Cathal O'Shannon (TV presenter)
Encyclopedia
Cathal O'Shannon was an Irish
journalist and television presenter. He was a former journalist with The Irish Times
newspaper and a former TV reporter and presenter for RTÉ. He was probably best-known for presenting documentaries
on Irish history, produced mainly for Irish television viewers and broadcast by RTÉ.
On 12 January 2007, after producing his most recent documentary, he stated that he had fully retired
. In a 2008 television documentary he "outed himself as a serial womaniser who cheated repeatedly on his wife". He was awarded lifetime membership of the Irish Film & Television Academy in 2010 when he said it was "particularly gratifying that it occurs before I pop my clogs
". He died the following year.
, an Irish socialist and republican.
As a 16-year old he joined the RAF in Belfast near the end of the Second World War and travelled to Burma, when he was aged sixteen. He was stationed in Burma, operating as a rear gunner on Lancaster bombers, but saw little action.
His wife, Patsy, whom he met while working for The Irish Times in London, died in 2006. They had been married for more than 50 years.
in 1947. Later he joined RTÉ. In 1972 O' Shannon recorded one of his best remembered journalistic coups - interviewing Muhammad Ali
, the famous boxer
, for Irish television. He made a 1976 documentary film, Even the Olives are Bleeding, on the involvement of Irish volunteers
in the Spanish Civil War
.
In January 2007, his documentary, Hidden History: Ireland's Nazis, was broadcast by RTÉ as a two-part series. It explored how a small number of former Nazis and Nazi collaborators from Occupied Europe went to live in the Republic of Ireland
after the Second World War— the best known of whom was Otto Skorzeny
, who lived for a period in County Kildare
. Others included such Breton nationalists as Alan Heusaff
, Yann Fouéré
and Yann Goulet
, as well as two Belgians, Albert Folens
and Albert Luykx
.
Director-General of RTÉ
Noel Curran
said O'Shannon had brought into being "some of the great moments in the RTÉ documentary and factual schedule over the past five decades." His funeral took place at Glasnevin Crematorium Chapel on 26 October 2011.
In tribute, RTÉ One
showed the documentary Cathal O'Shannon: Telling Tales on 10 November 2011. It had originally aired in 2008 to mark his 80th birthday.
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
journalist and television presenter. He was a former journalist with The Irish Times
The Irish Times
The Irish Times is an Irish daily broadsheet newspaper launched on 29 March 1859. The editor is Kevin O'Sullivan who succeeded Geraldine Kennedy in 2011; the deputy editor is Paul O'Neill. The Irish Times is considered to be Ireland's newspaper of record, and is published every day except Sundays...
newspaper and a former TV reporter and presenter for RTÉ. He was probably best-known for presenting documentaries
Documentary film
Documentary films constitute a broad category of nonfictional motion pictures intended to document some aspect of reality, primarily for the purposes of instruction or maintaining a historical record...
on Irish history, produced mainly for Irish television viewers and broadcast by RTÉ.
On 12 January 2007, after producing his most recent documentary, he stated that he had fully retired
Retirement
Retirement is the point where a person stops employment completely. A person may also semi-retire by reducing work hours.Many people choose to retire when they are eligible for private or public pension benefits, although some are forced to retire when physical conditions don't allow the person to...
. In a 2008 television documentary he "outed himself as a serial womaniser who cheated repeatedly on his wife". He was awarded lifetime membership of the Irish Film & Television Academy in 2010 when he said it was "particularly gratifying that it occurs before I pop my clogs
Death
Death is the permanent termination of the biological functions that sustain a living organism. Phenomena which commonly bring about death include old age, predation, malnutrition, disease, and accidents or trauma resulting in terminal injury....
". He died the following year.
Early life and private life
O'Shannon grew up in Dublin, the son of Cathal O'Shannon (Sr.)Cathal O'Shannon
Cathal O'Shannon was an Irish politician, trade unionist and journalist.Born in Randalstown, County Antrim, he was educated at St. Columb's College, Derry. He became a member of the Irish Republican Brotherhood and was involved in Conradh na Gaeilge, writing articles for the Peasant, Sinn Féin...
, an Irish socialist and republican.
As a 16-year old he joined the RAF in Belfast near the end of the Second World War and travelled to Burma, when he was aged sixteen. He was stationed in Burma, operating as a rear gunner on Lancaster bombers, but saw little action.
His wife, Patsy, whom he met while working for The Irish Times in London, died in 2006. They had been married for more than 50 years.
