Maurice O'Doherty (17 November 1932 – 5 April 1998) was an Irish broadcaster best known as a newsreader for RTÉ News from 1966 until 1983.[1] As a contemporary of Charles Mitchel the two men made the Nine O'Clock News the most watched news programme on Irish television.
The son of a member of the Garda Síochána from Donegal, O'Doherty was born in Limerick in 1932. He was educated locally before later boarding at St. Flannan's College in Ennis. After completing his secondary schooling O'Doherty worked with the state transport provider CIÉ at Foynes before joining Met Éireann in Shannon. It was here that he developed an interest in acting and he became a key member of the College Players in Limerick. In 1961 O'Doherty was transferred to Met Éireann's Central Analysis and Forecasting Office in Dublin.
Broadcasting career
After moving to Dublin O'Doherty applied for a position as an announcer with Radio Éireann and was accepted. He started out presenting music shows such as Hospital Requests and Today in the Dáil. During a newspaper strike in 1966 he was invited to read both radio and television news bulletins. Over the next two decades he became one of the most recognised faces and voices in Irish broadcasting. His unscripted and humorous asides that he would slip into his bulletins also became popular, much to the ire of the RTÉ authorities. He also became famous for announcing the death of Éamon de Valera on RTÉ on 29 August 1975. In 1983 O'Doherty announced his retirement from the state broadcaster, blaming bad working conditions. He subsequently toured the country as a comedy act before moving to Paris.
Private life
O'Doherty was married to theatre producer Philomena "Phyl" Savage (d. 27 August 2005)[2] whom he met during his earlier acting days in Limerick. The couple had four children, Cahir, Sharon, Ewan and Fearga.
Death
O'Doherty died at the Adelaide Hospital in Dublin on 5 April 1998 aged 65. He had been suffering from cancer. In keeping with his dry sense of humour his epitaph reads "I'm sorry, I'll read that again."
References
^"Maurice O'Doherty, former RTÉ newsreader, dies in Dublin". Irish Times. 6 April 1998. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |url= (help)
maurice, doherty, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material, challenged, removed, find, sources, news, newspapers, books, scholar, jstor, january, . This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Maurice O Doherty news newspapers books scholar JSTOR January 2012 Learn how and when to remove this template message Maurice O Doherty 17 November 1932 5 April 1998 was an Irish broadcaster best known as a newsreader for RTE News from 1966 until 1983 1 As a contemporary of Charles Mitchel the two men made the Nine O Clock News the most watched news programme on Irish television Maurice O DohertyBornMaurce O Doherty 1932 11 17 17 November 1932Limerick IrelandDied5 April 1998 1998 04 05 aged 65 Dublin IrelandEducationSt Flannan s College EnnisOccupationNewsredaerYears active1962 1984Notable creditRTE NewsSpousePhyl SavageChildrenSharon O DohertyEwan O DohertyCahir O DohertyFearga O Doherty Contents 1 Early life 2 Broadcasting career 3 Private life 4 Death 5 ReferencesEarly life EditThe son of a member of the Garda Siochana from Donegal O Doherty was born in Limerick in 1932 He was educated locally before later boarding at St Flannan s College in Ennis After completing his secondary schooling O Doherty worked with the state transport provider CIE at Foynes before joining Met Eireann in Shannon It was here that he developed an interest in acting and he became a key member of the College Players in Limerick In 1961 O Doherty was transferred to Met Eireann s Central Analysis and Forecasting Office in Dublin Broadcasting career EditAfter moving to Dublin O Doherty applied for a position as an announcer with Radio Eireann and was accepted He started out presenting music shows such as Hospital Requests and Today in the Dail During a newspaper strike in 1966 he was invited to read both radio and television news bulletins Over the next two decades he became one of the most recognised faces and voices in Irish broadcasting His unscripted and humorous asides that he would slip into his bulletins also became popular much to the ire of the RTE authorities He also became famous for announcing the death of Eamon de Valera on RTE on 29 August 1975 In 1983 O Doherty announced his retirement from the state broadcaster blaming bad working conditions He subsequently toured the country as a comedy act before moving to Paris Private life EditO Doherty was married to theatre producer Philomena Phyl Savage d 27 August 2005 2 whom he met during his earlier acting days in Limerick The couple had four children Cahir Sharon Ewan and Fearga Death EditO Doherty died at the Adelaide Hospital in Dublin on 5 April 1998 aged 65 He had been suffering from cancer In keeping with his dry sense of humour his epitaph reads I m sorry I ll read that again References Edit Maurice O Doherty former RTE newsreader dies in Dublin Irish Times 6 April 1998 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a Missing or empty url help O Doherty Death notice This Irish biographical article related to television is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Maurice O 27Doherty amp oldid 1117362383, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
