Olivia O'Leary facts for kids

Olivia O'Leary, born in 1949, is a well-known Irish journalist and writer. She is famous for presenting news and important topics on TV and radio.

Olivia O'Leary's Early Life and Education

Olivia O'Leary went to school at St Leo's College, Carlow. She then studied at University College Dublin (UCD). After her studies, she started her career in journalism.

Starting Her Journalism Career

Olivia first worked for local newspapers in Carlow. These included the Nationalist and Leinster Times. In the late 1970s, she joined The Irish Times. There, she wrote about what happened in parliament in a descriptive way.

A Career in Broadcasting

Olivia O'Leary has had a long and successful career in radio and television. She is known for her clear and thoughtful way of presenting.

Working at RTÉ

In 1972, Olivia joined Raidió Teilifís Éireann (RTÉ). This is Ireland's national broadcaster. She became a presenter for shows that discussed important news topics. She presented popular programmes like Today Tonight, Questions and Answers, and Prime Time.

Broadcasting for the BBC

Olivia also worked for the BBC in the United Kingdom. She was the first regular female senior presenter for Newsnight. This is a major current affairs programme. She also presented First Tuesday. This was a monthly documentary series for ITV.

Her Radio Work Today

Today, Olivia still broadcasts a weekly political diary. You can hear it on Drivetime. This is a radio show on RTÉ Radio 1.

Books and Other Work

Besides her broadcasting, Olivia O'Leary is also an author. She has written several books.

Books She Has Written

She co-wrote a book called Mary Robinson: The Authorised Biography. This book is about Mary Robinson, a former President of Ireland. In 2004, Olivia wrote Politicians and Other Animals. This book offers a look at Irish politics.

Other Important Roles

Olivia was also the Chairperson for a special conference. This conference celebrated the 20th anniversary of the Office of the Ombudsman. The Ombudsman helps people with complaints against public bodies.

Personal Life and Family

Olivia O'Leary was married to Paul Tansey. He was an Economics Editor for The Irish Times. Paul sadly passed away in September 2008. Olivia has one daughter.

Family Connections

She is a cousin of Oz Clarke. He is a well-known TV personality and expert on wine.

Honorary Degrees

Olivia has received special recognition for her work. In 2011, her old university, UCD, gave her an honorary doctorate. This is a special degree given to people who have achieved great things. In 2017, Trinity College Dublin also awarded her an honorary doctorate.

Awards and Honours

Olivia O'Leary has won many awards for her excellent work in broadcasting.

Jacob's Awards

She won three Jacob's Awards during her time at RTÉ. These awards were very important in Irish broadcasting.

• In 1973, she won her first award for her work as a radio news reporter.
• In 1982, she won her second Jacob's Award for hosting Today Tonight.
• Her third award came in 1986 for chairing Questions and Answers.

Other Recognitions

Olivia also won a Sony Award. This was for her BBC Radio 4 programme called Between Ourselves. In 2019, she became a member of the Royal Irish Academy. This is a group that honours people who have made important contributions to learning and research in Ireland.