Latest news with #Liveline
Extra.ie
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Extra.ie
Inside Joe Duffy's family life with wife June and triplets
On June 27, Joe Duffy will hang up the mic after 27 years as host of Liveline, and 37 years with RTÉ. The veteran broadcaster has been listening to how 'it's a disgraaaace Joe' for decades, from problems ranging from the mundane to the incredibly serious. His final show will air on June 27. But while most of us know him as the man to talk to on 0818 715 815, there's more to Joe than some would know. Joe Duffy announced his retirement on Thursday, with his final broadcast to take place on June 27. Pic: RTÉ Raised in Ballyfermot, Joe became one of the first people from his area to attend Trinity College. He became heavily involved in the political life at Trinity, eventually ascending to the Presidency of the Union of Students in Ireland (USI). He was heavily involved in protests by the union highlighting access to education, and incredibly, spent two weeks in Mountjoy as a result. Yep, Joe did time in the Joy. After cutting his teeth as a producer and reporter on the Gay Byrne Show, Joe presented Liveline for over two and a half decades (the beard kinda suits him, doesn't it?) Pic: RTÉ Joe joined the national broadcaster as a radio producer, becoming more prominent as a reporter on The Gay Byrne Show in the 1990s — winning a Jacob's Award in 1992. From there, he presented other programmes such as Soundbyte before he took over as host of Liveline in 1998. In 2013, he was inducted into the PPI Hall of Fame and won various IMRO Awards, and has also hosted various television programmes — including Liveline Callback and The Meaning of Life, which he took over from Gay Byrne. Joe and his wife June, welcomed triplets Ronan, Sean and Ellen into the world in 1995. Pic: Collins While attending Trinity College, Joe met June Meehan — with the couple marrying and going on to have triplets in 1995. Yep. Joe said that he didn't realise they were having such an amount of children until a few weeks before their births, telling RSVP: 'I had three children at the same time back in 1995, I had three children, about 15 different theories about parenting. Joe Duffy with his wife June. Pic: VIP Ireland 'I was a qualified family therapist and social worker, that is what I did in university. [But] you make it up as you go along, you can't play god, and you make it up as you go along. You also realise that even though they were completely disinterested at the time, they remember the places you brought them and the stories you told them over the years.' It will be the end of an era this June when Joe presents his final episode of Liveline. Pic: RTE On Thursday, May 8, Joe announced that he was leaving Liveline, with his final show to air on June 27. '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. '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 during the Liveline Christmas special in 2001. Pic: RTÉ '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. 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.' Kevin Bakhurst, RTÉ Director General, paid tribute to Joe following his announcement, saying '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 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.'
Extra.ie
4 days ago
- General
- Extra.ie
Kayakers who saved dog following fall from Dublin cliff 'delighted' after Liveline appeal
A pair of kayakers have recalled how they were 'delighted' to hear the dog they saved following a fall from the cliff had survived following a radio appeal earlier in the week. Anne Lynch shared how she had been walking along the cliffs of Howth with her dogs Rollie and Sugar in March when she turned a bend and was unable to see her Pomeranian, who had been a bit ahead of her. On learning that Rollie had gone over the cliff, Anne looked over to see if she could find her pup and then spotted four kayakers who came to the dog's rescue. Anne Lynch shared how she had been walking along the cliffs of Howth with her dogs Rollie and Sugar in March when she turned a bend and was unable to see her Pomeranian, who had been a bit ahead of her. Pic: Liveline/X Making an appeal on RTÉ Radio 1's Liveline during the week, Anne said: 'We just want to say to [the kayakers], we just want to apologise for not getting their names or numbers, but let them know that Rollie is safe, and you saved his life.' On Thursday, presenter Joe Duffy spoke to two of the kayakers, Jeff Doherty and Tommy Daly, who explained that they had been out for a paddle when they saw some people (Anne and her friends) hailing them from the shoreline. Jeff detailed how they had thought the people were saying hello first, but quickly realised there was something wrong. Rollie from Sutton who is recovering from falling off a cliff at Howth… His owner, Anne, is desperate to find the kayakers that saved him… 0818 715 815 if you know who it is! — Liveline (@rteliveline) May 27, 2025 'Anne and her friends were shouting to us could we see a dog that had fallen,' Jeff shared, 'We couldn't until we got quite close. At that point, I could see a dog not moving.' The kayaker managed to get over to Rollie, who was 'lying motionless but conscious [with] a bit of blood around his face.' Jeff brought Rollie to Tommy, with the kayakers then managing to inform Anne they needed a vet and would meet them at the shoreline. 'I was delighted to hear yesterday, or the day before, that he'd survived,' Jeff told Joe, 'It really was good news because he'd looked like he was in a bad way. He was totally in shock.' Tommy added that they hadn't known what the outcome was until the radio appeal made earlier in the week. 'I'd say he fell off higher than the top balcony of a block of flats.'
