Inside Miriam O'Callaghan's family life as RTE presenter to release memoir

Extra.ie​

9 hours ago

Miriam O'Callaghan is one of the country's most recognisable broadcasters.
The RTÉ presenter, who's been with the national broadcaster for over three decades after working in the BBC, has worn many hats over the years — including hosting Saturday Night with Miriam, Sunday with Miriam on RTÉ Radio One, and Prime Time — making her one of the most well-known presenters on RTÉ.
Now, Miriam has announced that she will be releasing a memoir in October, admitting that she is 'really nervous' about telling her story.
Sharing the news on social media, she wrote: 'At first I planned it to be just about my work as a journalist, but I soon realised it was impossible to separate the personal and professional parts of my life, that's why it's about life, work and everything.
'In truth I am really nervous about telling my story, that's probably why it took me so long to write it. All I hope is that people will read it and find it interesting, authentic, entertaining and hopeful.'
But what of her personal life? Miriam O'Callaghan at the IFTA Awards 2025 at the Dublin Royal Convention Centre. Pic: Brian McEvoy
Miriam was born in Foxrock, Dublin in 1960, and is the elder sister of the Minister for Justice Jim O'Callaghan. Her younger sister Anne passed away from cancer, aged just 33.
Her father Jerry was a civil servant in the Department of Energy, but tragically and suddenly passed away from a stroke in 1995. Miriam went on to study law in UCD, and completed a post-grad in European Law — qualifying as a solicitor in 1983.
From there, she went on to work as a researcher for a production company after moving to London with her then-husband, poet Tom McGurk — with the pair sharing four daughters together before splitting in 1995. Miriam and her second husband Steve Carson met while working for the BBC, marrying in 2000 and sharing four sons. Pic: Eamonn Farrell/RollingNews.ie
After Miriam and Tom called time on their marriage, Miriam met her now husband Steve Carson when they both worked on BBC Newsnight — falling 'head over heels' for each other while working on a film about the Irish Potato Famine.
However, Miriam ended up going back to Ireland to care for her sister Anne, while Steve remained in the UK — although he was more than understanding of why Miriam had to head home, as he had also lost his mother to cancer when he was a young child.
The pair went on to marry in 2000, and after having four girls in her first marriage, Miriam and Steve had four sons — totalling eight children altogether for the broadcaster. Steve currently works for the BBC, with Miriam saying that despite the long distance relationship she wants her husband to be happy. Pic: VIP Ireland
With Miriam's career thriving in the national broadcaster, Steve began working behind the scenes — becoming RTÉ's Television Director of Programs in 2009. He was then made the editor of current affairs, and Director of Video, before returning to the BBC where he became BBC NI's Head of Production.
He was also heavily involved in launching BBC Scotland back in 2019, with Miriam admitting that a long-distance relationship was tough with her in Dublin and Steve in Scotland.
'I think what matters is that you both end up doing something that you love so that you feel fulfilled,' Miriam told RSVP at the time. 'You've only got one life and I don't want to be on my deathbed wondering what I did with my life. I want to fill every moment of it doing what I enjoy.
'I want my husband Steve to be happy to be able to do what he wants and we are back together before you know it, the week apart flies.'
In 2021, Miriam became a grandmother for the first time — after her daughter Alannah McGurk welcomed her first child, a daughter named Éabha, into the world.
Speaking on being a grandmother, Miriam said that Éabha was a 'magnificent little girl,' and revealed that Éabha's middle name was a touching tribute to her late sister.
'As you know I have always been careful not to talk about my children and I am conscious that she is not my child, but what I will tell you is that she is a magnificent little girl,' Miriam told VIP at the time. 'She is ten months old, her name is Éabha Anne; they named her Anne after my late sister, and she is divine. I absolutely love her.'