Latest news with #DublinFireBrigadePipeBand
The Journal
27-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Journal
'Wash your hands': Joe Duffy revives Covid-era sign-off as he hangs up Liveline mic for final time
'THANK YOU FOR Being a Friend' opened Joe Duffy's last Liveline show today as a live band played to a live studio audience to bid farewell to the veteran broadcaster. Duffy signed off from RTÉ after 37 years on air, during which he became one of the most enduring and well-known voices in Irish media. He has hosted Liveline since 1998. He announced his departure in May after almost three decades of presenting the hit show, which, according to official figures this year, is regularly listened to by 305,000 people. The Camembert Quartet tweaked some of the lyrics of the famous tune as the show began. 'You'll write a book, or maybe three, but most of all you will be free from RTÉ' they sang. 'And the license fee,' Duffy chimed in. The Dublin Fire Brigade Pipe Band also dropped in to pay tribute to Duffy with a song, as well as a gift of a t-shirt, a patch that they wear on their uniform, and a commemorative coin. Joe Duffy with the Dublin Fire Brigade Pipe Band. Andres Poveda Andres Poveda RTÉ Radio Centre's Studio One was full of people, including those working at the broadcaster and former guests who called in to 'Talk to Joe' over the years. One of those was Caroline Davis, who had called the show over proposed cuts to allowances for women who had breast cancer. 'Within being on the show, we got the allowance reversed back to the way it was to be,' she told Duffy. Advertisement 'But to let you know, Joe, we're really delighted to say that this year, the allowance has changed. It has been drastically increased, and people are now getting two bras every year. They're getting a prosthesis, a swimsuit and a swimming prosthesis, if required.' 'Voice for the voiceless' Musician Brush Shiels, who was also in the studio, said the story demonstrated 'the real Joe Duffy'. 'Looking after the ordinary people of Ireland who can get nothing done. He is a voice for the voiceless,' he said. Brush Shiels in Studio 1 during Joe Duffy's last Liveline. Andres Poveda Andres Poveda Show producer Brenda Donohue then told Duffy that there was a famous caller on the line. 'Hello Joe, how are you?' came the voice of Taoiseach Micheál Martin, who said he wanted to take the opportunity to thank him sincerely. You were and are the voice of the people. You're authentic, you gave to people a platform, and I think you never left your roots. 'Your working class background stood to you. The values that your parents and family gave to you, I think, were the reason why you were unique. You had a unique capacity to mediate between the people and authority and allow them to tell their stories.' Martin said he had learned a lot from Duffy who he had known since his student days, with their paths crossing later in life in West Cork as well. 'Your personal acts of kindness have always been quite extraordinary, and something that has touched our family quite a lot, because I think it's your kindness and your compassion rings through on the radio, but also in personal life.' 'Personal kindness' There was a touching moment when Duffy recalled swimming with Martin in West Cork, and said he had the pleasure of meeting his daughter Léana Martin there. Léana, who had a heart condition, died in 2010 when she was seven years old. 'One of the last great days we had with Léana was at the crab fishing competition at Courtmacsherry. Unknown to me, you took some beautiful photographs of Léana in my arms looking out at the pier there,' the Taoiseach said. 'You sent them on to me afterwards after Léana passed, and that's something Mary and I have always treasured, and we thank you. That's what I meant by your personal kindness.' Related Reads How Joe Duffy shut down head shops (and why all drugs were legalised for one weird day in 2015) Joe Duffy leaves window open on Áras run as he closes door on RTÉ career Joe Duffy presenting his final farewell. Andres Poveda Andres Poveda There was more music, with Paul Harrington performing Leonard Cohen's Song for Bernadette and Jimmy Webb's Wichita Lineman, and Claudia Boyle singing Can't Help Loving That Man of Mine from Showboat. Poet Bob Carley wrote a 'final mass' for Duffy, with the response 'Ahhhh'. 'Not for him, the good news, he's the king of the blues, of the morbid, the shock and the bleak. What a national treasure who, beyond any measure, could wreck your head week after week,' went one line from the poem. Tributes were also paid to Duffy from a cast of (impersonated) characters, from Danny Healy Rae, Gerry 'The Monk' Hutch and Michael D Higgins to Roy Keane, Al Pacino and Robert De Niro. As the show wrapped up, presenter Shay Byrne read a letter from President Michael D Higgins which he said had been delivered to the studio by a member of the Defence Forces. Some of the letter read: 'As you prepare to take your leave from the national airwaves after so many years of dedicated service, may I, mar Uachtaráin na hÉireann, extend to you the warmest of thanks on behalf of the Irish people for your remarkable contribution to public life, one that you have shaped with empathy, insight and an unwavering commitment to the voices of ordinary people.' Duffy harked back to the days of the Covid-19 pandemic as the show came to an end by repeating a phrase he became known for at the time: 'Wash your hands'. Signing off, he said: 'That's all from me on Liveline. Goodbye from Studio 1, and remember, 51551. Wash your hands. 'Love you all. It's been a privilege. It's been a privilege.' Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
