Áine Lawlor

Áine Lawlor (born 1961) is an Irish radio and television broadcaster who has hosted many shows on RTÉ Radio 1. She has worked on various news and current affairs radio and television programmes, including News at One, The Week in Politics, Today with Pat Kenny, Today at 5, The Nature of Things, Tuesday File, Today Tonight, The Marian Finucane Show and One to One. On 7 December 2008, Lawlor presented the first Sunday morning broadcast of Morning Ireland, during which she announced news of the Irish pork crisis. She has also narrated States of Fear.

Áine Lawlor
Áine Lawlor (left) with Cathal Mac Coille
Born1961 (age 61–62)
Coolock, Dublin, Ireland
NationalityIrish
Alma materTrinity College Dublin
Occupation(s)Journalist, broadcaster
Notable creditMorning Ireland
SpouseIan Wilson
Children4

Lawlor has been described as one of Ireland's "sharpest, most experienced broadcasters".[1]

Career

Lawlor attended Manor House School, Raheny.[2] She graduated from Trinity College Dublin in 1984 having spent time as President of the Students' Union.[3]

She moved to arts administration, before going to RTÉ as a radio announcer. She went on to be a trainee journalist. In radio, she worked on Today with Pat Kenny, Today at 5 and RTÉ 2fm News. In television, she has worked on The Nature of Things, Tuesday File and Today Tonight. She was also a narrator of States of Fear, a programme on abuse in residential institutions.[4][5]

Morning Ireland

For many years, Lawlor co-presented Morning Ireland, Ireland's most listened to radio programme which has been on air since 1984.[1][6] She has interviewed, amongst others, ESB union boss David Naughton,[7] US Democratic official Samantha Power,[8] and Harald zur Hausen, Nobel Laureate and the first doctor to prove that cervical cancer was caused by a virus.[9] It was Lawlor's voice that first informed morning radio listeners on the island of Ireland that all international Irish pork products had been recalled in December 2008.[10] This was particularly unusual because her voice (and the Morning Ireland theme tune) was heard on the airwaves on Sunday, despite the show being scheduled to air on weekday mornings only.[10] The Irish Independent described the occurrence as "a kind of a War of the Worlds moment", with nobody able to recall the show being broadcast on a Sunday before, and speculation mounting that the sound of the theme music must signal a major death or nuclear war.[10] When former minister for agriculture Brendan Smith promised free cheese for the masses her interview with him made worldwide headlines.[11][12]

On 14 October 2011, Lawlor announced on air at the end of Morning Ireland: "That's all from me for a while as I'm taking a break for medical treatment. Thanks to all of you who have listened over the past 16 years". The Irish Times reported that she had been diagnosed with cancer.[11] She returned to Morning Ireland in 2012, but moved to News At One in the re-shuffle brought about by Pat Kenny's departure from the station the following year.

One to One

Lawlor also presents on an intermittent One to One, a current affairs interview programme on RTÉ One.[3] She spent one interview with Libertas Institute leader, Declan Ganley, "looking over the top of her glasses at him, utterly determined to put a halt to his gallop, and still he kept on coming".[13] In her interview with academic Samantha Power, Lawlor "allowed Power to drone on in that earnest and humourless way peculiar to people who think that what they have to say is of grave global import".[8]

Personal life

Lawlor currently lives in Dublin with her husband Ian Wilson, and her four children, David, Ella, jack and the other one .[14] Her husband is also a well known producer in RTÉ 2fm.[5][13] Her interests include gardening and growing and cooking her own food. She does yoga and Pilates twice a week.[11]

Lawlor was presented with the Trinity College Alumni Award in 2008.[15]

Lawlor featured in the RTÉ Television production 'Keys to my life' which was broadcast on 19 September 2021.[16]

References
  1. "The matriarchs of Montrose". Irish Independent. 25 October 2008. Archived from the original on 1 August 2012. Retrieved 2009-06-10.
  2. O'Toole, Aileen (9 October 2013). "My old school photo". TheJournal.ie. Retrieved 7 May 2019.
  3. "UCC Profile". UCC. Retrieved 10 June 2009.
  4. "Morning Ireland: Aine Lawlor Profile". RTÉ. 2009. Archived from the original on 18 August 2009. Retrieved 10 June 2009.
  5. "RTÉ Webchat and Biography: Aine Lawlor". RTÉ. 2006. Archived from the original on 2 May 2009. Retrieved 2009-06-10.
  6. "Good Morning". Irish Examiner. 26 November 2004. Archived from the original on 22 September 2009. Retrieved 2009-06-10.
  7. "ESB wildcats go walkabout". Sunday Independent. 8 February 2008. Archived from the original on 17 February 2013. Retrieved 10 June 2009.
  8. "Frock horror! Miriam embraces her girly side". Irish Independent. 28 June 2008. Retrieved 10 June 2009.
  9. "True loyalty put to the test with cancer vaccine vote". Sunday Independent. 6 November 2008. Retrieved 10 June 2009.
  10. "Our superheroes solved 'Rashergate', pity about the pensions and banks". Sunday Independent. 14 December 2008. Archived from the original on 17 February 2013. Retrieved 10 June 2009.
  11. "Lawlor signs off 'Morning Ireland'". The Irish Times. 14 October 2011. Retrieved 11 August 2022.
  12. "Let them eat cheese: Irish government hands out block of cheddar to every family". The Daily Telegraph. 6 November 2010. Archived from the original on 8 November 2010. Retrieved 6 November 2010.
  13. "Lessons from Eurovision's failure". Sunday Independent. 23 November 2008. Retrieved 10 June 2009.
  14. "Life lessons with broadcaster Aine Lawlor". independent. Retrieved 1 June 2021.
  15. "Trinity College Alumni Awards 2008". tcd.ie. 4 November 2008. Retrieved 11 August 2022.
  16. "KEYS TO MY LIFE | RTÉ Presspack". presspack.rte.ie. Retrieved 20 September 2021.
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