Tom McGurk

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Not to be confused with Tom McGuirk.

Tom McGurk
Birth nameTom McGurk
Date of birth (1946-12-20) 20 December 1946 (age 77)
Place of birthCookstown, County Tyrone[1]
UniversityQueen's University Belfast
SpouseMiriam O'Callaghan (1983–1996)
Caroline Kennedy
​
(m. 2003)​
Children4
Occupation(s)Journalist
Rugby union career
Amateur team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)
Old Belvedere ()

Tom McGurk (Irish: Tomás Mag Oirc) (born 20 December 1946) is an Irish poet, journalist, radio presenter and sportscaster from Brockagh, County Tyrone, Northern Ireland. He attended Portadown College.[2] He studied English and Philosophy at Queen's University Belfast.[3] He was involved in the Civil Rights demonstrations while at Queen's.

Career[edit]

TV and Radio[edit]

McGurk first joined RTÉ in 1972, as a news reporter, moving on to present Last House and First House on television. In 1972 he won a Jacob's Award for his RTÉ Radio documentaries on Ireland's islands.[4] For 20 years was the presenter of RTÉ Sport's rugby coverage, most notable of the Six Nations and Internationals with the panel of George Hook and Brent Pope. McGurk also spent time in the 1980s and 1990s in the UK, working for BBC Radio 4's Start of the Week as a presenter on the regional ITV station for the North West of England, Granada Television. On his return to Ireland he presented the Sunday Show on RTE Radio 1. He has also guest presented Tonight with Vincent Browne, on TV3. He presented a drive-time radio show on 4FM when it launched in 2009.[5]

Writing[edit]

Currently[when?] he is a columnist with The Sunday Business Post. McGurk wrote the script for the TV film Dear Sarah based on the letters from Sarah Conlon, campaigning for the release of her husband (Giuseppe Conlon), son (Gerry Conlon) and sister Anne Maguire, caught up in the Guildford Four miscarriage of justice.

Among his poems is "Big Ned" about a farmer from Brockagh, County Tyrone.[6]

Personal life[edit]

While working for 4fm, the Director of the National Women's Council Susan McKay spoke out against an "uncouth and objectionable" interview McGurk conducted with her. The National Women's Council has since refrained from giving interviews to 4fm.[7]

From 1983 to 1996 he was married to the broadcaster Miriam O'Callaghan, with whom he has four daughters. In 2003 he married PR consultant Caroline Kennedy.[8]

On 5 December 2017, the Irish Revenue Commissioners's list of tax defaulters revealed that McGurk had made a settlement of €76,000 with the Revenue for the underpayment of income tax.[9]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Kennelly, Brendan, ed. (1970) The Penguin Book of Irish Verse. Harmondsworth: Penguin Books; p. 27
  2. ^ "Portadown College Alumni". Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 26 August 2015.
  3. ^ Tom McGurk Profile RTE Archives.
  4. ^ The Irish Times, "Radio and TV awards presented", 31 January 1972
  5. ^ Veterans back on the airwaves as 4FM launches Irish Examiner, February 28, 2009.
  6. ^ Kennelly, Brendan, ed. (1970) The Penguin Book of Irish Verse. Harmondsworth: Penguin Books; pp. 410-11]
  7. ^ Murphy, Claire (10 August 2009). "Women's leader hits back over 'uncouth' McGurk's radio tirade". Evening Herald. Retrieved 10 August 2009.
  8. ^ "Marriage is now a la mode". Independent.ie. 25 May 2003. Retrieved 29 September 2013.
  9. ^ "Tom McGurk makes €76,000 settlement with Revenue". rte.ie. 5 December 2017. Retrieved 5 December 2017.
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