Mary Kennedy ( ga, Máire Ní Chinnéide; born 4 October 1954) is an Irish television personality and former newscaster, and writer. She presented the Eurovision Song Contest 1995 from the Point Theatre in Dublin. She has also presented her own Saturday night chat show called ''

Kennedy Kennedy may refer to: People * John F. Kennedy (1917–1963), 35th president of the United States * John Kennedy (Louisiana politician), (born 1951), US Senator from Louisiana * Kennedy (surname), a family name (including a list of persons with t ...

'', a precursor to ''

Saturday Night with Miriam ''Saturday Night with Miriam'' was a televised talk show first broadcast on RTÉ One in the summer of 2005. The show runs for six weeks as a summer filler, and is overseen by Miriam O'Callaghan, a co-presenter of '' Prime Time''. Format ''Sat ...

''. Kennedy was co-presenter of the magazine programme '' Open House'' with Marty Whelan. She has previously presented ''

Up for the Match ''Up for the Match'' is an Irish Gaelic games-themed variety show currently hosted by Des Cahill and Jacqui Hurley. The show is broadcast live in two editions each year on RTÉ One on the eve of the respective All-Ireland hurling and football ...

'' and the People of the Year Awards. She was co-presenter of '' Nationwide'' with

Anne Cassin Anne Cassin (born 1969) is an Irish journalist and news presenter working for Raidió Teilifís Éireann (RTÉ). Cassin began her broadcasting career working for Dublin pirate radio station Radio Nova in 1982, where she co-presented a nightly ne ...

until 2019, having been so for a time with

Michael Ryan Michael or Mike Ryan may refer to: Arts and entertainment * Michael M. Ryan (1929–2017), American actor best known for his role as John Randolph on ''Another World'' * Rocky Ryan or Michael Ryan (1937–2004), British media hoaxer * Michael R ...

Early life

Born in Clondalkin, Dublin, Kennedy was educated at Coláiste Bhríde in Clondalkin and University College Dublin, where she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts. She taught English in Brittany, France, before returning to her ''alma mater'' to teach Irish and English.

Broadcasting

Kennedy's broadcasting career started in 1978 when she applied for a job as

continuity announcer In broadcasting, continuity or presentation (or station break in the U.S. and Canada) is announcements, messages and graphics played by the broadcaster between specific programmes. It typically includes programme schedules, announcement of the ...

at RTÉ. She went on to join the

RTÉ News RTÉ News and Current Affairs ( ga, Nuacht agus Cúrsaí Reatha RTÉ), also known as RTÉ News (''Nuacht RTÉ''), is the national news service provided by Irish public broadcaster Raidió Teilifís Éireann. Its services include local, nationa ...

team, becoming a newscaster. She has also presented Eurovision Song Contest 1995, a Saturday night chat show called ''

'', and was co-presenter with Marty Whelan on the magazine programme '' Open House''. She presented ''

'' and the People of the Year Awards, until RTÉ replaced her in both jobs with a younger presenter,

Gráinne Seoige Gráinne Seoige (; born 5 November 1973) is an Irish journalist, news anchor and documentary and entertainment television presenter. A noted Irish language supporter, Seoige is the only television personality to have worked with all four Irish ...

. Kennedy began working as

's co-presenter on the RTÉ local affairs show '' Nationwide''. In April 2008, she commented on RTÉ television coverage of the state funeral of former President of Ireland Patrick Hillery. In May 2011, she fronted RTÉ television coverage of Queen Elizabeth II's visit to Ireland. She also provided commentary at the inauguration of the ninth President of Ireland, Michael D. Higgins. She has read the news on RTÉ Radio 1. She has been a judge at the

Rose of Tralee (The) Rose of Tralee may refer to: * Rose of Tralee (festival) The Rose of Tralee International Festival is an international event which is celebrated among Irish diaspora, Irish communities all over the world. The festival, held annually in ...

Writing

In 2003, Kennedy published her memoirs, titled ''Paper Tigers''. ''Lines I Love'' was shortlisted for an

Irish Book Award The Irish Book Awards are Irish literary awards given annually to books and authors in various categories. In 2018 An Post took over sponsorship of the awards from Bord Gais Energy. It is the only literary award supported by all-Irish bookstores. ...

. ''Lines for Living'' was published in 2011.

Personal life

Her niece, Clare, was the girlfriend of Garda Ciaran Jones, swept to his death in the River Liffey after he tried to help motorists during torrential rain in October 2011. Her nephew is singer-songwriter, Dermot Kennedy.

Awards

Kennedy was voted '' VIP'' magazine's "Most Stylish Woman in Ireland" in 2003. , - , 2003 , , Mary Kennedy , , "Most Stylish Woman in Ireland" ('' VIP'') , , , - , 2011 , , ''Lines I Love'' , ,

, , , -

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Kennedy, Mary 1954 births 20th-century Irish people 21st-century Irish people Living people Irish television talk show hosts Irish writers People from Clondalkin Rose of Tralee RTÉ newsreaders and journalists RTÉ television presenters Irish women writers Irish women radio presenters Irish women television presenters Irish women journalists Broadcasters from County Dublin