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Miriam O'Callaghan

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For the president of the Camogie Association, see Miriam O'Callaghan (camogie).

Miriam O'Callaghan
O'Callaghan in 2015 interview
Born (1960-01-06) 6 January 1960 (age 64)[disputed – discuss]
Foxrock, Dublin, Ireland
EducationLaw
Alma materUniversity College Dublin
EmployerRTÉ
Height5 ft 10 in (178 cm)[1][better source needed]
Spouse(s)Tom McGurk (1983–1995)
Steve Carson (2000–present)
Children8
RelativesJim O'Callaghan (brother)

Miriam O'Callaghan (born 6 January 1960)[disputed – discuss][2][dead link‍][3] is an Irish television current affairs presenter with RTÉ.

O'Callaghan has presented Prime Time since 1996, and her own summer talk show, Saturday Night with Miriam, from 2005 onwards. In the summer of 2009, she began a radio show, Miriam Meets..., since replaced by live show Sunday with Miriam. She is also the first woman to present a full episode of The Late Late Show.

Early life

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O'Callaghan received her Bachelor of Civil Law in 1979 and a Diploma in European Law in 1981.[4]

Her brother Jim is a member of the Fianna Fáil leadership team and a barrister.[5][6] A sister, Anne, had cancer and died aged 33.[7]

British career

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She worked for the BBC before returning to Ireland.[8]

RTÉ career

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She was hired by RTÉ and returned to Ireland in 1993 to present Marketplace, an economics and business programme. She juggled working with the BBC and RTÉ at the same time and also worked on the debut series of the ITV show Tonight with Trevor MacDonald. From 1996, RTÉ secured her services exclusively as the presenter of Prime Time.[citation needed]

In 2005, she began the first series of her own summer talk show, Saturday Night with Miriam. O'Callaghan made her debut as a radio presenter on 11 July 2009 on the programme, Miriam Meets, to run for eight weeks.[9][10] It was confirmed in August 2009 that the programme would return permanently to RTÉ Radio 1 on Sunday mornings.[11] In 2013, she stood in as a long-term replacement on RTÉ Radio One in the daily morning slot from 9 am to 10 am when presenter John Murray was on extended sick leave. After this she was given a new live Sunday morning radio show on RTÉ Radio One from 10 am until 11 am.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, she hosted The Late Late Show when Ryan Tubridy was unavailable. She was the first female presenter of a full episode of the show (Marian Finucane having presented part of an episode on 15 November 1980).[12][13]

Earnings

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She earned €307,000 in 2011.[14] Her work that year included fronting RTÉ's coverage of Queen Elizabeth II's state visit to the Republic of Ireland in May 2011,[15] and hosting the 12 October 2011 Prime Time TV debate with the seven candidates standing in the 2011 Irish presidential election.[16] Her treatment of Martin McGuinness resulted in more than 100 complaints to RTÉ.[17] She also did RTÉ's 50th anniversary party on New Year's Eve 2011, attended by President of Ireland Michael D. Higgins and Jedward.[18][19]

Marriages and children

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O'Callaghan married her first husband in 1983 and they separated in 1995 after having four daughters.[20] She met her second husband, Steve Carson, while working on Newsnight. In 2000, they married and set up their own television company, Mint Productions.[21] She has four sons with Carson.[20]

Awards

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In 2003, she won the Television Personality of the Year Award at the Irish Film and Television Awards.[22]

She was awarded an honorary Doctor of Letters (D.Litt.) degree by the University of Ulster in Derry on 5 July 2011.[23]

In June 2017 she was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Laws by University College Cork.

She has won the RTÉ Guide Style Award.[24]

In 2015, she was awarded UCD Alumnus of the Year in Law.[4]

References

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  1. ^ "Biography". Miriam O'Callaghan.
  2. ^ "Miriam O'Callaghan, Gráinne Seoige and Kathryn Thomas (2011)". RTÉ Libraries and Archives. Retrieved 2 January 2012.
  3. ^ "'I'm not 50 just yet, but who cares anyway?'". Evening Herald. 10 February 2010. Archived from the original on 2 August 2012.
  4. ^ a b "MIRIAM O'CALLAGHAN". UCD Alumni Awards. Retrieved 3 September 2022.
  5. ^ "Tubridy told to stay away from his political brother". The Belfast Telegraph. 18 May 2009. Archived from the original on 21 July 2012.
  6. ^ "Fianna Fáil's negotiating team for government talks revealed". The Irish Times. 12 March 2016. Although a new Deputy, Mr O'Callaghan has been a member of the Fianna Fáil leadership team over the past five years in his role as the party's legal adviser.
  7. ^ Bielenberg, Kim. "The broadcaster talks to Kim Bielenberg about the highs and lows of social media, missing out on the Late Late Show gig and those RTÉ leaving party photos". Irish Independent. 19 June 2021.
  8. ^ "Would I go back to the BBC? Never say never says much in demand Miriam O'Callaghan". Irish Independent. 9 August 2012.
  9. ^ "O'Callaghan to present radio show". RTÉ. 10 June 2009.
  10. ^ "No babies or pressure to look good makes radio right for Miriam". The Irish Times. 10 June 2009.
  11. ^ "O'Callaghan back on Sunday morning". The Irish Times. 17 August 2009.
  12. ^ "'I just wanted to get it right' - Miriam O'Callaghan on being Ireland's first female Late Late presenter". independent. Retrieved 3 April 2020.
  13. ^ "Marian Finucane Steps up". RTÉ.ie.
  14. ^ O'Connell, Hugh (27 March 2013). "RTÉ reveals stars' salaries: Ryan Tubridy was paid €723,000 in 2011, according to figures released by the State broadcaster this evening". TheJournal.ie. Archived from the original on 2 March 2015.
  15. ^ Keane, Kevin (14 May 2011). "Broadcasters roll out big guns for visit". Irish Independent.
  16. ^ "Miriam O'Callaghan ready for 'challenge'". RTÉ News. 12 October 2011. Archived from the original on 13 October 2011.
  17. ^ "RTÉ treatment of McGuinness generates over 100 complaints". The Irish Times. 14 October 2011. Archived from the original on 14 October 2011.
  18. ^ Sweeney, Ken (12 November 2011). "Miriam ringing in the new as she hosts RTÉ's 50th anniversary TV bash". Irish Independent.
  19. ^ "RTÉ announces Christmas highlights". RTÉ. 28 November 2011.
  20. ^ a b "Miriam 'over the moon' at having baby number eight at age of 44". Irish Independent. 25 September 2005.
  21. ^ Site hosted by IE Internet
  22. ^ "RTÉ's Mooney nominated for TV award". RTÉ. 25 August 2004.
  23. ^ "University honours Miriam O'Callaghan". RTÉ. 5 July 2011.
  24. ^ "Style-winner Miriam 'does not wake up wondering what to wear'". Irish Independent. 25 November 2012.
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