John Murray (Irish broadcaster)

John Murray is an Irish journalist and broadcaster. Currently heard on Weekend Sport, he presented The John Murray Show on RTÉ Radio 1, "focus[ing] on lifestyle and entertainment items", filling the slot from 09:00 to 10:00 previously occupied by Ryan Tubridy, who moved to RTÉ 2fm.[1] Murray was one of the presenters of Morning Ireland, Ireland's most popular radio show,[2][3] before going on to host his own weekly programme, The Business.

John Murray
Born1964 (age 56–57)
Tallaght, Dublin
NationalityIrish
EducationSynge Street CBS ,School of Journalism, Rathmines
OccupationJournalist, broadcaster
Notable credit(s)
Morning Ireland
The Business
The John Murray Show

Career

Murray trained at the School of Journalism in Rathmines in Dublin. In 1983, his first job was as a junior reporter with the Tallaght Echo. After six months, he moved to The Cork Examiner and worked there for six years. He was Head of News in a new independent radio station, Cork's 96FM, from 1990 until 1992. Later that year, he became a general reporter for RTÉ.[4]

Murray worked in RTÉ for three years. In his time there, he worked on Morning Ireland. In 1995, he was asked by Mary Harney, then leader of the Progressive Democrats, to be her media adviser. After two years he became Deputy Government Press Secretary and Head of the Government Information Services.[5] He worked as deputy press secretary until 2000.[6]

Murray worked in China for two years when his wife, Irish Times journalist Miriam Donohoe, was based in the country. In 2003, he moved back to RTÉ. He was appointed as a business reporter on Morning Ireland.

Murray co-presented Morning Ireland until 2010. From 2004, he also hosted his own hour-long radio business programme, The Business, which was broadcast each Saturday morning on RTÉ Radio 1.[7] In 2008, he published his book Now That's What I Call Jargon.[8] From September 2010, he began presenting The John Murray Show on RTÉ Radio 1, replacing The Tubridy Show.[1][9] One of his first guests on the programme was Bertie Ahern.[10] The Business is currently presented by George Lee.[11]

In 2007, he won the award for Business Broadcast in the first ever UCD Smurfit School Business Journalist Awards.[6]

A 2011 satirical sketch on The John Murray Show, in which the Tyrone GAA manager Mickey Harte was the main subject, resulted in significant controversy and an ongoing (as of August 2018) boycott of RTE GAA media events by Harte and members of the Tyrone GAA senior team, owing to the sketch's insensitive nature which appeared to allude to Harte's recently murdered daughter.[12]

It was announced on 26 June 2015 that RTÉ would axe The John Murray Show with the last episode due to broadcast on 3 July.[13] He was replaced by Ryan Tubridy.[14]

As of August 2015, Murray can be heard on Weekend Sport.[15]

Personal life

John Murray was born to parents Vivian Murray, a prominent Irish businessman, and his wife, Nancy (née Clear).[16] He has two adult children, Stephen and Catherine.

Murray has suffered from depression, which resulted in him taking a six-month break from his radio show in 2013.[17][18]

References
  1. Charlie Taylor (30 June 2010). "Murray to take over Tubridy slot". The Irish Times. Retrieved 30 June 2010.
  2. "Tubridy rides crest of airwaves". Irish Independent. 14 November 2008. Archived from the original on 2 August 2012. Retrieved 17 November 2008.
  3. "The matriarchs of Montrose". Irish Independent. 25 October 2008. Archived from the original on 1 August 2012. Retrieved 10 June 2009.
  4. "Morning Ireland Profile: John Murray". Raidió Teilifís Éireann. 2009. Archived from the original on 8 November 2009. Retrieved 10 June 2009.
  5. "Appointment of Deputy Government Press Secretary". The Department of the Taoiseach. 27 June 1997. Archived from the original on 7 June 2011. Retrieved 10 June 2009.
  6. "RTÉ's John Murray wins award at the UCD Smurfit School Business Journalist Awards". Raidió Teilifís Éireann. 6 November 2007. Archived from the original on 8 March 2010. Retrieved 10 June 2009.
  7. "RTÉ Radio new season 2009" (PDF). RTÉ Radio. Retrieved 17 August 2009.
  8. "RTÉ Guide: John Murray". RTÉ Guide. 9 December 2008. Archived from the original on 17 February 2013. Retrieved 10 June 2009.
  9. "John Murray to Present New 9.00 am Show on RTÉ Radio 1". RTÉ Press Centre. 30 June 2010. Archived from the original on 14 August 2010. Retrieved 30 June 2010.
  10. Mary Minihan (9 September 2010). "Ahern tells of presidential ambitions". The Irish Times. Retrieved 18 September 2010.
  11. "George Lee to present The Business". Raidió Teilifís Éireann. 31 August 2010. Archived from the original on 2 September 2010. Retrieved 3 September 2010.
  12. "Tyrone continue RTÉ boycott". Hogan Stand. 20 August 2018.
  13. "Presenter John Murray leaves morning show on RTE Radio 1 – Independent.ie".
  14. "Ryan Tubridy to take over John Murray show". 30 July 2015.
  15. "RTE's Weekend Sport to add John Murray to panel – Independent.ie".
  16. "Businessman Vivian Murray dies at 76". Raidió Teilifís Éireann. 6 March 2009. Retrieved 18 June 2009.
  17. "RTE presenter John Murray talks frankly about his depression". thejournal.ie. 4 November 2013. Retrieved 4 November 2013.
  18. "John Murray reveals crippling depression as he returns to the airwaves on RTE Radio 1". Irish Daily Mirror. 4 November 2013. Retrieved 4 November 2013.
Preceded by
Ryan Tubridy		 RTÉ Radio 1 mid-morning host
2010–2015		 Succeeded by
Ryan Tubridy
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