Anne Catherine Doyle (born 30 January 1952) is an Irish journalist, presenter and former newsreader.[1] She is best known as a long-serving newsreader for RTÉ, who anchored the broadcaster's main evening television news programmes, during her 33 years of service.[2]
Born in Ferns, County Wexford. Doyle was the youngest in a family of five boys and two girls. Her father, John Doyle (1903–1975), worked most of his life as a farm labourer, while her mother was the former Elizabeth Kavanagh (1916–1979). Doyle was educated at the Loreto Convent in nearby Gorey and later at University College Dublin, where she was conferred with a Bachelor of Arts in English and History before later completing a postgraduate diploma in education.[3]
Doyle spent a year as an English and History teacher but later pursued her interest in books and became a librarian.[4] She later joined Ireland's Department of Foreign Affairs as an executive officer in the consular service.[5]
Doyle joined the RTÉ newsroom in 1978 and read her first news bulletin on Christmas Day that year. She became a regular reader for bulletins on both radio and television news services. In 1983, she became one of four presenters for RTÉ One's early evening news, then known as Newstime. The program was relaunched in 1988 as the Six One News with Doyle becoming co-anchor alongside Seán Duignan two years later.[citation needed] In 1992, Doyle was briefly suspended by RTÉ for refusing to cross picket lines during a technicians' strike.[citation needed]
In November 2011, Doyle announced she was seeking early retirement from RTÉ and had applied for a redundancy package.[1] She presented her last RTÉ News bulletin at 8:50pm on Sunday 25 December 2011, 33 years to the day since her first bulletin.[2] The bulletin ended with a montage of Doyle's career with RTÉ featuring tributes from among others, TaoiseachEnda Kenny and broadcaster Gay Byrne.[9][10] She has said that, following her broadcasting work, she wishes to study law and enter the legal profession.[11][12]
Doyle has become part of Irish popular culture. Puppets Podge and Rodge frequently reference Doyle in their jokes, and the satirical comedy Bull Island also featured impersonations of Anne Doyle, including parodied news bulletins in which she would state "I am Anne Doyle. I am the news". She also has a long-standing association with Dustin the Turkey.[3]
Following a 17-year relationship with an electrician which ended in August 1996, Doyle had a much publicised relationship with Jim McDaid (former Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation). She met McDaid at a function at New York in late 1997, and the relationship ended acrimoniously after about six months.[14]
She has been in a relationship with restaurant owner, Dan McGrattan, since the beginning of the 2000s.[15][16][17][18][19][20]
In February 2012, she came fifth in a poll to find Ireland's most desirable Valentines.[21]
^"Doyle Éireann". Sunday Independent. Independent News & Media. 4 February 2001. Archived from the original on 17 February 2013. Retrieved 13 September 2010.
