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VETERAN BROADCASTER MARIAN Finucane has died at the age of 69.
Born in 1950, the presenter of The Marian Finucane Show started at RTÉ as a continuity announcer in the 1970s.
A qualified architect, she became a programme presenter working on programmes concerned with contemporary social issues, especially those concerning women, notably on the programme Women Today.
Her television work also included Consumer Choice and Crime Line.
She was the first presenter of Liveline and has won a number of awards for her work.
Joe Duffy, who took over from Finucane as presenter of Liveline, today described her as “the most welcoming voice”.
He said everyone who went on Liveline when she was presenter and on her recent show “knew you would get a fair hearing”.
“A lot of people will be in deep shock, this time of year – no time is a good time but we just lost Gay [Byrne] on 4 November. We lost Marian on 2 January, less than two months later. She was deeply upset with Gay’s passing,” he said.
I think she’s just the voice of reason, the lovely, soothing, charming, welcoming voice that made such a difference on the national airwaves.
On Gay Byrne’s retirement in 1999, Finucane took over his early morning radio slot to present The Marian Finucane Show, ultimately taking over the morning slots on Saturday and Sunday.
In 2015 Finucane married her long-term partner John Clarke, with whom she had two children. Their daughter Sinead died in 1990 at the age of eight after suffering from leukaemia.
RTÉ director general Dee Forbes said her colleagues learned of her sudden passing with “profound shock and sadness”.
“Marian was a broadcaster of immense capability; a household name, she was first and foremost a tenacious journalist with a zeal for breaking new ground. From Women Today to Liveline to her weekday radio show on Radio 1 and, latterly, her enormously popular Saturday and Sunday radio programme, she tackled the big social issues of the day with command and insight,” she said.
“Multi-skilled, she forged a distinguished career on television, as well as undertaking significant charity work in Africa. Ireland has lost a unique voice. RTÉ has lost a beloved colleague. My sincere and heartfelt sympathies to her husband John and son Jack.”
President Michael D Higgins also paid tribute to the broadcaster.
“With her death, Ireland has lost a deeply respected, trusted and much loved broadcaster,” he said.
“A superb professional, many will remember the wisdom and sensitivity with which Marian Finucane dealt with discussions and confrontations between different voices on what were controversial issues of the day. She was one of the very early exemplars to those who sought a proper representation of women in broadcasting.”
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In fairness he seems to be getting on savage with the queen, she might tell him to take the 6 counties yet!!
The hand over process has begun.
She can keep them!
19:30 getting ready for the big concert is proving an ordeal.
Mdh: “I feel sick”
Sab: “oh Michael I told you not to eat the cow poo..”
“IT WAS CHOCOLATE. .”
Sab: “Now Michael higgins.
You are not too big that i can’t put you across my knee.
So less of your insolence. ”
Mdh: “I’m going to my concert! “
Unfortunately it’s not within her gift to give them back, if it was she’d probably have done it years ago.
Haha… That’s gas…. The only thing is that the clowns we have in the government can’t manage the 26 we have!!! :-)
:) Ahh but that’s the current government. There is one party who could have a very strong majority if the north was included. :)
What will the future hold? It’s the talk of all at my yoga class :)
She might offer to take back the 26.
Jesus, 6 more counties would finish us off altogether, they have decent, well maintained roads up there!!
Actually I’ve noticed lately that the roads in NI are considerably worse than those in the republic… in fairness we’ve had a lot of new bypasses and motorways built since the early 2000′s and the NI roads (which were much better once upon a time) don’t seem to have been very well maintained… Then again, it’s only a matter of time before potholes start appearing on our new shiny roads, and I doubt they’ll be maintained either!
So thats why he was taking cash from atm … gift shopping
…at The Loop!
A giant Toblerone from Gatwick airport would have been absolutely fine . .
And a bottle of orish mist
And a stick of rock from Bray.
And a bumper-size box of Barrys Tae.
Has anyone actually tried Irish Mist??? Used to see it in pubs in the late 80′s-early 90′s, and only in the duty free after that!
The gifts for the two children are absolutely class,
Gift for prince Harry – vouchers for stringfellows
Na, “a guided tour to of Dublin, with Colin Farrell”.
Have to say, the Prez does good prezzies.
What a wonderful President we have supported by his wife Sabina.Thank you Mr President you have made the the Irish a proud people.42% of our tourists are British.
Delighted we are all friends again, truly and sincerely, but don’t want the six counties back! More bigots up there than in the UK, anyway we can’t afford what we have, never mind taking on the wee North. One of mine resides in UK….thanks Lizzie, I’m very grateful.
John. I couldn’t have said it better myself. We don’t want them 6 counties and I tell you the English dont want them either. That’s the effect them people up there have on you
I wouldn’t mind them back.
Why don’t you move up there so. Look over your shoulder for the rest of your life
Oh we’ll have them back eventually, just need to prepare the groundwork. Perhaps part of that preparation is the staging of these visits.
