RTÉ News: Joe Duffy to hang up Liveline mic after 27 years

Story from RTÉ News:

Joe Duffy is retiring from RTÉ after 37 years, signing off as one of the most enduring and influential voices in Irish media.

The veteran presenter confirmed on air today that his final Liveline will air on Friday, 27 June.

He has hosted the hugely popular RTÉ Radio 1 programme since 1998, giving voice to listeners for over a quarter of a century.

"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," Duffy 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."

He added: "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."

Born in Mountjoy Square and raised in Ballyfermot, Duffy became one of the first from his area to attend Trinity College, where he studied social work and became president of the Union of Students in Ireland.

His activism led to his arrest and a short spell in Mountjoy Prison during protests over access to education.

After working in the probation service, he joined RTÉ as a radio producer in 1989 and rose to prominence as a reporter on The Gay Byrne Show. He went on to host Soundbyte and Liveline Callback, and later fronted the acclaimed television series The Meaning of Life.

Under his stewardship, Liveline became a national institution, known for emotional honesty, investigative tenacity and human connection. The show frequently attracts more than 400,000 listeners.

RTÉ Director General Kevin Bakhurst described Duffy as "an icon of broadcasting" and said: "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 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."

Patricia Monahan, RTÉ’s Director of Audio, added: "Joe’s ability to connect with listeners, to create a safe place for them to discuss both difficult and light-hearted topics - and most importantly to listen to and hear them - is unique. Our airwaves will be lesser without him."

Duffy has also earned acclaim for his writing, including his autobiography Just Joe and the award-winning history books Children of the Rising and Children of the Troubles (with Freya McClements). His broadcasting accolades include a Jacob’s Award and an induction into the Phonographic Performance Ireland (PPI) Radio Awards Hall of Fame.

He will appear as Patrick Kielty’s special guest on The Late Late Show tomorrow night, marking his broadcasting milestone.

RTÉ has said it will "run a process over the coming months" to appoint Duffy's successor, with an announcement expected in the autumn.

The broadcaster is expected to contribute to RTÉ’s 100th anniversary commemorations in 2026.