'The time has come' - Joe Duffy retires from Liveline after 27 years
Joe Duffy has announced that he is retiring from RTÉ and stepping down as the voice of Liveline after 37 years.
A hugely popular figure with listeners, Joe has been with RTE for close to four decades – joining Liveline on Radio 1 in 1998.
‘After 37 wonderful years here in RTÉ, and 27 years presenting Liveline, it has been an incredible honour and privilege to be part of a programme that relied entirely on trust – the trust of our listeners,’ Joe said in a statement.
Joe Duffy outside the GPO in 2016. Pic: RTÉ
‘People felt they could pick up the phone, ring Liveline and share their lives, problems, stories sad, bad, sometimes mad and funny, their struggles, and their victories. I never took that for granted, not for a single minute.’‘RTÉ has been a great place to work,’ he added. ‘Public service has always been at its heart. And now, after many happy years, I’ve decided the time has come to move on. I would like to thank you the listener, for tuning in each and every day – it has been an honour to sit in this seat and hear your stories.’
Reacting to the news, Kevin Bakhurst, Director-General, RTÉ, said: ‘Whether breaking stories like the first powerful moments of the 9-11 attacks in the US, or helping the nation navigate the often heart-breaking challenges of a global pandemic, Joe Duffy’s Liveline doesn’t just have its fingers on the pulse, it is the pulse of the nation.
Joe Duffy in 2001. Pic: RTÉ
‘Joe navigated controversies, unearthed scandals, exposed scams, fought misinformation and shone a light on topics long ignored, from historical abuse to the menopause and healthcare reform. Joe was always the guide, never the story.
‘His journalistic insights were perfectly in balance with his human instincts, and Liveline under Joe became both a sanctuary for those seeking justice, and a public square of which Joe was in full control.’ ‘Joe Duffy is an icon of broadcasting, and will be hugely missed by his listeners, his colleagues, and all who picked up the phone to the nation’s hotline.
‘I’d like to wish Joe all our best for his retirement and extend my warmest wishes to June and to Joe’s family. He might be hanging up on the Liveline, but our loss is surely his family’s most welcome gain.’
RTE has confirmed that his last episode will air on Friday, June 27.
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