Tommie Gorman

For the founder of the National Hockey League, see Tommy Gorman.
Tommie Gorman
Born County Sligo, Ireland
Nationality Irish
Education Summerhill College
College of Journalism, Rathmines
Occupation Journalist
Notable credit(s) RTÉ News and Current Affairs (1980 – present)
Europe Editor (1989 – 2001)
Northern Editor (2001 – present)
European of the Year (2001)

Tommie Gorman is an Irish journalist. He has worked for RTÉ News and Current Affairs since 1980. He is currently the Northern Ireland editor for RTÉ.[1]

He is known for his personal interviews with figures such as Seán Quinn, Gerry Adams and Roy Keane, the latter following the 2002 Saipan incident.

Early and personal life

Gorman was born in County Sligo. He was educated in Summerhill College. In County Dublin he studied in the College of Journalism, Rathmines.[2]

At the end of 2001 he announced on RTÉ Television he had cancer for eight years.[3]

Career

He began his journalistic work in Western Journal based in County Mayo. He joined RTÉ in 1980 and became North-West correspondent.[4] In 1989, he moved to Brussels to become Europe Editor.[2] He was made Northern Editor in 2001.[1]

Gorman has also made several documentaries.[2][5] Many of these have been on a Northern Ireland topic.[6]

Following the murder of Michaela McAreavey, Gorman went to Mauritius to cover the trial for RTÉ News.

Interviews

Gorman is known for the 2002 interview with Republic of Ireland footballer Roy Keane after he quit in the build-up to the 2002 FIFA World Cup during which Gorman begged Keane to return.[7] The interview was broadcast over a half hour of television on May 27, 2002.[8] It was the top television programme of May 2002, beating even coverage of the country's general election which had been held ten days earlier.[9] Details of the interview were later circulated outside Ireland.[7] Afterwards Gorman said Keane was "deeply emotional".[10]

In January 2009, Gorman conducted an interview with Seán Quinn.[11] The interview was a rare appearance in the media by Quinn.[12][13] However, when posted on YouTube, a video attracted 28 views, including two carried out for research purposes by the Irish Independent.[12]

In December 2009, Gorman conducted a 29-minute interview with Gerry Adams, the President of Sinn Féin.[14] The interview contained references to Adams's personal life and family background, including child abuse allegations surrounding family members.[14]

Awards and honours

Gorman was awarded with European of the Year in 2001 for his work on radio and television reports on EU institutions.[2] The award was presented to him in Dublin by President of Ireland Mary McAleese.[2]

Gorman was given an honorary masters degree by NUI Galway in October 2009.[4]

Earnings

In 2005 Gorman was ninth in RTÉ's top earners list, with a salary of €200,367.[15] He offered a pay freeze in February 2009.[16]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "RTÉ announce appointments". The Irish Times. 8 August 2001. Retrieved 10 December 2009.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 Aoife O'Reilly (8 February 2002). "RTÉ journalist named European of the Year". The Irish Times. Retrieved 13 January 2010. A native of Sligo, Mr Gorman is a past pupil of Summerhil College. Following his studies at the College of Journalism in Rathmines, Dublin...
  3. ↑ Dr John Crown (1 January 2002). "Factual inaccuracies in Gorman's portrayal of Irish cancer services". The Irish Times. Retrieved 13 January 2010.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Brian McDonald (20 October 2009). "No second fiddle as college honours duo". Irish Times. Retrieved 13 January 2010.
  5. ↑ lan Murray (23 March 2008). "RTÉ journalist silent over SF/DUP link-man claims". Irish Independent. Retrieved 13 January 2010.
  6. ↑ Kevin Myers (3 July 2008). "The secret of Irish morality: do it when no-one's looking". Irish Independent. Retrieved 13 January 2010.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 "Keane's interview". BBC News. 27 May 2002. Retrieved 15 January 2010.
  8. ↑ "Keane in exclusive RTÉ interview". RTÉ. 27 May 2002. Retrieved 15 January 2010.
  9. ↑ Emmanuel Kehoe (7 October 2007). "The cruel fates of two Cork heroes". The Sunday Business Post. Retrieved 15 January 2010.
  10. ↑ "Keane stands firm". BBC News. 27 May 2002. Retrieved 15 January 2010.
  11. ↑ "We're good at finger-pointing". Irish Independent. 8 February 2009. Retrieved 13 January 2010.
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 Laura Noonan (15 April 2009). "Publicity-shy tycoon jumps on YouTube bandwagon". Irish Independent. Retrieved 15 January 2010.
  13. ↑ Niamh Brennan (31 January 2009). "Quinn says he did no wrong in Anglo share deal. For the moment, I am sceptical". Irish Independent. Retrieved 15 January 2010.
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 Mark Simpson (21 December 2009). "Rare glimpse into private side of Gerry Adams". BBC News. Retrieved 15 January 2010.
  15. ↑ "Kenny tops RTÉ rich list". Irish Examiner (TCH Holdings). 30 March 2009. Retrieved 13 January 2010.
  16. ↑ Denise Clarke (23 February 2009). "I'd take further RTÉ wage cut -- Miriam". Irish Independent. Retrieved 13 January 2010.

External links