Anne Doyle (born 30 January, 1952) is a newsreader for the Irish broadcaster, RTÉ.

Early and private life

Anne Doyle was born and raised in Ferns, County Wexford, in 1952. Her parents were John Doyle and Elizabeth Doyle née Kavanagh. Her father spent most of his life employed in farming and died aged 72, in 1975. Her mother died suddenly aged 63 of pneumonia, in about 1979. Anne was the youngest in a family of five boys and two girls. Her sister Elizabeth died aged 48 of cancer, in 1989, and her brother, John, also died of cancer aged 57, in late 2000. Her surviving brothers are Thomas, Philip, Patrick and Joseph.

Doyle was educated at Loreto Convent, Gorey, and at University College Dublin, where she took a liberal arts degree in English and History and a post-graduate diploma in education. Following her university education she was qualified to teach at second level, however, she pursued her interest in books and became a librarian. Later Doyle joined Ireland's Department of Foreign Affairs as an Executive Officer in the consular service. During her time at Foreign Affairs, she lived in a flat on the south side of Fitzwilliam Square, Dublin.

She was involved in a 17-year relationship that ended in August, 1996. Subsequently, Doyle, who is single, had a much publicised relationship with a married man, Jim McDaid (former Minister for Tourism, Sport & Recreation), . She met McDaid at a function at New York in late 1997 and the relationship ended acrimoniously.

She has been involved with former restaurant owner, Dan McGrattan, for the last few years.

Doyle has lived in Rathmines, in south Dublin, for many years.

Career

After four years in the Department of Foreign Affairs, she left the Civil Service to join the newsroom at RTÉ in 1978, where she has worked since. She presents the station's main evening news, RTÉ News: Nine O'Clock. She also is a newsreader on RTÉ Radio some afternoons. In 2000 she was elected to represent the staff of RTÉ on the 14th RTÉ Authority.

She is also a former presenter of RTÉ's Crimeline program.

In popular culture

Anne Doyle has become part of Irish popular culture. Filth-obsessed 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".

References

1. . Egan, Barry. "Doyle Eireann." Sunday Independent, Sunday, 4 February, 2001.
2. RTÉ Annual Report 2003 (English version) - PDF file (size - 1 MB).
3. Egan, Barry. “Doyle Eireann.” Sunday Independent, Sunday, 4 February, 2001.
4. Irish Independent article about Jim McDaid, mentioning relationship with Anne Doyle. [1].
5. Egan, Barry. "Doyle Eireann." Sunday Independent, Sunday, 4 February, 2001.
6. "Sum Leader offers up rich pickings." Irish Examiner, Wednesday, July 30, 2003.
7. O'Connor, Lisa. "Who's your man Anne?" Sunday Mirror, 29 August, 2004.
8. "Anne Doyle's crop of fan letters." Sunday Independent, Sunday, 11 December, 2005.
9. "PROPERTY MATTERS : McGrattan's - in the rare 'ould times." Sunday Independent, Sunday, 11 June, 2006.
10. Hogan, Louise. "Albert tips Bertie to run for country after May 8." Irish Independent, Thursday, 26 April, 2007.
11. Egan, Barry. "Keane to make mark at VIP style awards." Sunday Independent, Sunday, 2 March, 2008.