Alan Cantwell (born 1968) is an

Irish Irish may refer to: Common meanings * Someone or something of, from, or related to: ** Ireland, an island situated off the north-western coast of continental Europe ***Éire, Irish language name for the isle ** Northern Ireland, a constituent unit ...

journalist A journalist is an individual that collects/gathers information in form of text, audio, or pictures, processes them into a news-worthy form, and disseminates it to the public. The act or process mainly done by the journalist is called journalism ...

presenter A presenter is a person or organization responsible for the running of a public event, or someone who conveys information on media via a broadcasting outlet. Presenter may refer to: People * News presenter, person who presents news during a new ...

and newsreader, best known as the former anchor of ''

TV3 News at 5.30 ''Virgin Media News at 5.30'' is the flagship evening news programme on the Republic of Ireland, Irish television network Virgin Media One (formerly known as "TV3"). It is produced by the Virgin Media News division. Presented by main news anch ...

'' and later the 5.30.

Career

Cantwell began his broadcasting career at the age of seventeen working in

pirate radio Pirate radio or a pirate radio station is a radio station that broadcasts without a valid license. In some cases, radio stations are considered legal where the signal is transmitted, but illegal where the signals are received—especially w ...

in Dublin. He spent a number of years working with Capitol Radio under the pseudonym of Dave Carney. He later joined legitimate radio when he moved to

Clare FM Clare FM is an Irish radio station which broadcasts to County Clare and the surrounding areas. The station has won many Irish radio awards. Clare FM broadcasts on frequencies 95 - 96FM including 95.2, 95.5, 95.9, 96.4 & 96.6. In the past, it al ...

in the early 1990s. He spent five years here as head of news and current affairs. He subsequently became editor-in-chief of Independent Network News (INN) in Dublin. He later joined

98FM 98FM is a local radio station in Dublin, Ireland, operated by Bauer Media Audio Ireland, under a sound broadcasting contract from the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland. The station broadcasts on the 98.1 MHz FM frequency. 98FM's broadcas ...

as host of a popular late-night chat show. In 1998 Cantwell joined

TV3 Channel 3 or TV 3 may refer to: Television *Canal 3 (Burkina Faso), a commercial television channel in Burkina Faso *Canal 3 (Guatemala), a commercial television channel in Guatemala *Channel 3 (Algeria), a public Algerian TV channel owned by EPTV ...

when the new station launched in September that year. Since then he has been the station's lead male newsreader. When TV3 launched ''

Midday Noon (or midday) is 12 12-hour clock, o'clock in the daytime. It is written as 12 noon, 12:00 m. (for 12-hour clock, meridiem, literally 12:00 noon), 12 p.m. (for 12-hour clock, post meridiem, literally "after noon"), 12 pm, or 12:00 (using a 24 ...

'' in 2008, Cantwell was included as one of the presenters along with

Colette Fitzpatrick Colette Fitzpatrick (born June 1974) is one of the main news anchors at Virgin Media News (formerly known as "TV3 News"), since September 2006. She is a native of Holycross, Thurles, County Tipperary.("Colette, 31, from Thurles, Co Tipperary") ...

and Martin King. His stint in this role proved controversial and earned him the nickname "Alan Rantwell"; he was dropped from the programme after just a year as presenter. His removal was part of a wider shake-up of the programme. In May 2011, Cantwell fronted TV3's television coverage of

Queen Elizabeth II's visit to the Republic of Ireland Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and her husband Prince Philip made a state visit to the Republic of Ireland from 17 to 20 May 2011, at the invitation of the President of Ireland, Mary McAleese. It wa ...

. On 22 November 2012, Cantwell announced that he is to leave TV3 and he subsequently resigned from his position as TV3 news anchor on 4 January 2013. On 28 November 2012, he was startled live on air by a loud noise which visibly shook him. In October 2015 it was announced that Cantwell would be returning to the station after a two-year absence. In May 2016 Cantwell resigned from TV3 again, to take up the post of press advisor to Mary Mitchell O'Connor after the Dún Laoghaire TD was appointed to Cabinet as jobs minister. In November 2016 it was announced he was resigning, citing “personal reasons”.

Personal life

Cantwell is married and has two children.

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Cantwell, Alan 1968 births Living people People from Dún Laoghaire Virgin Media News newsreaders and journalists Broadcasters from County Dublin