Irish Broadcasting 'Legend' Honoured

A broadcasting legend is to be recognised and honoured at a prestigious Irish Film & Television Academy (IFTA) event.

'A Life in Television' is an accolade for Cathal O'Shannon and takes place today at 1pm at the Conrad Hotel, Dublin.

Leading the IFTA tributes and hosting an intimate 'In conversation…with O'Shannon' will be his friend, former colleague and lifetime IFTA member, Gay Byrne.

Other invited guests include actors Niall Tobin, Fionnula Flanagan, Sinead Cusack and the producer John McColgan as well as ex-Irish film censors, John Kelleher and Sheamus Smith.

The director Paul Cusack, broadcasters Michael Ryan, Tom McGurk, Shay Healy and Vincent Browne, filmmaker Eamon De Buitlear, producers Bill Hughes, Larry Masterson, Brian Hayes and Stephen Rooke and Senator Eoghan Harris will be there too.

The Head of RTÉ Corporate Communications, Kevin Dawson, BAI Chief Executive Michael O'Keeffe, plus a broad range of Cathal's Academy peers and industry colleagues are all to attend.

The IFTA Academy will celebrate Cathal's incredibly vibrant TV career and repertoire of work as well as his journey from The Irish Times to RTÉ via the BBC, with Broadsheet and Newsbeat along with his time with the BBC on Tonight and his infamous interview - Muhammad Ali v Cathal O'Shannon.

His award-winning documentaries, Even The Olives are Bleeding, Emmet Dalton Remembers and series such as Thou Shalt Not Kill and Hidden History - are all a legacy of work that reveals Cathal's dedication to getting to the truth of the matter.

Commenting on his IFTA Tribute event, Cathal O'Shannon said: "It is always flattering to be acknowledged by your peers - to have contributed something to your profession, and I am very grateful to IFTA for this honour. It is particularly gratifying that it occurs before I pop my clogs!"

Áine Moriarty, Chief Executive of the Irish Film & Television Academy, said: "We have no doubt that Cathal will savour this special Tribute from his Academy peers, friends and colleagues.

"It is an indication of the high regard the Irish industry and community has for his work and the personality of the man himself."

Warm congratulatory messages have been pouring in from the Irish film and television industry with well wishes received from friends and colleagues including Cathal Goan, Mike Murphy, Adrian Dunbar, Donal MacIntyre, Ingrid Craigie, BAI Chariman Bob Collins, Irish Times Editor, Geraldine Kennedy, Lelia Doolan, Maeve Binchy, Mary Kennedy, Michael Viney, Seamus Deasy and Tom Collins.

At the event Cathal O'Shannon will be honoured with Lifetime Membership of IFTA, joining prominent industry talents such as Maureen O'Hara, Gay Byrne, Pierce Brosnan, George Morrison, Nuala Moiselle and John Boorman as lifetime members.

(BMcC/KMcA)