Mary Wilson (broadcaster)

Mary Wilson
Born (1967-05-17) 17 May 1967 (age 57)
Dublin, Ireland
NationalityIrish
Occupation(s)Journalist, broadcaster
Notable creditDrivetime
Spouse(s)Tony O'Donoghue ( –2005); Hugh Daly (2021- )
ChildrenAoife

Mary Wilson (born 17 May 1967) is an Irish broadcaster and journalist. She currently presents the RTÉ radio programme Morning Ireland on RTÉ Radio 1. Until September 2020 she presented Drivetime.[1] In 2006, she was described as "one of Ireland’s leading journalists".[2]

Career

Wilson joined RTÉ in 1990. Originally from Tipperary, she began her career at RTÉ's local radio service in Cork before moving to Dublin.[2] Whilst there she worked across a wide range of areas in the RTÉ Newsroom.[2] Before presenting Drivetime, she was the legal affairs correspondent for RTÉ News and Current Affairs between 1996 and 2002.[2] She won the "ESB National Media Awards Journalist of the Year" in 2000.[3] In 2002, she was promoted to the post of legal affairs editor.[2] She spent 10 years in the job overall before moving on in 2006. She has covered many high-profile court cases.[4] When Wilson grew weary with the nationwide escapades of then Taoiseach Bertie Ahern, prior to the Irish general election in 2002, she described herself as "being left a little short of information".[5]

In 2006, when Rachael English finished up Five Seven Live, Wilson was promoted to presenter of Drivetime.[6] The programme airs Monday to Friday from 16:30 until 19:00. She had 229,000 listeners.[7] Joseph O'Connor's radio diary was commissioned by Wilson on this show each Wednesday.[8][9] In September 2020 she moved to presenting Morning Ireland, with Sarah McInerney and Cormac Ó Headhra taking over on Drivetime.[10]

Wilson has also appeared on the cover of Village.[11]

Personal life

Wilson was married to RTÉ Sport editor Tony O'Donoghue until 2005. She has a daughter, Aoife, born in 1997.[6][12] She married West Dublin GP Hugh Daly in March 2021.[13]

References

  1. ^ "RTÉ News: Drivetime". RTÉ. Retrieved 7 June 2009.
  2. ^ a b c d e "Mary Wilson lands drivetime radio slot". breakingnews.ie. 26 May 2006. Archived from the original on 10 April 2009. Retrieved 7 June 2009.
  3. ^ "RTÉ Annual Report" (PDF). RTÉ. 2000.
  4. ^ Vincent Browne (12 July 2006). "Village Magazine". Village Magazine. Retrieved 7 June 2009.
  5. ^ "FF hunker in bunker, again". Irish Independent. 25 May 2009. Retrieved 7 June 2009.
  6. ^ a b "Court reporter Mary Wilson to fill new radio drivetime slot". The Sunday Tribune. 2006. Retrieved 7 June 2009.[permanent dead link‍]
  7. ^ "Sally, your country needs you yet again". Irish Independent. 7 June 2009. Retrieved 7 June 2009.
  8. ^ "To walk Manhattan is to walk the world". Irish Independent. 24 May 2009. Retrieved 7 June 2009.
  9. ^ McDermott, Stephen. "Sarah McInerney returns in RTÉ Radio One shakeup as broadcaster reveals new autumn schedule". TheJournal.ie. Retrieved 25 June 2021.
  10. ^ "RTE's Mary Wilson on leaving the Four Courts". Village. Retrieved 7 June 2009.
  11. ^ Sinead Ryan (19 November 2007). "Golden rules for children in a marriage break-up. Last week, RTÉ's Mary Wilson spoke words of wisdom about her relationship split". The Irish Independent. Retrieved 7 June 2009.
  12. ^ Bray, Allison (26 March 2021). "Wedding joy for RTÉ's Mary Wilson as broadcaster ties knot with Hugh Daly". Irish Independent. Retrieved 14 June 2022.