Joe Duffy announces RTÉ retirement

Joe Duffy has confirmed his retirement from RTÉ after 37 years with the state broadcaster.

The final episode of Liveline will air on Friday, June 27th.

Duffy said, “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.”

“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. 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.”

The Ballyfermot man shot to prominence after serving as a reporter on the Gay Byrne Show and hosted Soundbyte, before making his name as the host of Liveline in 1998.

The program regularly tops listenership polls, with the show attracting listenership around the 400,000 mark.

A staple of Irish radio, the show has attracted acclaim for it’s role in breaking major news stories, offering the average person the chance to share their views or simply let off some steam.

Outside of radio, Duffy has also hosted television shows such as The Meaning Of Life and Liveline Callback where he recalls some of the show’s greatest hits.

In 2013, Duffy was inducted into the PPI Hall Of Fame.

Kevin Bakhurst, Director-General, RTÉ, said “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.”

“Joe Duffy is an icon of broadcasting, and will be hugely missed by his listeners, his colleagues, and all who picked up the phone to the nation’s hotline. I’d like to wish Joe all our best for his retirement and extend my warmest wishes to June and to Joe’s family. He might be hanging up on the Liveline, but our loss is surely his family’s most welcome gain,” he said.