Media career
O'Shannon first became a journalist with The Irish TimesThe Irish Times
The Irish Times is an Irish daily broadsheet newspaper launched on 29 March 1859. The editor is Kevin O'Sullivan who succeeded Geraldine Kennedy in 2011; the deputy editor is Paul O'Neill. The Irish Times is considered to be Ireland's newspaper of record, and is published every day except Sundays...
in 1947. Later he joined RTÉ. In 1972 O' Shannon recorded one of his best remembered journalistic coups - interviewing Muhammad Ali
Muhammad Ali
Muhammad Ali is an American former professional boxer, philanthropist and social activist...
, the famous boxer
Boxing
Boxing, also called pugilism, is a combat sport in which two people fight each other using their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee over a series of between one to three minute intervals called rounds...
, for Irish television. He made a 1976 documentary film, Even the Olives are Bleeding, on the involvement of Irish volunteers
Connolly Column
The Connolly Column was the name given to the Irish volunteers who fought for the Second Spanish Republic in the International Brigades during the Spanish Civil War. They were named after James Connolly, the executed leader of the Irish Citizen Army...
in the Spanish Civil War
Spanish Civil War
The Spanish Civil WarAlso known as The Crusade among Nationalists, the Fourth Carlist War among Carlists, and The Rebellion or Uprising among Republicans. was a major conflict fought in Spain from 17 July 1936 to 1 April 1939...
.
In January 2007, his documentary, Hidden History: Ireland's Nazis, was broadcast by RTÉ as a two-part series. It explored how a small number of former Nazis and Nazi collaborators from Occupied Europe went to live in the Republic of Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
after the Second World War— the best known of whom was Otto Skorzeny
Otto Skorzeny
Otto Skorzeny was an SS-Obersturmbannführer in the German Waffen-SS during World War II. After fighting on the Eastern Front, he was chosen as the field commander to carry out the rescue mission that freed the deposed Italian dictator Benito Mussolini from captivity...
, who lived for a period in County Kildare
County Kildare
County Kildare is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Mid-East Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the town of Kildare. Kildare County Council is the local authority for the county...
. Others included such Breton nationalists as Alan Heusaff
Alan Heusaff
Alan Heusaff, also Alan Heussaff was a Breton nationalist, linguist, dictionary compiler, prolific journalist and lifetime campaigner for solidarity between the Celtic peoples...
, Yann Fouéré
Yann Fouéré
Yann Fouéré was a Breton nationalist and an European federalist. He was born as Jean-Adolphe Fouéré in Aignan, Gers....
and Yann Goulet
Yann Goulet
Yann Goulet was a sculptor, Breton nationalist and war-time collaborationist with Nazi Germany who headed the Breton Bagadou Stourm militia. He later took Irish citizenship and became professor of sculpture at the Royal Hibernian Academy.-Early career:Goulet was born in Saint-Nazaire...
, as well as two Belgians, Albert Folens
Albert Folens
Albert Folens was a Belgian-born publisher of educational materials in the Republic of Ireland. His company, Folens, is a major publisher of educational materials...
and Albert Luykx
Albert Luykx
Albert Luykx was a Flemish businessman and former Nazi. He was born in the Flemish Region region in Belgium to a family of furniture makers. Following the invasion of Belgium, the Luykx family, like most furniture makers during the Nazi occupation, made barracks for the occupying forces. Soon...
.
Death
O'Shannon died on 22 October 2011, aged 83.Director-General of RTÉ
Director-General of RTÉ
The Director-General of Raidió Teilifís Éireann is chief executive and editor in chief of RTÉ. The current Director-General is Noel Curran, and is the most senior person in the Public Service Broadcaster, Noel Curran replaced Cathal Goan in the role in February 2011.The RTÉ Board appoints the...
Noel Curran
Noel Curran
Noel Curran is a radio and television producer and current Director-General of RTÉ. He joined Raidió Teilifís Éireann as a reporter in 1992 after a period working as a business journalist for Business & Finance magazine. He later produced both Kenny Live and The Late Late Show...
said O'Shannon had brought into being "some of the great moments in the RTÉ documentary and factual schedule over the past five decades." His funeral took place at Glasnevin Crematorium Chapel on 26 October 2011.
In tribute, RTÉ One
RTÉ One
RTÉ One is the flagship television channel of Raidió Teilifís Éireann , and it is the most popular and most watched television channel in Ireland. It was launched as Telefís Éireann on 31 December 1961, it was renamed RTÉ Television in 1966, and it was renamed as RTÉ One upon the launch of RTÉ...
showed the documentary Cathal O'Shannon: Telling Tales on 10 November 2011. It had originally aired in 2008 to mark his 80th birthday.