Maurice O'Doherty

Maurice O'Doherty
Born	Maurce O'Doherty 1932 (1932) Limerick, Ireland
Died	5 April 1998 (1998-04-06) (aged 65) Dublin, Ireland
Education	St. Flannan's College, Ennis
Occupation	Newsredaer
Spouse(s)	Phyl Savage
Children	Sharon O'Doherty Ewan O'Doherty Cahir O'Doherty Fearga O'Doherty
Years active	1962–1984
Notable credit(s)	RTÉ News

Maurice O'Doherty (1932 – 5 April 1998) was an Irish broadcaster best known as a newsreader for the 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.

Early life

The son of a member of an 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. 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 whom he met during his earlier acting days in Limerick. The couple had four children.

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

1. ^ "Maurice O'Doherty, former RTÉ newsreader, dies in Dublin". Irish Times. 1998-04-06. 

Persondata
Name	O'Doherty, Maurice
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	1932
Place of birth	Limerick, Ireland
Date of death	5 April 1998
Place of death	Dublin, Ireland