Evelyn O'Rourke (born 1971/1972) is an Irish broadcaster and journalist employed by RTÉ. She is the current Arts and Media Correspondent for RTÉ News since February 2024.[2]
From 2008 to 2010, O'Rourke took on the role of radio reporter and television presenter for the RTÉ cross-media event Operation Transformation with Gerry Ryan.[7]
O'Rourke presented Countdown to 306, a nightly one-hour exam preparation programme on RTÉ 2fm on the build up to the Junior and Leaving Certificate exams.[8][9]
O'Rourke was a judge on the 10 January 2010 edition of series two of The All Ireland Talent Show after Shane Lynch's flight from London was cancelled, despite having given birth to her first son just six weeks earlier.[10] She was also a judge on TG4 variety show Glas Vegas.[11]
In 2014, O'Rourke wrote a best-selling memoir Dear Ross, which detailed her life following a cancer diagnosis while pregnant.[12]
Since January 2021, O'Rourke has presented Study Hub, an annual Leaving Certificate programme and podcast series on RTÉ Radio 1.[13][14]
O'Rourke has co-presented the Irish Book Awards on RTÉ One and reports on the Today programme, as well as presenting and reporting for the arts programme Arena on RTÉ Radio 1.[15]
In a May 2021 documentary for TG4, O'Rourke explored the experiences of women who were diagnosed with cancer ten years on from her own cancer diagnosis in 2010.[16][17]
On 29 February 2024, O'Rourke was announced as Sinéad Crowley's successor as Arts and Media Correspondent for RTÉ News.[4][18]
O'Rourke is a fluent Irish speaker. She is married to John McMahon, former head of RTÉ 2fm and current RTÉ executive producer. They have two sons.[20]
On 2 December 2009 she gave birth to her first son. Her second son was born on 2 February 2011. O'Rourke was diagnosed with breast cancer during her second pregnancy.[21][22]