George Hook facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
George Hook
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George Hook in 2011
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| Born | 19 May 1941 Cork, Ireland
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| Nationality | Irish |
| Education | Rathmines College of Commerce, Dublin Institute of Technology |
| Occupation | Journalist and Radio Broadcaster |
| Height | 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in) |
| Spouse(s) | Ingrid Hook |
| Children | 3 |
George Hook was born on May 19, 1941. He is a well-known Irish broadcaster, journalist, and rugby union expert. He used to host popular radio shows like The Right Hook and High Noon on the Irish radio station Newstalk.
Before becoming famous on TV, George Hook worked as a rugby union coach and a businessman. He started sharing his rugby knowledge on RTÉ Television in 1997. He also appeared on other TV shows, including being a judge on Jigs & Reels and a coach on Celebrity Bainisteoir.
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Early Life and Education
George Hook grew up in the Albert Road area of Cork, Ireland. He went to Presentation Brothers College. This school was very well known for its strong rugby union teams.
After school, he continued his education. He attended Rathmines College of Commerce. He also studied at the Dublin Institute of Technology.
George Hook's Career Journey
George Hook has had many different jobs throughout his life. He started as a temporary clerk for CIÉ, which is Ireland's national transport company. Later, he became a travelling salesman for the Burroughs Corporation. This company is now known as Unisys.
He also ran his own catering business for more than twenty years. This shows he had a strong business background.
Rugby Coaching and Punditry
George Hook was a dedicated rugby union coach. He coached several teams, including London Irish and Connacht. He even coached the United States national team. This was for the 1987 Rugby World Cup.
He became a popular rugby expert on RTÉ. He often appeared with presenter Tom McGurk and fellow expert Brent Pope. People enjoyed his insights and opinions on the game.
Radio and Television Appearances
George Hook hosted The Right Hook on Newstalk radio. This show was very popular in the late afternoon. It was a drive-time programme that many people listened to.
Besides rugby, he was a judge on the RTÉ celebrity dancing show Jigs & Reels. He also wrote an autobiography called "Time Added On" in 2005. This book shared stories from his life and career.
In 2014, George Hook announced he would retire from radio and TV rugby punditry. However, he later changed his mind. He continued to be involved in broadcasting for some time.
Voluntary Work and Community Support
George Hook has also been involved in important voluntary work. In 2009, he visited Haiti. He helped organize a drive to find volunteers. These volunteers would travel to Haiti to help build houses.
After a big earthquake hit Haiti in January 2010, George Hook spoke about it. He encouraged his radio listeners to donate money to help the people affected.
He is also a patron of the Comber Foundation. This is an Irish charity that has worked in Romania since 1991. The charity helps adults with disabilities. It provides them with homes in the community. Many of these adults grew up in institutions. George Hook's daughter, Michelle McGill, is a trustee for this charity.
Political Views and Beliefs
George Hook has clear political views. He has been a longtime supporter of Fine Gael. This is a major political party in Ireland. He has even spoken at party events.
On his radio show, The Right Hook, he often called himself "an old Blueshirt". This term refers to a historical political movement in Ireland.
In 2010, he contributed to a DVD called In Praise of Priests. This DVD was part of the Catholic Church's "Year for Priests" celebration. It featured interviews with people who admired their favorite priests.
