Cathal O'Shannon has died

Skid

Cathal O'Shannon has passed away aged 83. RIP

http://www.rte.ie/news/2011/1022/oshannonc.html

Former RTÉ journalist and filmmaker Cathal O'Shannon has passed away at the age of 83.
Mr O'Shannon flew with the RAF during the World War II, and later became a reporter with the Irish Times.


He was a journalist and documentary maker with RTÉ, filming the first deployment of Irish troops overseas on a UN mission to the Congo among many other works.
Born in 1928, Cathal O'Shannon grew up in what was for the times a liberal household.
His father Cathal had been a prominent republican and socialist
and at the age of 16 Cathal Og armed with a forged baptismal cert joined the RAF - the first chapter in an adventurous life.


Mr O'Shannon's first job in journalism was with the Irish Times
and he became what was a rarity at the time - a war correspondent - joining the Irish troops on their ill fated expedition to the Congo.
He also worked on the paper's London desk - where he met and married the love of his life, Patsy


But it is as a television presenter he is perhaps best remembered.
Broadcaster Terry Wogan described him as possibly Ireland's greatest television journalist and programmes such as his interview with Muhammad Ali became iconic pieces of television.
Among his other notable achievements - the Spanish Civil War documentary Even the Olives are Bleeding.

I have to agree with Terry Wogans comments in the above article.
He was a terrific presenter and will be sady missed.

The Sparrow

Very sad news. He was a fantastic broadcaster.

RIP.

The Black Oil

RIP

Einhard

Ah that's very sad. I remember he had a programme about ten years ago about infamous murders in Ireland which I used to watch. He was one of those people who sounded as he looked- I always pictured him smiling. His interview with Ali was brilliant.

mike65

Always thought he was a cut above the usual.

DK224

Einhard wrote: »

Ah that's very sad. I remember he had a programme about ten years ago about infamous murders in Ireland which I used to watch. He was one of those people who sounded as he looked- I always pictured him smiling. His interview with Ali was brilliant.

Yeah it was Thou Shalt Not Kill shown in the mid 90's, one of the best programmes RTE ever made. Hopefully it will get a re-run and a younger audience can see the master at work.
RIP

Lapin

The Muhammad Ali interview is up there as one of Television's finest moments.

R.I.P.

Lady Chatterton

Lapin wrote: »

The Muhammad Ali interview is up there as one of Television's finest moments.

R.I.P.

Here is a little clip from that interview.

Cathal O'Shannon (RIP)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4LaCK_LkEHk

JONJO THE MISER

No way, i always liked him.
He done a great documentary series called thou shalt not kill in the 1990's.
R.I.P.

Mikosyko

He was a quality journalist and broadcaster. Rest in peace.

merlie

Very sad news to hear RIP

I remember Cathal back in the 60's when Guinness' brought out a promo 45 rpm record that was in the form of an audio postcard of Ireland. It was in a square shaped card, the record grooves which were in a clear circle. Cathal narrated on this record. I remember him mentioning the bells of the Shandon and you would hear the bells in the background. It contained other sounds of Ireland including Moore Street, '3 pence each the bananas' I recall a woman's voice saying, On the reverse was a place you could write your message and the left of it, the address to who you wanted to send this to.

I wonder if anyone else remembers this and what Cathal said. It would be nice to see or hear this again. Can't even recall the title of the record.

God Bless Cathal. Great man. Sadly missed. Thank you for the memories.

mikemac

Did a fantastic series on the United Irishmen
Would love if RTÉ did a rerun

And of course Thou Shalt Not Kill
That should be rerun too, we have new info nowadays on some cases like Harry Gleeson in Tipp so relevant

hangon

He was pure class in everyway.
Since nobody has mentioned his other terrific show for RTE about Irelands involvement in the Spanish Civil war,i will just say about his loss:
Even the Olives are bleeding.

Woops Skid i see at the end of your piece 'even the Olives are bleeding gets a mention.

Pretty_Pistol

I remember watching the Thou Shalt Not Kill documentaries when growing up. I didn't know much about him until RTE did a programme on him in the last year or so. He seemed to have had an interesting life.

briany

Every bit as good a broadcaster as Gay Byrne and didn't have that tendency to condescend which Gay had/has. The old guard are leaving us and soon all we'll be left with is this new vapid lot in the mainstream.

RIP Cathal. Talented broadcaster.

Elmo

Just found out now, very, very sad.

Great broadcaster with a brilliant voice, King of the Voiceover.

RIP.

As we mentioned Thou Shalt Not Kill, it stands above so many documentaries on Irish Murders that have come since.

Greyjoy

A relative of mine served in the Congo during the 60s and he always had praise for O'Shannon whenever he heard his name mentioned. What made an impression on him was that while other journalists would stay with the officers O'Shannon hung out with the enlisted men in their mess.

JP Liz V1

RIP

hangon

RTE one are showing a tribute to Cathal at 22.45.
bit late posting it i know but it will most likely be on the RTE player for about a week.