Joe Duffy confirms retirement on-air with words of wisdom from his late mother

Extra.ie​

08-05-2025

Joe Duffy has said his 27 years with Liveline have been a 'privilege' that he never took for granted as he announced his upcoming retirement.
The beloved presenter and broadcaster confirmed the news on Thursday's edition of the show, as he revealed words of wisdom that his late mother often told him.
Joe has been with RTÉ for 37 'wonderful' years and took over Liveline in 1998, succeeding Marian Finucane. Joe Duffy has said his 27 years with Liveline has been a 'privilege' that he never took for granted as he announced his upcoming retirement. Pic: RTÉ
Speaking on Thursday's show, Joe said: 'First of all, it has been — and I mean this from the bottom of my heart — an incredible honour and a privilege to be part of a programme that relied almost entirely on trust; the trust of our listeners.
'Listeners felt they could pick up the phone, ring Liveline, share their lives, their stories; sad, bad, sometimes mad and funny, their struggles and their victories.
'I never took that for granted. Not for a single minute.' Joe has been with RTÉ for 37 'wonderful' years and took over Liveline in 1998 succeeding Marian Finucane. Pic: RTÉ
The 69-year-old went on to pay tribute to his RTÉ colleagues who he said 'are all working [towards] the same goal; serving the public.'
The father-of-three went on to express his eternal gratitude to his wife June and their three children Sean, Ellen and Ronan who he said were 'such a part of keeping me going day after day, often through difficult times on an intense daily programme.'
'For that alone, I am deeply privileged and eternally grateful,' he added. Joe Duffy in 2001. Pic: RTÉ
Joe continued: 'As the American poet Maya Angelous wrote, 'People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did but people will never forget how you made them feel,' and I hope in some small way, through Liveline and through RTÉ we made people feel heard.'
Confirming his retirement, Joe told listeners that his contract had been extended for two years and was concluding on June 27. He said he wrote to the head of Radio in November confirming that the expiration of the contract would be his final day.
'As my late mother Mabel used to say: 'You are not to lose the run of yourself. You're just answering the phones.' Well, I was trying to listen, trying to connect, trying to give people a voice, especially those without [one].' Joe Duffy and his mother Mabel. Pic: NK Management
Joe went on to share that his mum's two year anniversary was this Sunday.
'The day she was born, the Irish Parliament was debating the abolition of work houses,' he revealed, 'We have come a long way, like many of her generation who have been great Liveline listeners, remember you dug the well and subsequent generations drank the water.
'As a country and community, we have come an awful long way.'
Joe concluded, expressing his excitement for the 'next chapter,' and promised to 'explain a bit more' on Friday's Late Late Show.