Trinity alumnus and former president of Trinity College Dublin Students’ Union (TCDSU) Joe Duffy has announced his retirement from RTÉ after 37 years.
The longtime broadcaster confirmed today that he will host Liveline, which he has hosted on RTÉ Radio 1 since 1998, for the final time on Friday, June 27.
“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.”
Duffy enrolled in Trinity in 1977 to study social work and was elected president of TCDSU in 1979. He later went on to be president of the national union, the Union of Students in Ireland (USI).
During his tenure as president of USI, he spent a short time in Mountjoy Prison for an occupation in which he had participated.
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, before going on to serve 27 years as the host of Liveline.
He will appear as Patrick Kielty’s special guest on The Late Late Show tomorrow night.
The new host of Liveline will be announced in the autumn. Duffy is expected to participate in RTÉ’s 100th anniversary celebrations in 2026 according to the public broadcaster.
