Our Man Friday Today is a Real Man of The People
Friday, 21 September 2007
Today we're joined by one of Ireland's best loved Dubs. Normally catching the airwaves, he drops by for a chat. Our man Friday is Joe Duffy.
About Joe
Joe Duffy who hails from Ballyfermot originally and now lives in Clontarf along the seafront. (I live in Clontarf and went to college in Ballyfermot!!)
Joe was born in 1956 and had 6 siblings. One of his brothers Aidan was killed in a car crash in 1991, Aidan was only 25years old at the time of his death.
Joe's father worked as a factory worker and went to England for many years to work and earn a living. Joe dad passed away at the age of 58 from a stroke.
Joe Duffy went to St Lorcan's in Palmerstown, where they felt he was more "observant" rather than 'intellectual'. After his Leaving Cert he got a job in Arks Advertising, writing scripts and jingles, this role came quite naturally to him.
Joe also did some voluntary work with Voluntary work with the Catholic Youth Council pushed his career in a different direction. Each summer the council organised summer activities for children and in the mid-1970s Duffy helped run a camp in Ballymun. His reward was to be asked to give one of the readings at Pope John Paul's youth mass in Galway in 1979.
Joe went on to attend Trinity College where he studied Social Work. This is where he met his lovely wife June Meehan. At Trinity College Joe was elected President of TCD Students Union. His campaign tune was the Logical Song by Supertramp.
He was involved in opening a rival bar at Trinity and also an alternative café - we can see from his that Joe was a real 'firestarter' and always had something to say.
Joe went on to have many odd jobs over the years but his most favourite was as a Probation Officer in Dublin. It was during the times of the joyriding and things were quite bad in Dublin with gangland troubles.
From here (1989) Joe went to RTE radio and did a stint of jobs including working closely with Gay Byrne. He became a real side kick to him Gaybo and Joe regards him as a real hero.
In 1999 Joe started with Liveline a daily chat show driven by the people's story "If people have a story to tell they phone Liveline", he says. "The topics come from the callers. They make the show what it is". And that could be anything, from dodgy dealers to your favourite holiday reading. (From RTÉ website, www.rte.ie)
Joe is about to launch his new show, 'Highly Recommended'
'HIGHLY RECOMMENDED'
Have you found an original way of cutting costs and saving money? Well its time to put your nose for a good deal to the test. Joe Duffy and a team of consumer experts: Ben Dunne, Conor Pope and Barbara McCarthy want to know the story behind these savings. With the help of the studio audience your deal will be scrutinised and challenged but if it stands up throughout the investigations and the panel are convinced it should be HIGHLY RECOMMENDED, you will walk away with €2000.
Highly Recommended will look at a range of issues that impact on all our lives ranging from property, cars, health insurance, weddings and childcare. A fun way to encourage us all to shop around, HIGHLY RECOMMENDED puts the everyday under the spotlight, imparting valuable consumer advice along the way.
The' HIGHLY RECOMMENDED' Experts are:
Ben Dunne
Ben Dunne has been one of the most controversial figures in the Irish retail industry. He now runs a chain of low price fitness centres throughout Dublin
Conor Pope
Journalist Conor Pope is responsible for the ever-popular Pricewatch
Barbara McCarthy
Barbara is a freelance journalist who has written a range of articles on topics such as taxation, the global economy and consumer issues such as shopping in New York and property.
Contact Details for being part of the 'Highly Recommended'
Are you clever with cash ?
Have you found an original way of cutting costs? Are you just the person to teach the rip-off merchants a thing or two? You could make a bundle out of a bargain on Highly Recommended, RTÉ One's new lifestyle consumer show with Joe Duffy.
If you'd like to tell us about the cash you've made on car purchases, the dosh you've saved on dentists or doctors, the healthy cut backs you've made on health insurance, online earnings, holidays, or electrical goods - anything at all - we want to hear from you.
Contact - Email: highly.rec@gmail.com or phone: 0818 270 941.