McQuillan Louise McSharry Declan Meehan Mike Moloney Caroline Morahan Arthur Murphy Jim-Jim Nugent Donncha O'Callaghan Gareth O'Callaghan Hector Ó hEochagáin Jim O'Neill Bernard O'Shea Rick O'Shea Dave Redmond Gerry Ryan Ruth Scott Johnny Smacks Gerry Stevens Tommy Tiernan Ryan Tubridy Keith Walsh Marty Whelan Simon Young Jennifer Zamparelli Shows Current 2FM Breakfast 2FM Mornings 2FM Request Show The Alternative The Electric Disco Game On The Greene Room The National Chart Show The Spring Session White Noise Former The Beatbox Black Echoes Breakfast Republic Breakfast with Hector Chris and Ciara The Colm & Jim-Jim Breakfast Show The Colm and Lucy Show The Dave Fanning Show Drive By Drive It with The 2 Johnnies Europe's Biggest Dance Show The Full Irish The Gerry Ryan Show Larry Gogan's Golden Hour Mailbag Marty in the Morning The Rick & Ruth Breakfast Show Tubridy Announcers and newsreaders Kate Carolan Rachael English Jacqui Hurley Barry O'Neill Other contributors Philip Boucher-Hayes Des Cahill Oliver Callan Brenda Donohue Eamon Horan Jenny Kelly Darren Kennedy Lucy Kennedy Fiona Looney Conor McNamara Evelyn O'Rourke Lottie Ryan Laura Woods Heads John Clarke John McMahon Dan Healy Related 2fm 2moro 2our Death of Gerry Ryan "Maniac 2000" Nob Nation Operation Transformation Podcasts 2FM Song Contest RTÉ 2XM Other RTÉ radio stations: RTÉ Radio 1 RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta RTÉ lyric fm

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Nob Nation](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nob_Nation) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nob_Nation?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.