Fred O'Donovan (1930 – 14 May 2010) was an Irish theatre producer and businessman. O'Donovan served as Chairman of the RTÉ Authority between 1981 and 1985. He was a co-founder of the

Irish Cancer Society The Irish Cancer Society (formerly known as the Conquer Cancer Campaign) is the national charity in Ireland dedicated to eliminating cancer as a major health problem, and improving the lives of those who have cancer. History Foundation of th ...

with Austin Darragh, an achievement he expressed his fondness for before he died.

Career

O'Donovan was born in

Fairview, Dublin Fairview () is an inner coastal suburb of Dublin in Republic of Ireland, Ireland, in the jurisdiction of Dublin City Council and in the city's Dublin 3, D03 postal district. Part of the area forms Fairview Park, a recreational amenity laid out o ...

. In 1948 he was working for the

Royal Air Force The Royal Air Force (RAF) is the Air force, air and space force of the United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies. It was formed towards the end of the World War I, First World War on 1 April 1918, on the merger of t ...

when he caught

tuberculosis Tuberculosis (TB), also known colloquially as the "white death", or historically as consumption, is a contagious disease usually caused by ''Mycobacterium tuberculosis'' (MTB) bacteria. Tuberculosis generally affects the lungs, but it can al ...

and was told by Swiss medical professionals that he would be dead within the year. He survived. Whilst working with the RAF he developed his first taste for showbiz after producing a

Paul Robeson Paul Leroy Robeson ( ; April 9, 1898 – January 23, 1976) was an American bass-baritone concert artist, actor, professional American football, football player, and activist who became famous both for his cultural accomplishments and for h ...

show at

Long Kesh Long may refer to: Measurement * Long, characteristic of something of great duration * Long, characteristic of something of great length * Longitude (abbreviation: long.), a geographic coordinate * Longa (music), note value in early music mens ...

, intended to entertain the military personnel. "It made me realise what a wonderful business it was", he later recalled. Back in Ireland, he took up jobs in radio and theatre, beginning his new career as an assistant stage manager in the theatre, a position he described as "the lowest form of life". Whilst working on a 1955 production of '' The Bishop's Bonfire'' he commenced a close personal relationship with

Seán O'Casey Seán O'Casey ( ; born John Casey; 30 March 1880 – 18 September 1964) was an Irish dramatist and memoirist. A committed socialist, he was the first Irish playwright of note to write about the Dublin working classes. Early life O'Casey was ...

over the telephone, recalling in later life that "I learned more from O'Casey on the phone than anybody". O'Donovan embarked on a trip to London to meet

George Bernard Shaw George Bernard Shaw (26 July 1856 – 2 November 1950), known at his insistence as Bernard Shaw, was an Irish playwright, critic, polemicist and political activist. His influence on Western theatre, culture and politics extended from the 188 ...

with the intention of having his royalty fee decreased; he was refused. He produced ''

The Ed Sullivan Show ''The Ed Sullivan Show'' is an American television variety show that ran on CBS from June 20, 1948, to March 28, 1971, and was hosted by New York City, New York entertainment columnist Ed Sullivan. It was replaced in September 1971 by the ''CB ...

'' when it visited Ireland, insisting on the use of Irish artists, including

Maureen Potter Maria Philomena Potter (3 January 1925 – 7 April 2004), known as Maureen Potter, was an Irish singer, actress, comedienne and performer. Early life Potter was born in Dublin and educated at St. Mary's school in Fairview. She had a long caree ...