Irish Examiner
27-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Examiner
'The voice of the people': Joe Duffy takes his final call on Liveline
Joe Duffy has said his last 'Hello. Good afternoon, you are very welcome to Liveline'. The - at times - emotional last show for the veteran broadcaster included a mix of comedic sketches and songs and even a performance by the Dublin Fire Brigade Pipe Band, as well as tributes from Micheál Martin and Michael D Higgins. The Dublin Fire Brigade Pipe Band at Joe Duffy's final farewell show. Picture: Andres Poveda The Taoiseach called him the 'authentic voice of the people' who 'kept us all on our toes over the years', while the president called him 'the voice of those on the margins' throughout his 'long and remarkable career'. After his familiar introduction at the start of the show, Joe was sung a rendition of the 1970s hit Thank you For Being A Friend by The Camembert Quartet. Show producer Brenda Donohue told him he had been 'more than a friend' to everyone on the show over the years before bringing on Caroline Davis of Caroline's Breast Care in County Carlow. She reminded Joe about how allowances for specialised bras for women who underwent a mastectomy were reinstated after women shared their stories on the show over two days last year. June Rogers at Joe Duffy's final farewell show. Picture: Andres Poveda Cork author Pete O'Toole was another of the former guests to appear. He thanked Joe for helping him sell his self-published books and for helping 'vindicate' him as a writer. Brenda interrupted the show to let Joe know 'we have a caller on the line'. It turned out to be the Taoiseach who told him: 'You were and are the voice of the people. You were authentic. You gave the people a platform and I think you never left your roots. Your working-class background stood to you. 'You had a unique capacity to mediate between the people and authority and allow them to tell their stories.' He added: 'Over the years, I can remember many a civil servant coming running into me in the afternoon saying, Liveline's gone mad. It's gone on fire. We've got to do this and that and the other. 'The one difference between you and social media, if I may say, is that you had balance on every show, somebody has got to give the other side of the story." Claudia Boyle performing on Joe Duffy's final farewell show. Picture: Andres Poveda He described the presenter as a wonderful platform for people, survivors of institutions, people who may not often get the opportunity. 'They just picked up the phone, they rang you, and you guided them through to tell their story. People will be forever in your debt.' He also referenced how the two met up during family holidays on Dunworley Strand, near Courtmacsherry, south west Cork. Paul Harrington performs 'Song of Bernadette' for Joe Duffy's final farewell show. Picture: Andres Poveda He said that he shared 'one of the best, great days' he and his wife Mary had with their seven-year-old daughter Leana before she passed away in 2010 at Great Ormond Street Hospital in London. 'You took some beautiful photographs of Leana in my arms and you sent them to me after Leana died and that's something Mary and I have always treasured," he said. Comedian Oliver Callan recorded a special episode of his show Callan's Kicks, featuring Joe taking calls from the likes of Bertie Ahern and Bono. The show came to an end with the reading of a letter from President Michael D Higgins which thanked Joe for his 'remarkable contribution to public life'. It was one that he had 'shaped with empathy, insight and an unwavering commitment to the voices of Ireland'. He said: 'Through your work, you have borne witness to the struggles and triumphs of the Irish people, often giving voice to those on the margins and creating a space in which silence could be broken and solidarity expressed, reminding us that behind every headline is a human story, reminding us too that our society is strengthened by the lived experiences of its people.' Joe Duffy: 'It's been a privilege.' Picture: Andres Poveda Before the show ended, Joe thanked everyone and said: "It's been a privilege." Joe Duffy joined RTÉ as a radio producer in 1989 and came to prominence as a reporter on the Gay Byrne Show. He presented programmes such as Soundbyte before taking over Liveline from Marian Finucane in 1998, attracting some 400,000 listeners to the phone-in programme. Read More RTÉ opens call for new presenters including Joe Duffy's replacement on Liveline
