Peter O’Mahony and Perry Como keep Len busy

Veteran Limerick rugby broadcaster Len Dineen will embark on a contrasting double assignment on this evening when he contends with the raucous roar of Thomond Park followed by the serene sounds of Perry Como during a marathon stint at the microphone.

Len, 73, will commentate for Limerick’s Live 95FM as Peter O’Mahony leads Munster in search of European Cup glory against Clermont Auvergne. The kick-off is at 5.30pm.

And after the post-match interviews, he will head back to the Limerick Live 95FM studios in the city centre to do his weekend Sounds Easy music programme, which goes on until midnight.

“I have been doing commentaries on Munster European Cup games since the very start,” said Len. “And my Saturday night and Sunday night music programmes are a great favourite.

“I will get to Thomond Park three hours before the game to familiarise myself with any changes in the teams and set up out commentary equipment.

“Live radio commentary is very demanding and after the game I will go and do post-match interviews with the players. It will be a very heavy schedule at Thomond Park and then when we wrap up there, I will have to high-tail it back to the studios and kick off my Sounds Easy late-night programme.”

Len, who captained London Irish after he left Limerick in the early 1960s, is joined in the Thomond Park commentary gallery by his son, Len Jr, who captained Cork Constitution and does match analysis with his father during games.

When playing for London Irish, Len struck up a great friendship with Richard Harris.

Len said: “Dickie was years ahead of me at Crescent College, but he started his acting career with the College Players in Limerick and my late father, Kevin B Dineen, a founder member of the College Players, was his mentor.”

Before he left for London, Len began his journalistic career with the Limerick Chronicle.

“Being rugby commentator for Live 95 FM gives me great fulfilment and enjoyment,” he said. “I have to admit I am totally biased in my commentaries when Munster are playing.

“The Sounds Easy programme is also great as I love music and playing all those special requests. I play a lot of Mario Lanza, Frank Sinatra, and material from musicals such as Cats. It’s a busy night at the microphone in the studio as I have to deal with scores of requests.”

One request sticks out in his mind, a request not to play a particular song. “This lady approached me in the Crescent Shopping Centre one day and said: ‘Len will you stop playing Perry Como’s ‘And I Love Your So’ late at night?’. I asked why and she said: ‘Because I’m pregnant again’.”