, who received a career boost from the experience. O'Donovan joined the Irish Theatre Company in the 1970s and achieved recognition as the producer of variety show '' Gaels of Laughter'', which featured Maureen Potter and was performed at Dublin's Gaiety Theatre. ''Gaels of Laughter'' returned to the Gaiety Theatre for a one-night tribute show to O'Donovan on 25 January 2010, with

Gay Byrne Gabriel Mary Byrne (5 August 1934 – 4 November 2019) was an Irish presenter and host of radio and television. His most notable role was as the first host of '' The Late Late Show'' over a 37-year period spanning 1962 until 1999. ''The Late La ...

as host and John McColgan as producer. Other production credits include several Christmas pantomimes, ''Jury's Irish Cabaret'', ''The Jack Benny Show'' and ''

Juno and the Paycock ''Juno and the Paycock'' is a play by Seán O'Casey. Highly regarded and often performed in Ireland, it was first staged at the Abbey Theatre in Dublin in 1924. It is set in the working-class tenements of Dublin in the early 1920s, during the I ...

'', which featured

Peter O'Toole Peter Seamus O'Toole (; 2 August 1932 – 14 December 2013) was an English actor known for his leading roles on stage and screen. His numerous accolades include the Academy Honorary Award, a BAFTA Award, a Primetime Emmy Award, and four Golde ...

Siobhán McKenna Siobhán McKenna (; 24 May 1922 – 16 November 1986) was an Irish stage and screen actress. Early life She was born Siobhán Giollamhuire Nic Cionnaith in Belfast in the newly created Northern Ireland into a Catholic and nationalist family. ...

and

Jack MacGowran John Joseph MacGowran (13 October 1918 – 30 January 1973) was an Irish actor. He was known for being one of the foremost stage interpreters of the work of Samuel Beckett and Seán O'Casey. He was also known to film audiences for his roles as ...

. He was the

National Concert Hall The National Concert Hall (NCH) (An Ceoláras Náisiúnta) is a national cultural institution, sometimes described as "the home of music in Ireland". It comprises the actual concert hall operation, which in various chambers hosts over 1,000 ...

's chairman from its opening in 1981 and was a member of the

Independent Radio and Television Commission Independent or Independents may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Artist groups * Independents (artist group), a group of modernist painters based in Pennsylvania, United States * Independentes (English: Independents), a Portuguese artist ...

from its beginnings. He was also a business partner of

Denis O'Brien Denis O'Brien (born 19 April 1958) is an Irish billionaire businessman, and the founder and owner of Digicel. He was listed among the World's Top 200 Billionaires in 2015 and was Ireland's richest native-born citizen for several years. His bus ...

for a period of time until the two fell out. On 23 January 2010, in an interview with Fiona McCann for ''

The Irish Times ''The Irish Times'' is an Irish daily broadsheet newspaper and online digital publication. It was launched on 29 March 1859. The editor is Ruadhán Mac Cormaic. It is published every day except Sundays. ''The Irish Times'' is Ireland's leading n ...

'', he vowed never to write a memoir, though admitted making an attempt only for former

taoiseach The Taoiseach (, ) is the head of government or prime minister of Republic of Ireland, Ireland. The office is appointed by the President of Ireland upon nomination by Dáil Éireann (the lower house of the Oireachtas, Ireland's national legisl ...

Charles Haughey Charles James Haughey (; 16 September 1925 – 13 June 2006) was an Irish Fianna Fáil politician who led four governments as Taoiseach: December 1979 to June 1981, March to December 1982, March 1987 to June 1989, and June 1989 to February 1992 ...

to "put me off". He ominously expressed his disbelief that he had made it to his eightieth year — "I can't get used to the fact that I'm alive", he remarked, whilst reflecting on his previous near brush with death. O'Donovan died at the age of 80. Tributes came from people including

Gate Theatre The Gate Theatre is a theatre on Cavendish Row in Dublin, Ireland. It was founded in 1928. History Beginnings The Gate Theatre was founded in 1928 by Hilton Edwards and Micheál MacLiammóir with Daisy Bannard Cogley and Gearóid Ó Lochla ...

director Michael Colgan, veteran broadcaster

, and Tom Savage, who was RTÉ Authority chairman at the time of his death.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Odonovan, Fred 1930 births 2010 deaths Irish theatre managers and producers Theatre people from Dublin (city) RTÉ executives People educated at St Joseph's, Fairview