Brian Jennings (journalist)

Brian Jennings is an Irish radio journalist and newsreader. He has been employed by RTÉ since 1988.

Brian Jennings
Jennings (left) with Aine Lawlor and Nicola Hudson
NationalityIrish
Occupation(s)Journalist, newscaster
Notable credit(s)RTÉ Radio and News
PartnerMichael Dwyer

Career

Jennings began broadcasting on the pirate radio station Q102 in 1985.[1] When the station closed down in 1988, he was part of the final broadcast.[2] When Millennium 88FM opened to celebrated the first millennium in Dublin in 1988, he was a member of the news team.[1][3]

When the station closed down in 1989 he moved to Millennium 88FM's parent, RTÉ Radio. Jennings worked as journalist and newscaster for RTÉ 2fm. He then moved formally to RTÉ News and Current Affairs.[1] He is currently the morning newscaster on RTÉ Radio 1, beginning at 5:30 am on RTÉ Radio,[4] and on Morning Ireland. Brian was also the associate producer of an RTÉ television film interview show, presented by Michael Dwyer, called Freeze Frame. It had a 3-year run. Former RTÉ Radio 1 broadcaster Gay Byrne praised Jennings' pronunciation. Writing in The Irish Times in 2004 he named Jennings along with three other RTÉ journalists who do not mispronounce words.[5] He was present at the 25th anniversary celebrations for Morning Ireland in November 2009.[6]

Personal life

The Irish Times journalist Michael Dwyer was Jennings' partner for 24 years. Dwyer died in 2010. At the funeral fellow RTÉ journalist Aengus Mac Grianna read out a personal tribute from Brian. The actor Daniel Day-Lewis struggled through snow and ice to get from Co Wicklow to Dublin to speak about his friend Michael at the funeral. He recalled his last telephone conversation with him. He said Michael told me it was the perfect time to talk to him; he was sorting the laundry. Jennings' father Tony Jennings also spoke at the funeral.[7]

After Dwyer's death, Jennings presented an award at the Jameson Dublin International Film Festival in his honour in March 2010. The first "Michael Dwyer Discovery Award" was given to Kate McCullough.[8] The following year in 2011 Brian spoke at the RAAM awards ceremony in London and collected and Industry Achievement Award for Michael Dwyer.

References
  1. "Morning Ireland: Brian Jennings". RTÉ.ie. RTÉ Publishing. Archived from the original on 15 August 2010. Retrieved 1 March 2010.
  2. "Q10 WHO?". irishpirates.ie. Retrieved 1 March 2010.
  3. "'I made a few thousand selling Eircom shares'". Independent.ie. 6 January 2019. Retrieved 14 May 2019.
  4. Catherine Foley (13 February 2001). "Gala world of make-believe celebrates the winners". The Irish Times. The Irish Times Trust. Retrieved 1 March 2010. Pity then RTÉ radio newscaster Brian Jennings, who had to go home early, like Cinderella, to be up at 5.30 a.m. yesterday.
  5. Gay Byrne (18 December 2004). "Time for T". The Irish Times. The Irish Times Trust. Retrieved 1 March 2010.
  6. Rosita Boland (6 November 2009). "Hanly makes Morning Ireland's day". The Irish Times. The Irish Times Trust. Retrieved 1 March 2010.
  7. Fiona McCann (6 January 2010). "Actors, writers and friends attend funeral of 'rare gentleman'". The Irish Times. The Irish Times Trust. Retrieved 1 March 2010.
  8. Donald Clarke (1 March 2010). "Fading light on film festival". The Irish Times. The Irish Times Trust. Archived from the original on 13 August 2011. Retrieved 2 March 2010.
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