Joe Duffy has been hailed as a "broadcasting genius" with "an innate sense of decency, great timing and superb journalistic instincts" ahead of his departure from RTÉ Radio 1's Liveline later today.
The veteran presenter is set to retire from the station after 37 years this afternoon, signing off as one of the most enduring and influential voices in Irish media.
He has hosted the hugely popular programme since 1998, giving voice to listeners for over a quarter of a century.
Under his stewardship, Liveline became a national institution, known for emotional honesty, investigative tenacity, and human connection. The show frequently attracts more than 400,000 listeners.
Talk to Joe?
Well, his peers and colleagues were more than happy to talk about the man himself and share well-wishes and glowing tributes to the king of the airwaves.
Liveline producer Brenda Donohue said she feels incredibly "lucky" to work with Duffy on the much-loved show and said he is a "once-in-a-lifetime" broadcaster.
"I know you take for granted the natural broadcasting ability you have and don't assume it is anything special," she said. "Let me tell you, it is. Whether it's keeping a listener talking, so we can line up calls to respond, having a natural feel for what the national conversation is or your brilliant, brilliant entertainment instincts, you are a once-in-a-lifetime broadcaster," Donohue continued.
The TV and radio presenter said she "never stopped learning" while working with Duffy.
"Thanks for all the chocolate bars. Wishing you so much fun," she added.
Fellow Liveline producer Siobhan Hough said it "was an honour to work" with Duffy and said he made a strong and consistent effort to support and advocate for people who might not have the power or opportunity to speak up for themselves.
"Joe has worked tirelessly to give a voice to those who often felt that nobody was listening. 'Talk to Joe' was more than just a tagline; it was a lifeline for those who needed help, and Joe was always there to help no matter what the problem was," she said.
Hough said Duffy's determination and drive to ensure the show achieved fairness and truth made for a wild but worthwhile ride.
"His persistence to get the right outcome made Liveline a rollercoaster of a show to work on, but it definitely was a great experience," she added.
Aonghus McAnally, former series producer of Liveline, said Duffy's "voracious appetite for news" made him "unmatched in my experience".
"In my seven years working as series producer on Liveline, there was never a time when I was able to inform him about any news story, either domestic or international, that he wasn't already across. His voracious appetite for news, coupled with an instinctive nous for what engages an audience, made him unmatched in my experience," he said.
The entertainer and broadcaster said Duffy had that rare gift of turning the airwaves into a space where the nation could feel, laugh and be heard.
"His ability to switch from the most complex of emotional issues, to simple moments of joy and fun, created a programme that became a mainstay of Irish culture and community. Everyone wanted to 'talk to Joe!' A broadcasting genius," he added.
Journalist and broadcaster Miriam O'Callaghan praised Duffy for being "a masterful broadcaster" with "enormous intellect and huge empathy".
O'Callaghan, who recently announced news of her upcoming memoir, said she will "miss Joe greatly".
"He's a masterful broadcaster with an innate sense of decency, great timing, superb journalistic instincts, a passion for fairness and equality, enormous intellect and huge empathy. So I will miss listening to him on a daily basis," she added.
The Prime Time and Sunday with Miriam presenter said she will also "miss him as a friend and a colleague", adding: "Down the years, he has shown me only incredible kindness, warmth, support and love. I am eternally grateful to him for the years I have known him and I hope that we can remain dear friends. Thank you for everything, Joe."
Broadcaster and comedian Oliver Callan praised Duffy for being a "broadcasting genius" and a "generous adviser".
"When your hmms and sighs become iconic, you know you've got a very serious broadcasting genius. He's part devilment, part truth-seeker without any fear," he said.
The Callan's Kicks star said he'll miss his colleague greatly and the "great craic" he brings to work.
He added: "He's a very generous adviser who is a pure believer that most people are good by nature but that institutions fail and falter. It's hard to imagine radio without Joe on it."
Read more:
How Joe Duffy changed Irish radio forever
In Pictures: Joe Duffy's remarkable broadcasting career
Joe Duffy to hang up Liveline mic after 27 years
Journalist and broadcaster Philip Boucher-Hayes said he "will miss Joe Duffy a lot".
"Mostly because of the money he gave me to laugh at his jokes. Funny Friday put my kids through school," he laughed.
The Countrywide presenter said he "will also miss his generous and thoughtful advice" and teased that he "would be a much better broadcaster and human being if I'd ever followed any of it".
Reflecting on his influence, RTÉ Gold presenter Rick O'Shea saluted Duffy not just for his voice, but for the doors he helped open.
"For me, Joe was, when I was starting out, a beacon of possibility for those of us from working-class Dublin backgrounds who might otherwise have seen broadcasting at the highest level as something that wasn't for us," he said.
O'Shea recalled the deep bond he and Duffy shared over their love of books, adding that he looks forward with great interest to the broadcasting legend's next chapter.
"Mostly in recent years, Joe would stick his head into my studio on his way to his studio, asking what I was reading and recommending books he was reading at the time," he recalled. "Listening to people's calls with that level of empathy and care for 27 years is a feat few would have been capable of. I can't wait to see what he does next."
2FM presenter and podcaster Lottie Ryan commended Duffy for "turning a phone-in show into the heartbeat of the nation".
The No One Else Will Listen co-host said Duffy didn't need to raise his voice to be heard, saying "with empathy, instinct and impeccable timing, he moved between chaos and compassion with complete control. He knew when to challenge, when to comfort and when to stay silent, letting the power of someone's story do the talking."
The former Dancing with the Stars winner said Duffy "is an example of how powerful radio can be in the right hands".
"He could calm a furious caller, mediate a neighbourhood war and still find time to ask if the dog was alright," she added. "His show was unpredictable, unfiltered, and utterly essential - just like Joe himself. Wishing him a retirement filled with calm, quiet… and the rare joy of not having to ask anyone to turn down their radio."
Born in Mountjoy Square and raised in Ballyfermot, Duffy became one of the first from his area to attend Trinity College, where he studied social work and became president of the Union of Students in Ireland.
His activism led to his arrest and a short spell in Mountjoy Prison during protests over access to education.
After working in the probation service, he joined RTÉ as a radio producer in 1989 and rose to prominence as a reporter on The Gay Byrne Show. He went on to host Soundbyte and Liveline Callback, and he later fronted the acclaimed television series The Meaning of Life.
Duffy has also earned acclaim for his writing, including his autobiography Just Joe and the award-winning history books Children of the Rising and Children of the Troubles (with Freya McClements). His broadcasting accolades include a Jacob's Award and an induction into the Phonographic Performance Ireland (PPI) Radio Awards Hall of Fame.
