Anne Doyle
Born
Anne Catherine Doyle

(1952-01-30) 30 January 1952
Ferns, County Wexford, Ireland
NationalityIrish
Alma materUniversity College Dublin
Occupations
Years active1978–2011
Notable creditRTÉ News
PartnerDan McGrattan (2000–present)

Anne Catherine Doyle (born 30 January 1952) is an Irish journalist, presenter and former newsreader.[1] She is best known as a long-serving newsreader for RTÉ, who anchored the broadcaster's main evening television news programmes, during her 33 years of service.[2]

Early life

Born in Ferns, County Wexford. Doyle was the youngest in a family of five boys and two girls. Her father, John Doyle (1903–1975), worked most of his life as a farm labourer, while her mother was the former Elizabeth Kavanagh (1916–1979). Doyle was educated at the Loreto Convent in nearby Gorey and later at University College Dublin, where she was conferred with a Bachelor of Arts in English and History before later completing a postgraduate diploma in education.[3]

Career

Early career

Doyle spent a year as an English and History teacher but later pursued her interest in books and became a librarian.[4] She later joined Ireland's Department of Foreign Affairs as an executive officer in the consular service.[5]

Broadcasting

Doyle joined the RTÉ newsroom in 1978 and read her first news bulletin on Christmas Day that year. She became a regular reader for bulletins on both radio and television news services. In 1983, she became one of four presenters for RTÉ One's early evening news, then known as Newstime. The program was relaunched in 1988 as the Six One News with Doyle becoming co-anchor alongside Seán Duignan two years later. In 1992, Doyle was briefly suspended by RTÉ for refusing to cross picket lines during a technicians' strike.

Doyle became one of two sole anchors of RTÉ's flagship Nine O'Clock News in 1997, alternating with Eileen Dunne. In 2000, she was elected to represent RTÉ staff on the 14th RTÉ Authority.[6] The following year, she took over from Marian Finucane as co-presenter of Crimeline.[7] In addition, she filled in for Finucane as presenter of RTÉ Radio 1's The Marian Finucane Show.[8]

In November 2011, Doyle announced she was seeking early retirement from RTÉ and had applied for a redundancy package.[1] She presented her last RTÉ News bulletin at 8:50pm on Sunday 25 December 2011, 33 years to the day since her first bulletin.[2] The bulletin ended with a montage of Doyle's career with RTÉ featuring tributes from among others, Taoiseach Enda Kenny and broadcaster Gay Byrne.[9][10] She has said that, following her broadcasting work, she wishes to study law and enter the legal profession.[11][12]

Doyle has become part of Irish popular culture. Puppets Podge and Rodge frequently reference Doyle in their jokes, and the satirical comedy Bull Island also featured impersonations of Anne Doyle, including parodied news bulletins in which she would state "I am Anne Doyle. I am the news". She also has a long-standing association with Dustin the Turkey.[3]

Stamp

Marking RTÉ's 50th anniversary in 2011, Doyle became the first Wexford person to appear on a postage stamp during her lifetime.[13]

Personal life

Following a 17-year relationship with an electrician which ended in August 1996, Doyle had a much publicised relationship with Jim McDaid (former Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation). She met McDaid at a function at New York in late 1997, and the relationship ended acrimoniously after about six months.[14]

She has been in a relationship with restaurant owner, Dan McGrattan, since the beginning of the 2000s.[15][16][17][18][19][20]

In February 2012, she came fifth in a poll to find Ireland's most desirable Valentines.[21]

References

  1. 1 2 O'Keeffe, Alan (19 November 2011). "Here is the news: I'm leaving RTÉ for certain – Anne: EXCLUSIVE: Iconic newsreader counts down days". Evening Herald. Independent News & Media. Archived from the original on 17 February 2013. Retrieved 19 November 2011.
  2. 1 2 Murphy, Cormac (6 December 2011). "After 33 years, RTÉ's Anne will sign off her last news on Christmas Day". Evening Herald. Independent News & Media. Retrieved 6 December 2011.
  3. 1 2 "ANNE DOYLE – Newscasting Legend". The Afternoon Show. RTÉ.ie. 20 May 2008. Archived from the original on 19 April 2010. Retrieved 13 September 2010.
  4. ↑ "Anne Doyle bids farewell to RTÉ." RTÉ News, Sunday, 25 December 2011.
  5. ↑ "RTÉ Annual Report 2003 (English version)" (PDF). RTÉ News. PDF file (size – 1 MB).
  6. ↑ "'No more tears' for the woman in the know" Archived 9 May 2012 at the Wayback Machine Irish Independent, 25 June 2000
  7. ↑ "New presenter of 'Crimeline'". The Irish Times. 9 November 2000. Retrieved 13 September 2010.
  8. ↑ Kearney, Maire (5 May 2001). "Broadcast News". The Irish Times. Retrieved 13 September 2010.
  9. ↑ "Anne Doyle says goodbye after 33 years". RTÉ News. RTÉ. 25 December 2011. Retrieved 25 December 2011.
  10. ↑ Poope, Conor (26 December 2011). "Doyle bows out as tributes pour in". The Irish Times. Irish Times Trust. Retrieved 26 December 2011.
  11. ↑ Anne sets her sights on move into legal world Sunday Independent, 25 April 2010.
  12. ↑ Anne Doyle seeks to take redundancy from RTE Irish Independent, 30 August 2011.
  13. ↑ Lambe, Fintan (11 October 2011). "Anne stamp will mark RTÉ anniversary". New Ross Standard. Archived from the original on 5 September 2012. Retrieved 11 October 2011.
  14. ↑ "Doyle Éireann". Sunday Independent. Independent News & Media. 4 February 2001. Archived from the original on 17 February 2013. Retrieved 13 September 2010.
  15. ↑ "Sum Leader offers up rich pickings." Irish Examiner, Wednesday, 30 July 2003.
  16. ↑ O'Connor, Lisa. "Who's your man Anne?" Sunday Mirror, 29 August 2004.
  17. ↑ "Anne Doyle's crop of fan letters." Sunday Independent, Sunday, 11 December 2005.
  18. ↑ "PROPERTY MATTERS : McGrattan's – in the rare 'ould times." Sunday Independent, Sunday, 11 June 2006.
  19. ↑ Hogan, Louise. "Albert tips Bertie to run for country after May 8." Irish Independent, Thursday, 26 April 2007.
  20. ↑ Egan, Barry. "Keane to make mark at VIP style awards." Sunday Independent, Sunday, 2 March 2008.
  21. ↑ "Bressie, Georgia top Valentine's Poll". RTÉ Ten. 11 February 2012. Retrieved 11 February 2012.
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