Joe Duffy admits family begged him to retire from RTE
Joe Duffy has revealed his family begged him to retire from RTE – despite the station wanting him to stay on as Liveline host.
The legendary broadcaster has worked in RTÉ for 37 years, with 27 of those spent as host of the iconic call-in show. The Dubliner hangs up his mic on June 27 but the Ballyfermot native admitted RTE were keen for him to stay on – but his family were "adamant" that he retire.
Joe said: "I'm not real, real gone but it was time for me to move on from Liveline after 27 years. My contract in RTÉ, already extended by two years, was due to finish at the end of June.
"There was talk about going on for a bit longer. RTÉ were interested. But my family were adamant - adamant - that I go. I'm 69 and my daughter was saying that she was sick of seeing other dads retiring too late in life or not getting that chance to retire."
Joe will miss discussing topical news stories and bringing issues to the public domain on Liveline every day. He hopes to keep working in some capacity, but doesn't know what that will look like yet.
He said: "I was talking to a pal this morning about topical issues, and he said, 'When you're finished with the show, you'll be able to say that freely'. Now where I'll say it, I don't know yet. I have had offers of podcasts and newspaper columns, but I want to take it easy for a while."
Joe's legacy will be Liveline, but his break in broadcasting came as a reporter for The Gay Byrne Show. His late friend and mentor often spoke of regretting sacrificing family time for work, but when Joe welcomed triplets Sean, Ellen and Ronan with wife June in 1995, his career hit a "rough patch".
"Gay was thinking of retiring from the radio, and I was on the road all the time for his show. I was, well you know the line, 'Gay's representative on earth' and all that," he told the RTÉ Guide.
"When Gay retired, I presented the show for two days each week, but I was told unceremoniously after a year that it was not working so I was dumped." Another late colleague of Joe's gave him some wise advice as he recalled "Gerry Ryan telling me at the time that the main thing was not to leave the RTÉ campus and tell management that you'll do whatever. So, I stuck in there."
Joe will present Liveline for the final time on Friday June 27, but he doesn't want it to be an emotional show. He added: "I'd rather that day be a Funny Friday. I'd love to see all the old gang back - June Rodgers and Doc Savage and Frank Forde and all the rest - and just have a bit of fun.
"I'd rather it was a roast than a toast, something to give me a good kick in the backside, something to say: 'Just get over yourself, Joe'."
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