He married fellow journalist Sarah Caden – daughter of John Caden, an independent television producer and political and personal associate of Eoghan Harris for over 30 years.
In early 2004 he also provoked anger among some of his colleagues for strongly supporting management during an industrial relations crisis over forced redundancy.
I remember BOC around UCC. He was insufferable even then. He used to go around with a clever, crazy, good-looking blond – we couldn't make out what she was doing with him. He was thick then and uncouth. Should have known he would end up writing for the Sunday Independent.
Like any good bully, he can instinctively sense where vulnerability and power lie, and skillfully employs the tools of stereotyping and cynicism to mock the weak.
following the march of 100,000 people against the Iraq war on 15 February 2003, O'Connor repeatedly attacked the anti-war movement. Rather than attacking the movement itself, which was obviously popular, he portrayed the mass of marchers as having been "cowed into submission by a bunch of ill-informed but highly vocal anarchists and left-wing public intellectuals"
recipio wrote: » Ditto ! And then I logged on here.! Brendan O' Connor must be the most overrated interviewer ever to present a prime spot on RTE. Parochial musings, serial interruptions and verbal logorrhoea for whatever factoid enters his head are his shtick in trade. Bring back John Bowman !
A Tyrant Named Miltiades! wrote: » John Bowman is wasted in that retirement paddock. He had some great archive material this morning – the long-range flying boat in Foynes; Douglas Gegeby and trout fishing; the 1939 IRA bombing of Coventry. It's a pity he seems to have mostly abandoned political broadcasting. I wonder was that by choice.
Joe_ Public wrote: » John is pushing 80 in fairness so i think it's a good slot for him all told, but unquestionably one of rtes great broadcasters in my mind. They had some good ones back in the day - Brian O'Farrell, Andy O'Mahony. I used to love this show when it was presented by O'Mahony. With each passing generation, it's pretty clear to me how much the whole thing is being dumbed down. Attention spans arent what they were, i suppose.
A Tyrant Named Miltiades! wrote: » Brian farrell was another one. Imagine RTE attracting a Harvard graduate these days. And why not? They're not short on cash for 'heavy hitters', but prefer to throw it at commercially attractive chat-show hosts who spend an inordinate amount of time talking to other RTE staff about their own organisation. The whole point of a public broadcaster is to do culturally and politically valuable work, and leave the rest to the commercial stations.
generalgerry wrote: » I think there was a very important contribution today. First contributor: "I don't think you need to be a consultant to be allowed on the radio to talk and I think public health specialists can come on the radio..... " *Interrupted* Professor Cliona Ní Cheallaigh: "Sorry, they have to be cleared by the HSE, so they are not allowed to talk independently." So any contributor that you hear on a radio station has to be cleared by the HSE to make sure that they are on message, even though RTE will present them as if they are giving their own independent opinions. They are just PR for the HSE. It sort of reminds me of the "independent economic experts" that RTE gave us pre-2008.
Joe_ Public wrote: » Yes, exactly. For me the difference with broadcasters like Andy O'Mahony is they were naturally highbrow by intellect but wore it lightly and could punch down when required, whereas those they promote now are continually trying to punch up but being repeatedly exposed as out of their depth. Olivia O'Leary is another i always wondered why more isnt heard of, though think she had a spell with the bbc which may explain it.
recipio wrote: » Did the current crop of RTE presenters ( Claire Byrne excepted ) go to the school of serial interruptions. ? It seems to me that BOC and Co think their own voice is God's gift to mankind
generalgerry wrote: » So any contributor that you hear on a radio station has to be cleared by the HSE to make sure that they are on message, even though RTE will present them as if they are giving their own independent opinions. They are just PR for the HSE. It sort of reminds me of the "independent economic experts" that RTE gave us pre-2008.
Infoanon wrote: » Bog standard clause in most people's contracts that you need to get permission from the entity first before writing / talking etc - certainly not exclusive to the HSE - mountain out of a molehill comes to mind. BOC interrupts a lot ,especially when a contributor is disagreeing with his/ BOCs view of the world.
recipio wrote: » Did the current crop of RTE presenters ( Claire Byrne excepted ) go to the school of serial interruptions. ? It seems to me that BOC and Co think their own voice is God's gift to mankind and allow everybody about five secs to answer before interjecting some irrelevant factoid. They should be forced to watch a box set of Gay on the late late to learn from the master.:rolleyes:
curioser wrote: » Don't agree re Claire Byrne. Her interview with the HSE man this morning was a classic example of the current trend of serial interrupting by RTE presenters.
recipio wrote: » Didn't hear it - I usually have Pat Kenny on. She is normally a reasonable interviewer although her put down of Joe Brolly on TV last week was just pandering to political correctness.
ButtersSuki wrote: » Missed that, what did she say?
recipio wrote: » Joe Brolly started to have a go at the DUP and she cut him off because they 'were not present to defend themselves' Come on !!
pc7 wrote: » Really enjoyed the first interview with the authors son, not sure I know the author but was a lovely listen.
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