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VETERAN NEWSREADER ANNE Doyle read her final news bulletin on RTE One tonight, exactly 33 years to the day after her first appearance on national television.
The newsreader made just a brief mention of her retirement at the end of the eight-minute news broadcast this evening, telling viewers:
“For me, it’s been a pleasure. Good fortune. Goodbye”.
However in an unexpected moment, Taoiseach Enda Kenny, RTE colleagues and members of the public paid tribute to the newsreader in a specially-compiled clip show immediately after her broadcast ended at 8.58pm.
The clip show was introduced by fellow RTE newsreader Eileen Dunne, who said that Doyle wasn’t going to be allowed to leave without people saying goodbye, and telling her: ”Here’s to you, kid”.
Taoiseach Enda Kenny led tributes, describing Doyle’s “alluring” qualities, and thanking her “on behalf of us all”.
Members of the public and RTE colleagues praised her professionalism and her legendary calm as clips showed her delivering the news of major events over the past 33 years.
Dustin the Turkey paid tribute to Doyle’s early days as a cub reporter covering the actual birth of Jesus Christ.
During tonight’s broadcast, she covered stories including the bombing of churches in Nigeria, the sit-in by workers at the Vita Cortex plant in Cork, and the Christmas messages from Pope Benedict and Queen Elizabeth.
The hashtag #annedoyle was the most popular trending topic in Ireland during the broadcast and for some time afterwards.
In a statement, Doyle said that
I’ve had a wonderful time here in RTÉ and I will miss it hugely, but it feels like the right time to move on. I will be 60 in January and there are many exciting projects ahead. I wish all my good friends and colleagues in the Newsroom, with whom I have so enjoyed working for over thirty years, every happiness as I take my leave for the final time this evening.
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One of the main faces of news in Ireland. Professional to the end. Good bye and well done….
Legend. A real pro.
A legend. She’ll be missed greatly. Goodbye!! :-(
I am Anne Doyle. I was the news!
End of an era I grew up watching Ann Doyle, you will be missed, happy retirement Ann!
Congrats Anne Doyle and good luck in well-earned retirement.
She never lowered herself to the preachy and tacky level of news reading so common in the likes of Sky and even TV3 these days!
Fair play to her!
And now the comments start: RTÉ staff overpaid, blah blah blah. Salaries, blah blah blah. License fee, I’m not paying it anymore blah blah blah.
Met her years ago on a tour of the studios, she was sound and totally down to earth. Happy well earned retirement to her!
It feels like losing a good friend. Have a happy and interesting “retirement” Anne
Always such a pro. All the best to Ann.
A Class Act, Enough said!
Didn’t see it, but just looking at the pic, she got to smile :) and what a beautiful smile if I may say so.
Wishing her all the best in the future, the news will be so strange without her..
Traded in for a younger model, that’s what I like to see ;)
A real veteran…!
33 years? How old was she when she started, 12? She looks absolutely fantastic!!!
And so begins and endless dribble of special event programs that she.ll front… Nobody in RTE really retires… Gaybo, Mike Murphy, Kennedy….. It just means we get to pay her for nothing now (Some kind of retainer so she won’t go anywher else) and then double pay her when she actually does something….
This is complete and utter nonsense Mr “Media.” She will be paid on a freelance basis for anything she does at RTE from here on in!
No RTE hatred from me though Im the usual suspect. Anne is a hugely talented individual and I wish her a long and happy retirement.
Video and Article for anyone that didn’t see it
Thank you!!
I hope they replace her with the dominatrix off the weather!!
Martyr to the cause…just happening to get out before feb with a nice ‘average and acceptable’ pension…cheers!
Good luck Anne, you’re an Irish Chuck Norris.
who the hell cares
Lots of people… It’s Christmas Day, Don’t be such a grouch!
I wish Anne a happy retirement, but let’s get a grip,guys, legend ? Icon ? talent ? She sat in front of a camera and read the news. End of !!
Bye Anne, all the best…… It’s been a pleasure
One of the nicest people I had the pleasure of meeting in there.
Good luck to her.
how is she a legend for reading a teleprompter nothing against the woman a jobs a job but you dont see a fuss being made when a surgeon or a fireman retires and all the lives they saved over their career not really fair is it.
Have to agree with Billy Fisher – how do you get to be a legend or an icon for sitting in a chair reading a teleprompter???? And seriously, how much talent does it take????
Wayhayyy, its N Korea !!
This time they only deleted *part*of it,
its like writing a letter from prison
Ok so TAKE 3 ….
I think Anne Doyle is a very attractive lady and I would be interested in getting to ‘know her’ in the biblical sense.
Would any guys (or girls) share my sentiment ??
A quintessential lady. May she enjoy a long and happy retirement.
going to have to start dressing for the news now?.
The forum censorship police deleted mt last comment so I’ll try to phrase it differently so as ny to offent the sensitive souls
hopefully very soon we will see Ann resurrect a new career on an alternative station. uncle Gaybo will give her lots of tips on how to make a ‘comeback’.
Roumors are spreading she is getting here bits out for charity calendar……. Come on we have thought about it…
when is the last time she read news on Christmas Day? Showboating, she is. The “A team” usually disappear for Christmas. I remember the Christmas tsunami barely got a mention on RTE cos everyone was on holidays. Same with the revolution in Romania. Anyway Anne, enjoy you state funded pension (at 60) as I at 53 must work for another 13 years to pay for it. Cheers!
As a matter of fact she did so on a regular basis, and not a word out of her. Even her retirement was heralded by an understated farewell on her part. We could all take a leaf out of her book.
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