Una O'Hagan (born 1962) is an Irish author, journalist and former newsreader with RTÉ,[1] Ireland's national radio and television station. She presented the main television news programmes Six One News, Nine O'Clock News and One O'Clock News including all other news bulletins on both radio and television. For nine years, from 1996 to 2005, she co-presented the station's flagship news programme Six One News with Bryan Dobson.[2] O'Hagan presented her last news bulletin on Sunday 25 February 2018.[3]
Una O'Hagan | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | 1962 |
| Nationality | Irish |
| Alma mater | Dublin Institute of Technology |
| Occupations | |
| Years active | 1983–present |
| Employer | RTÉ |
| Notable credit | RTÉ News |
| Spouse(s) | Colm Keane (until his death, 2022) |
| Children | 1 son (deceased) |
O'Hagan was born in Dublin in 1962 and attended Dominican College, Eccles Street.[4] She studied journalism at the Dublin Institute of Technology, graduating in 1982.[5] The following year, 1983, she joined RTÉ, where she worked as a newsreader on RTÉ Radio 2.[6] In early 1986, she became a member of RTÉ's news reporting staff.[7]
In 1990, in Zambia, she met and interviewed Nelson Mandela, who had been released from captivity on Robben Island just two weeks earlier.[8] In 1992, she accompanied Ireland's first woman president, Mary Robinson, on a state visit to Australia, having already covered her election as President of Ireland (Uachtaráin na hÉireann) in 1990.[9]
She also reported on the release of Beirut hostage Brian Keenan in 1990,[10] the negotiations in Brussels for the new EU constitution in 2003,[11] and she co-presented RTÉ's coverage of the events of 9/11.[12]
As a newscaster, she hosted live programmes on the deaths of former Taoiseach Jack Lynch in 1999[13] and Garret FitzGerald in 2011, the visit of Queen Elizabeth II to Ireland in 2011,[14] and the 2012 United States presidential election.[15]
She was married to author and former RTÉ broadcaster, the late Colm Keane.[16] They lost their only son (and only child) Seán to cancer in 2007.[17] They wrote four books together: the No.1 bestseller The Little Flower, St. Thérèse of Lisieux: The Irish Connection, published in September 2018,[18][19] and the bestselling book Animal Crackers: Irish Pet Stories, published in June 2016.[20] Their most recent co-written books were The Village of Bernadette: Lourdes, Stories, Miracles and Cures - The Irish Connection, published in September 2019,[21] and The Book of St. Brigid, published in September 2021.[22]
References
edit- ^ Horan, Niamh (4 February 2018). "Legendary anchor Una O'Hagan announces she's leaving RTE News". Independent.ie. Retrieved 21 December 2019.
- ^ "RTE's Six One newsreaders down the years - Irish Mirror Online".
- ^ "Radio 1 Highlights". RTÉ.ie.
- ^ "Dominican College PPU". www.dominicancollegeppu.ie.
- ^ RTÉ Guide, Power's Court, 22 July 2005, pg 17
- ^ Ireland on Sunday, 60 second interview, 15 December 2003, pg 34
- ^ "Stolen Beit Paintings Unveiled at National Gallery". RTÉ.ie.
- ^ "Nelson Mandela...RTÉ Visit in 1992." www.superannrte.ie.
- ^ Harrington, Katy (9 November 2015). "Twenty five facts about Ireland's first female President Mary Robinson". Irish Post. Archived from the original on 17 November 2015 – via Wayback Machine.
- ^ "Brian Keenan Press Conference". RTÉ.ie.
- ^ "No sign of breakthrough at EU summit". RTÉ.ie. 12 December 2003.
- ^ "President Gives Her Reaction to 9/11 Attacks". Europeana.eu. Archived from the original on 17 November 2015 – via Wayback Machine.
- ^ "Former Taoiseach, Jack Lynch, dies aged 82". RTÉ.ie. 20 October 1999.
- ^ "Ireland's loss is TV3's gain as RTE arrives late". Independent.ie.
- ^ O'Carroll, Sinead. "TV guide: the US Presidential Election on the box". TheJournal.ie.
- ^ "COLM KEANE - bestselling author on saints and near-death experience". Colm Keane.
- ^ "RTE's Una 'still can't speak of son's death'". Independent.ie.
- ^ "Irish Bestsellers 29th September 2018". 5 October 2018.
- ^ "The Little Flower, St Therese of Lisieux: The Irish Connection Colm Keane".
- ^ "Colm Keane - Animal Crackers Irish Pet Stories".
- ^ "A Day with Colm Keane & Una O'Hagan". 26 September 2019.
- ^ Falvey, Deirdre. "The original feminist role model: Bringing Brigid out of St Patrick's shadow". The Irish Times.