Irish Daily Mirror
5 days ago
- Health
- Irish Daily Mirror
Sligo-based doctor loses nine nieces and nephews in Israeli airstrike on Gaza
A Sligo-based doctor has spoken of his devastation after his nine nieces and nephews were wiped out in an Israeli airstrike in Gaza. Dr. Ali Al Najjar, who works as a paediatrician in Sligo University Hospital, has been left heartbroken after nearly all of his sister Dr Alaa al-Najjar's immediate family were killed. Dr Alaa Al-Najjar was at work at the Nasser medical complex at the time of the attack. One of her sons survived while her husband Dr Hamdi al-Najjar is still fighting for his life. Tragically, just hours after saying goodbye - seven out of her 10 children's bodies arrived at the hospital where she was working. The body of her youngest child, six-month-old Sayden, remains under the rubble since the deadly airstrike, which targeted the neighbourhood of Khan Younis on Friday, May 23. Dr Al Najjar said he was like a 'mad person' trying to find out information about the missile attack after hearing about it. He said it's incredibly difficult to make contact with relatives in Gaza and said that before Friday's attack - he last spoke with his sister around three weeks ago. Speaking about that conversation, Dr Al Najjar recalled: 'She was describing how life is like while she walks among the rubble. 'She usually walks as her eyes stare at the sky. Because every building she looks at carries out its own special memory." Speaking on RTÉ's Liveline, he added: 'All you'd be looking at is rumble, dismantled, destroyed houses, buildings - we have memories with every single thing you see around you. 'I remember specifically she said I don't know what life is about at your side - we believe that we are already experiencing what doomsday is.' Devastatingly, Dr Al Najjar said his sister has told him that when Gazans greet each other on the street they say goodbye as most feel like they're on a 'waiting list' to die. He explained: 'Every moment, she tells me, when I meet or greet anybody on the street, we'll always be saying farewell or goodbye - we never know when we're going to meet again. Everybody is expecting his moment at any time.' Dr Al Najjar said up until the airstrike, his sister was constantly telling her children to remain positive in spite of the bombardment. He said global outrage and particularly condemnation from within the Jewish community gives him hope 'that one day this nightmare will end'. But he said the government needs to do more to put pressure on Israel to stop the attacks. He added: 'Has (humanity) done enough that what is happening in Gaza won't be repeated again?'
The Journal
5 days ago
- Health
- The Journal
Sligo-based brother of woman who lost nine kids in Gaza speaks out as fundraiser launched
THE SLIGO-BASED BROTHER of a woman in Gaza who lost nine of her children in an Israeli air strike has described the moment he learned of their deaths. Dr Ali Al Najjar has been working in Sligo University Hospital since 2020, and he spoke to Joe Duffy on RTÉ Radio 1′s Liveline this afternoon about his sister Alaa's loss. Alaa is a doctor at Nasser Hospital in Khan Yunis, southern Gaza. The tragedy that befell her last Friday made headlines around the world after the strike on her home killed nine of her ten children while she was at work. Her husband Hamdi remains in critical condition. These are the children of Dr. Alaa and Dr. Hamdi Al Najjar. 9 of their 10 children were killed in an Israeli air strike in southern Gaza. Gaza's Civil Defence teams published video showing their charred bodies getting recovered from the under the rubble. — Hamdah Salhut (@hamdahsalhut) May 24, 2025 He said he had been dreading that something like this could happen ever since the IDF bombardment of Gaza began in October 2023. 'My heart has been probably displaced from where it used to be,' Dr Ali said. 'You are always connected to the media, and watching the news every minute, just hoping that you won't be reading about one of your relatives.' Advertisement He described the moment he found out that all but one of his sister's children had died in the IDF attack on the family home. 'I was sitting next to my brother and and… he was watching a video. 'I recognised a voice in that in that video. So I jumped [up] immediately and looked at the picture, the horrible picture of child bodies being pulled out from the rubble, and those were her kids.' He said he could also see her husband's brother holding her back as she sshouted 'my love, my love' to one of her deceased children as they were carried out of the rubble. He said that communication with Alaa has been 'desperate' in the days since the tragedy due to substandard communication in and out of Gaza. 'She doesn't have WhatsApp. She has a phone that belongs to one of our cousins. I can't communicate with her through WhatsApp', adding: 'It's the story that everybody living in Gaza at the moment is experiencing difficulty of communication is a nightmare by itself.' A GoFundMe fundraiser has been set up by Dr Ali's colleagues at Sligo University Hospital in the hope of raising funds for his bereaved sister and her remaining family left in Gaza. 'His sister, Dr. Alaa Al Najjar, a paediatrician had left for work when 9 out of 10 of her children were brutally murdered,' his colleagues wrote in the GoFundMe page description. They added: 'If there is anything you can spare, we ask you to consider donating so we can support Ali in some small way during this horrific time.' The fundraiser has collected almost €25,000 in donations so far. Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
RTÉ News
5 days ago
- Health
- RTÉ News
Sligo doctor says "heart has been displaced" after losing nieces and nephews in Gaza strike
A doctor living in Sligo who lost nine nieces and nephews in an Israeli strike on Gaza last Friday has said his "heart has been displaced". Dr Ali Al-Najjar has worked at Sligo University Hospital for the past six years. His sister Dr Alaa Al-Najjar is a paediatrician in Khan Younis. An Israeli airstrike hit her home after she had left for work at Nasser Hospital, killing nine of her ten children. Alaa's husband, Hamdi Al-Najjar, who is also a doctor, is in critical condition while her only surviving son Adam is seriously injured. Speaking to Liveline on RTÉ Radio 1 from Saudi Arabia, Ali described his sister as "the most resilient person I've ever met" and said she is now spending all her time with her husband and son in the hospital. "They have no home to return back to, the building was levelled to the floor," he said. "You are always connected to the media and watching the news every minute, hoping you won't be reading about one of your relatives. But every life that has been lost is related to me, we are all human, we are all the same." Ali recalled seeing the news unfold on social media: "The horrible pictures of charred bodies being pulled from the rubble, and they were her kids." Ali said he would keep in touch with Alaa when they could overcome difficulties in communication such as lack of electricity and internet in Gaza. He said she recently described life there as "experiencing what doomsday is". Staff at Sligo University Hospital have been fundraising for Ali's family in Gaza. A post on GoFundMe describes him as "a valuable member of our team here in Sligo University Hospital" who has "greatly contributed to the wider Sligo community."
