Mary Kennedy

For the President of the Camogie Association, see Máire Ní Chinnéide.

Mary Kennedy
Born	4 October 1956 (1956-10-04) (age 55) Clondalkin, Dublin, Ireland
Residence	Dublin, Ireland
Nationality	Irish
Education	Bachelor of Arts in French
Alma mater	University College Dublin (UCD)
Occupation	Broadcaster, writer
Employer	Raidió Teilifís Éireann (RTÉ)
Known for	Eurovision Song Contest 1995, Kennedy, Open House, Up for the Match, People of the Year Awards, Nationwide
Height	5'4"
Religion	Catholic
Children	Four
Website
http://www.myspace.com/marykennedyfan

Mary Kennedy (Irish: Máire Ní Chinnéide; born 4 October 1956) is an Irish writer, television personality and former newscaster. She presented Eurovision Song Contest 1995 from the Point Theatre in Dublin. She has also presented her own Saturday night chat show called Kennedy, a precursor to Saturday Night with Miriam. Kennedy was co-presenter of the magazine programme Open House with Marty Whelan. She used to present Up for the Match and the People of the Year Awards until Gráinne Seoige stole both from her. She is now co-presenter of Nationwide with Michael Ryan.

Early life

Born in Clondalkin, Dublin, Kennedy was educated at Colaiste Bride in Clondalkin and University College Dublin where she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts. She taught English in Brittany, France before returning to her alma mater to teach Irish and French.

Broadcasting

Kennedy's broadcasting career started in 1978 when she applied for a job as continuity announcer at RTÉ. She went on to join the RTÉ News team, becoming a newscaster. She has also presented Eurovision Song Contest 1995, a Saturday night chat show called Kennedy, and was co-presenter with Marty Whelan on the magazine programme Open House.^[1]

She used to present Up for the Match and the People of the Year Awards until RTÉ replaced her in both jobs with the youngerGráinne Seoige.^[2]

Kennedy is currently Michael Ryan's co-presenter on the RTÉ local affairs show Nationwide.^[1]

In April 2008, she commented on RTÉ television coverage of the state funeral of former President of Ireland Patrick Hillery.^[3]

In May 2011, she fronted RTÉ television coverage of Queen Elizabeth II's visit to the Republic of Ireland.^[4]

She has read the news on RTÉ Radio 1.^[5]

She has been a judge at the Rose of Tralee.^[6]

She is to provide commentary at the inauguration of the next President of Ireland, Michael D. Higgins.^[7]

Writing

In 2003, Kennedy published her memoirs, titled Paper Tigers.^[8]

Lines I Love was shortlisted for an Irish Book Award.^[7]

Lines for Living was published in 2011.^[7]

Personal life

Kennedy has four children.^[9] Her niece, Clare, was the girlfriend of Garda Ciaran Jones, swept to his death in the River Liffey after he tried to help motorists during torrential rain in October 2011.^[10]

Awards

Kennedy was voted VIP magazine's "Most Stylish Woman in Ireland" in 2003.^[9]

Year	Nominated work	Award	Result
2003	Mary Kennedy	"Most Stylish Woman in Ireland" (VIP)	Won
????	Lines I Love	Irish Book Award	Nominated

See also

• List of Eurovision Song Contest presenters

References

1. ^ ^{a b} "Mary Kennedy to Join Nationwide". Irish Film and Television Network. 5 April 2004. http://www.iftn.ie/finance/finance_news/?act1=record&aid=73&rid=522&tpl=archnews. Retrieved 13 July 2010. 
2. ^ "Seoige sisters have far to fall after their meteoric RTE rise". Irish Independent. 25 April 2009. http://www.independent.ie/lifestyle/independent-woman/celebrity-news-gossip/seoige-sisters-have-far-to-fall-after-their-meteoric-rte-rise-1719748.html. Retrieved 25 April 2009. "But the ice maiden thaw just didn't happen, despite RTE's attempts to turn Grainne into the girl next door. Her diary filled up impressively but at Mary Kennedy's expense who lost two prestigious gigs, 'Up For The Match' and 'People Of The Year', to her." 
3. ^ "Coverage of the State Funeral of former President Dr. Patrick J. Hillery on Wednesday, 16th April". RTÉ. 15 April 2008. http://www.rte.ie/about/pressreleases/2008/0415/presidentfuneralapril2008.html. Retrieved 15 April 2008. 
4. ^ Keane, Kevin (14 May 2011). "Broadcasters roll out big guns for visit". Irish Independent. http://www.independent.ie/national-news/queen-visit/broadcasters-roll-out-big-guns-for-visit-2647071.html. Retrieved 14 May 2011. 
5. ^ Kearns, Martha (9 April 2004). "Half three will never be the same again . . . Open House RIP". Irish Independent. http://www.independent.ie/national-news/half-three-will-never-be-the-same-again-open-house-rip-175314.html. Retrieved 9 April 2004. 
6. ^ "Daithi's smitten, says star pal Mary as rose Rita meets his mum". Evening Herald. 24 August 2010. http://www.herald.ie/entertainment/around-town/daithis-smitten-says-star-pal-mary-as-rose-rita-meets-his-mum-2309241.html. Retrieved 24 August 2010. 
7. ^ ^{a b c} O'Connell, Edel (21 October 2011). "Martin joins Mary to get last word on the good life". Irish Independent. http://www.independent.ie/national-news/martin-joins-mary-to-get-last-word-on-the-good-life-2904524.html. Retrieved 21 October 2011. 
8. ^ "Mary shows that she has the write stuff at launch". Irish Independent. 25 October 2003. http://www.independent.ie/national-news/mary-shows-that-she-has-the-write-stuff-at-launch-202066.html. Retrieved 13 July 2010. 
9. ^ ^{a b} Cunningham, Grainne; Hegarty, Joanne (5 March 2004). "Marty and Mary seek new TV doors after RTE slams shut 'Open House'". Irish Independent. http://www.independent.ie/national-news/marty-and-mary-seek-new-tv-doors-after-rte-slams-shut-open-house-179183.html. Retrieved 5 March 2004. 
10. ^ Dunne, Stephen (29 October 2011). "I'll go on loving him - hero garda's girl". Evening Herald. http://www.herald.ie/news/ill-go-on-loving-him-hero-gardas-girl-2920850.html. Retrieved 29 October 2011. 

Preceded by Gerry Ryan & Cynthia Ní Mhurchú

Eurovision Song Contest presenter 1995

Succeeded by Morten Harket & Ingvild Bryn

Persondata
Name	Kennedy, Mary
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	4 October 1956
Place of birth	Clondalkin, Dublin, Ireland
Date of death
Place of death