Evelyn O'Rourke

Evelyn O'Rourke
Born1971 or 1972 (age 52–53)[1]
Dublin, Ireland
NationalityIrish
EducationDrama and English
Alma materTrinity College Dublin (1990 – 1994)
Occupation(s)RTÉ broadcaster and journalist
EmployerRTÉ (1998–present)
SpouseJohn McMahon
Children2

Evelyn O'Rourke (born 1971/1972) is an Irish broadcaster and journalist employed by RTÉ. She is the current Arts and Media Correspondent for RTÉ News since February 2024.[2]

O'Rourke joined RTÉ in 1998 as a researcher on The Gay Byrne Show and The Arts Show on RTÉ Radio 1 before moving on to become roving reporter on Today with Pat Kenny on RTÉ Radio 1 and The Gerry Ryan Show on RTÉ 2fm. She has served as a presenter on several RTÉ programmes, including Drivetime, Liveline and Morning Ireland, as well as an annual series on which she offers advice to Leaving Certificate students. Other television work includes Crimecall, The Daily Show, Seoige and as a judge on TV talent shows Glas Vegas and The All Ireland Talent Show.

Early life and education

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O'Rourke was born in Dublin. She attended Coláiste Iosagáin in Dublin.[3] Having completed her school studies she attended Trinity College Dublin to study Drama and English in 1990.[4]

Career

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Upon graduation, O'Rourke moved to the west of Ireland to work in film and television.[4] In 1998, she returned to Dublin, joining RTÉ Radio, working with the veteran broadcaster Gay Byrne during his final season on radio as a researcher.[5] She was then transferred to The Arts Show with Mike Murphy, and later to Today with Pat Kenny, Ryan Tubridy's The Full Irish and The Gerry Ryan Show.[6]

From 2008 to 2010, O'Rourke took on the role of radio reporter and television presenter for the RTÉ cross-media event Operation Transformation with Gerry Ryan.[7]

O'Rourke presented Countdown to 306, a nightly one-hour exam preparation programme on RTÉ 2fm on the build up to the Junior and Leaving Certificate exams.[8][9]

O'Rourke was a judge on the 10 January 2010 edition of series two of The All Ireland Talent Show after Shane Lynch's flight from London was cancelled, despite having given birth to her first son just six weeks earlier.[10] She was also a judge on TG4 variety show Glas Vegas.[11]

In 2014, O'Rourke wrote a best-selling memoir Dear Ross, which detailed her life following a cancer diagnosis while pregnant.[12]

Since January 2021, O'Rourke has presented Study Hub, an annual Leaving Certificate programme and podcast series on RTÉ Radio 1.[13][14]

O'Rourke has co-presented the Irish Book Awards on RTÉ One and reports on the Today programme, as well as presenting and reporting for the arts programme Arena on RTÉ Radio 1.[15]

In a May 2021 documentary for TG4, O'Rourke explored the experiences of women who were diagnosed with cancer ten years on from her own cancer diagnosis in 2010.[16][17]

On 29 February 2024, O'Rourke was announced as Sinéad Crowley's successor as Arts and Media Correspondent for RTÉ News.[4][18]

In November 2024, O'Rourke was assigned by RTÉ News to report on Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin for the general election.[19]

Personal life

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O'Rourke is a fluent Irish speaker. She is married to John McMahon, former head of RTÉ 2fm and current RTÉ executive producer. They have two sons.[20]

On 2 December 2009 she gave birth to her first son. Her second son was born on 2 February 2011. O'Rourke was diagnosed with breast cancer during her second pregnancy.[21][22]

References

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  1. ^ Campos, Adelina (27 August 2010). "Brave Evelyn set to return to All-Ireland Talent Show after battling breast cancer". Irish Independent. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
  2. ^ "RTÉ News appoints Evelyn O'Rourke as Arts and Media Correspondent". RTÉ News. 29 February 2024.
  3. ^ "Evelyn O'Rourke: Leaving Cert memories". Irish Independent. 28 March 2014. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
  4. ^ a b c "Evelyn O'Rourke announced as RTÉ's new arts and media correspondent". Irish Independent. 29 February 2024.
  5. ^ McGlynn, Michelle (4 November 2019). "'A nation that adored him': Celebrities and viewers alike mourn the loss of Gay Byrne". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
  6. ^ Walsh, Kayla (12 May 2021). "RTE presenter Evelyn O'Rourke's family life with former head of 2fm John McMahon and two kids". RSVPLive.ie. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
  7. ^ "Photographic Archive – Evelyn O'Rourke and Gerry Ryan (2008)". RTÉ Archives. 1 October 2008. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
  8. ^ Nolan, Lorna (26 May 2009). "Why I'd love Tubridy's Saturday slot -- Evelyn". Irish Independent. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
  9. ^ "RTÉ 2FM'S EXAM SERIES COUNTDOWN TO 306 RETURNS". Schooldays.ie. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
  10. ^ Nolan, Lorna (13 January 2010). "New mum Evelyn relishes TV return - even just for one day". Irish Independent. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
  11. ^ Nolan, Lorna (26 February 2009). "Evelyn swaps PJs for glamour in new television co-host role". Irish Independent. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
  12. ^ Bryant, Aoibhin (12 May 2021). "Evelyn O'Rourke says cancer diagnosis 'felt like a gunshot to the heart'". Extra.ie. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
  13. ^ "Drivetime Study Hub Tuesday 12 January 2021". RTÉ.ie. 12 January 2021. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
  14. ^ "Evelyn O'Rourke and the Study Hub crew are back for 2024!". RTÉ News. 1 February 2024. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
  15. ^ MacRedmond, David (29 February 2024). "RTÉ News appoints Evelyn O'Rourke as new arts and media correspondent". TheJournal.ie. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
  16. ^ Fahy, Olivia (13 May 2021). "Viewers blown away by Evelyn O'Rourke's heart-wrenching cancer documentary". Evoke.ie. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
  17. ^ O'Donoghue, Denise (12 May 2021). "Evelyn O'Rourke: My baby and my cancer 'were like neighbours' during pregnancy". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
  18. ^ Kelly, Caroline (29 February 2024). "RTÉ appoint Evelyn O'Rourke as Arts and Media correspondent". Hot Press. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
  19. ^ "Evelyn O'Rourke is following Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin in Tipperary finishing in Roscrea at tea time". RTÉ.ie. Retrieved 16 November 2024.
  20. ^ "At home with... RTÉ broadcaster Evelyn O'Rourke". RTÉ News. 14 July 2020. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
  21. ^ "Evelyn O'Rourke investigates cancer care for women in Ireland in TG4 documentary". TipperaryLive.ie. 5 May 2021. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
  22. ^ Thompson, Sylvia (12 May 2021). "Evelyn O'Rourke: 'While I was waiting for the biopsy results I discovered I was pregnant'". The Irish Times. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
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