2014 HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES

RADIO

MAURICE O’DOHERTY – NEWSREADER

Born in 1932 in Limerick, Maurice was an RTE newsreader from 1966 until his departure in 1983. Maurice’s early career was with Met Eireann at Shannon before joining RTE. He was a familiar face on the flagship ‘9 O’Clock News’ with fellow anchors Charles Mitchell and Don Cockburn. It was Maurice who delivered the news bulletin announcing the death of former Irish President Eamonn DeValera. He was known for his ad lib quips during bulletins and his epitath reads ‘I’m sorry I’ll start that again’.

JOE LINNANE – PRESENTER/HOST

Joe Linnane was born in 1910 and is probably best remembered as the host of the Radio Eireann's 'Questiontime' in the 40s and 50s. He was also an actor, known for Five Angles on Murder (1950), The Angel Who Pawned Her Harp (1954) and The Stranger in Between (1952). He appeared on a number of BBC shows including the serials 'The Great Gilhooly' and as host of the 'Double or Quits' cash quiz show. In 1974 Joe won a Jacobs Award for Radio for "long and meritorious service to broadcasting". He died on September 28, 1981 in Dublin, Ireland. One of his most famous shows was a sponsored programme production of the last tram heading to Howth in 1959.

SEAN O’ROURKE – CURRENT AFFAIRS

Portlaoise born Sean is an Arts graduate from NUI, Galway. He has previously worked for the Connacht Tribune, The Sunday Press, and The Irish Press. In 1989, he joined RTÉ News and Current Affairs. For RTÉ he has presented Morning Ireland, and This Week. In 1995, he moved to The News at One. On television he has presented Today Tonight, Prime Time" and is a regular host of the Sunday show 'The Week in Politics'.

He has one ESB National Media Award, The Radio Broadcaster of the Year 1997, in 2008 he was named PPI News Broadcaster of the Year. In June 2011, he was awarded an honorary doctorate of laws from his alma mater, NUI Galway.

LIVELINE – PROGRAMME

In May 1979, RTE Radio launched a new lunchtime programme titled 'Women Today' but was renamed Liveline in 1985. The show was intially hosted by Doreain Ni Bhrian and Marian Finnucane with the latter being associated as the main presenter for many years. The show went from a discussion forum with a small amount of listener interactions (in the early days by phone and post)to a show driven by listeners with listeners being both the problem questioners and the solution givers. The show has courted controversy ever since its inception and has been commended at the highest levels of Government of setting as national agenda and getting the nation debating important issues.

Joe Duffy the current host began as a temporary replacement presenter in 1998 but has been with the show as its main presenter to date with his 'I'm listening' introduction to caller being often imitated. In 2011 as the country suffered significant austerity measures the show introduced the popular 'Fiver Fridays' where business large and small across the country offer their products and services for just five euro. The show has a JNLR average listnership of over 400,000 reflecting the €350,000 cost P.A. as the shows title advertising sponsor.

JOHN QUINN – PRODUCER

Born in County Meath in December 1941, John after a spell teaching joined RTE as an Education Officer in 1975 for the Radio Scoile. He went onto to be one of RTE's greatest producers. His award winning programmes have included 1988 Jacob's Award winning 'Ewan and Peggy' on the lives and music of Ewan McColl and Peggy Seeger and John's documentary 'Final Day' which won the Gold Medal in 1990 at the New York Festival of Radio. His body of work has been recognised by Radio awards in Europe, New York & Tokyo, by critics including the Sunday Times who described his interview with the late Seamus Heaney as 'spellbinding' and listeners.

DECLAN MEEHAN - DJ

Having made his name in Dublin with many of the pirate radio stations including Radio Melinda and ARD, Declan joined the new RTE Radio 2 from Big D Radio in 1979. He left RTE and joined pirate station Radio Nova where he presented the popular Deckie Wekkie's Brekkie Trekkie with American Bob Galico. He was one of the main programme directors at the ill fated Century Radio. Since 1994 Declan has presented the Breakfast show on East Coast Radio and also guested on the national commercial station Today FM.