We can’t afford the ones we have. But your right on that. Only because they don’t want them either. Give them independence up there and watch what they do with it.
“them up there” are my people too, part of the Irish nation.
Didn’t we renague on articles 2 & 3 in the GFA?
Renege? No. “We” compromised. Took another stride along those stepping-stones the Big fella talked about.
Jamie, “get them back” from what exactly? 26 counties chose to leave the UK and made such a fuss doing it. 6 didn’t want to. If you look outside the narrow Unionist/Republican sphere there are more ordinary citizens who don’t identify with either camp but are just content with things the way they are. Simultaneously they can be be proudly Irish (or more so Northern Irish) and also a British Citizen – no conflict there, the English, Welsh & Scots are no less by also being British. Why should they change just to appease some people in the Republic who wish to absorb them because of some ideological notion?
are we up here all tarred with the same brush? i really hope not. there are a lot of people in the 6 that consider ourselves irish to the bone……maybe thats because we were born on the island of Ireland……an invisible, political border makes no difference. when you look at Ireland from space……did you see a border…….me either! remember when you make sweeping comments about the north you are including a great many people who take great exception to your inferences.
But you hide your face and name on here. Actions are better than words. To the rest of the world you look like children throwing stones at each other and such like. You know their going to march on the 12 of July every year but you still get absorbed in it all. Why not let them and just not be there for that day and vice versa when it’s your turn to parade. Words mean nothing. We all have to compromise in life on issues we believe in. You know a recent poll in ni shows most Catholics would prefer to stay part of the uk http://www.thejournal.ie/nearly-four-fifths-of-ni-voters-would-choose-to-stay-in-uk-784853-Feb2013/
Jean, so England, Wales and Scotland should remain one political entity as they occupy the same landmass and the borders are imaginary, in fact arbitrarily drawn by Romans? Personally I don’t see what all the fuss is about. A united Ireland within the UK wouldn’t make anyone less Irish similarly an “independent” Scotland won’t make anyone more Scottish. “These Islands” as a whole have much more in common than they do differences. The true argument isn’t with the British (who were happy to let Eire leave, but sorry to see them go) but between the peoples of this island who can’t sort out their differences.
Michael D’s visit has been a great success. Fair play to him.
M D Hizzle brings da bling #swag
#YOLO
He was on a winner with the “Arkle bronze bust” ..nice touch Mr. H..
The lady loves her horses and she knows the Great Arkle broke all their hearts in the amazing season of 65-66…
Brian,
Someone else commented earlier about gifts for the children being great.
The bust of Arkle for the Queen, couldn’t have been better or more thoughtfully chosen.
Bet she’s dead chuffed, nice one Michael
In fairness when she was here apart from the twinkle in her eye round Enda and the fishmonger she looked happiest at the National Stud. The lady knows her horseflesh.
Arkle for President!
Don’t be stupid. Arkle is dead..
Hard enough work minding the 26 counties!!
With all Michael D’s talk about how well we’ve done etc it’s nearly a recruiting poster for Scotland to go Independent!
Where getting the six counties back there’s no flys on mikey d can’t wait.
Vacant possession preferable lol
*We’re
Now, now don’t be cruel about the intellectual capacity of our more British oriented brethren up North.
I’ll get my coat…
Back from what? The 26 left the UK, 6 didn’t want to. You have to make the majority up there want to. They don’t.
Sure even the republicans won’t register and tax their cars when they move south….
You’re on fire today Gizmo…
Looks like the choreography of reunification is well advanced.
Are we rejoining the UK?
True. A united Ireland within the UK – looking forward to it!
So would you not just go and live in England yourself seeing as you like the idea of being a west brit..
“like the idea of being a West Brit”?
Not at all. But thanks for the invite. At least in the UK I’m free to live in an inclusive society & be whatever nationality or religion I want without the Cultural Taliban oppressing me.
Maybe they’ll throw in Wales and Scotland as well….
Buy one..get two free!
I’d feel sorry for George a bloody book. He won’t be able to read for years.
Im kinda thinking someone ye know….might read it to him no?
In fairness Pilib I’d say one of the adults might read it to him until he’s older.
He wouldn’t have fit all that in a Ryanair carry on :)
Actually, Waterford Crystal is made in Poland. Huge job losses in 2009/10 there, so unfortunately we do have to spell out the Irish made produce as it’s not that common anymore.
A box of Barry’s,big bag of taytos,2 creme eggs and a quick pic from Spar
A Foxford rug…woven in Foxford? You don’t say. Next we’ll be hearing that Waterford crystal is made in Waterford.
Actually Claire, Waterford crystal in made in Poland now after huge job losses here on 09/10. So we do have to spell out local produce as it’s not that common anymore.
Gift for prince Edward-a Ryanair toy plane in exchange for his air miles vouchers!…
A jar of Dalkey Mustard!
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