Joe Duffy announces retirement from RTÉ after 37 years
Broadcaster Joe Duffy has announced he is retiring from RTÉ after 37 years.
The presenter confirmed on Thursday that his final time hosting Liveline will be Friday, June 27th.
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He has hosted the popular RTÉ Radio 1 phone-in show since 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," Duffy said.
"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.
Joe Duffy and Gay Byrne (1994)
Joe Duffy in 1997
"RTÉ has been a great place to work. Public service has always been at its heart. And now, after many happy years, I've decided the time has come to move on.
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"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."
Born in January 1956 and raised in Ballyfermot, Dublin, Duffy originally pursued social work at Trinity College.
He was actively involved in student politics and went on to serve as President of the Union of Students in Ireland. Duffy led protests on campus highlighting access to education and spent two weeks in Mountjoy Prison as a result.
Gerry Ryan with Joe Duffy in 1999
Joe Duffy in 1998
After working in the probation service, he joined RTÉ as a radio producer in 1989, and came to prominence as a reporter on the Gay Byrne Show.
He presented programmes like Soundbyte before taking over Liveline in 1998.
RTÉ director general Kevin Bakhurst described Duffy as "an icon of broadcasting", while RTÉ's director of audio Patricia Monahan said the contribution Duffy had made to RTÉ and Liveline "cannot be overstated."
Duffy will appear as Patrick Kielty's special guest on The Late Late Show on Friday night.
RTÉ said the next presenter of Liveline will be announced in the autumn, and Duffy is expected to contribute to RTÉ's 100th anniversary commemorations in 2026.
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