Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
RTE RADIO ONE host John Murray has spoken frankly about the depression which left him unable to work for more than six months.
The broadcaster returned to his 9am slot this morning after an extended sick leave and opened his show by explaining to listeners how badly he had been affected by the illness.
After beginning with a brief joke about Roy Keane, Murray said it was great to be back on air and thanked his family, friends and production staff for their support over the previous months, before explaining how he had been affected.
Murray described how quickly the depression and anxiety had hit him. ”One minute I’m happily presenting this radio show and enjoying life, the next I’m… gripped with anxiety with the simplest task proving beyond me,” he said.
“Depression doesn’t just drop in for a quick hello and run for the hills,” he said. “It took a fancy to me… and boy did it make its presence felt.”
He said that one of the worst times of day had been the mornings “when the day ahead became something to endure rather than enjoy”.
He thanked all the people who had sent him cards, emails, mass cards and letters of support for “helping me get back here this morning” and urged anyone experiencing depression or anxiety to reach out and talk to someone.
His wife Miriam Donohoe tweeted to thank listeners for supporting John:
Many Twitter users also tweeted their support for his openness in discussing his illness.
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
Be well John and kudos for speaking up!
Well done John on speaking out about your depression, it will give hope to an awful lot of people, including mySelf.
and fair play to you Philip for being strong enough to say that as well. Respect.
While I wouldn’t be a regular listener to his show I did catch him this morning. Fair play to him for an open and frank admission of his battle. Depression is a cruel illness and because it isn’t an obvious physical ailment it still today tends to be shunned or not talked about.
Also fair play to RTE who seem to have supported him during this period by keeping his slot for him. Part of the reason that most people are reluctant to admit or talk about having depression is the fear of how it will affect their job.
Absolutely spot-on Jim.
We’ll done John
Depression drains your energy, hope, and drive, making it difficult to do what you need to feel better. But while overcoming depression isn’t quick or easy, it’s far from impossible. You can’t beat it through sheer willpower, but you do have some control—even if your depression is severe and stubbornly persistent. The key is to start small and build from there. Feeling better takes time, and you can get there if you make positive choices for yourself each day.
Well done, John. Very brave to address the issue of depression so openly. People who never suffer it have no idea how debilitating it can be, and entirely beyond your control. Hats off and welcome back
Thanks John, your openness this morning has helped a lot of people who respect you even more than before.
I know someone with depression and its a terrible thing. Cant do anything, even the simplest things, for himself. To be totally honest its hard not to get annoyed at times when he is bugging me to do stuff for him as I have quite a busy life an I try to stay supportive. But its tough or everyone involved. Well done to John for talking about it. Many people don’t understand and believe the person just needs to “Cop on and snap out of it”, If only it was that easy.
Indeed Stephen… hard sometimes to qualify someone say struggling with mortgage arrears, bills, business going under etc etc you can understand being depressed anxious etc and then others who you assume have everything to not be depressed are just as depressed. Its a Debilitating condition…
In parts of the world where they do not have enough food to eat and worry about how will they stay on this earth while others with everything in their grasp looking for ways out of it… its a crazy world. Depression is a terrible thing.
I think you’ve nailed it there. When someone who appears to have everything, or at least not a bad existence compared to others, suffers from depression there’s the added struggle of actually knowing this. You beat yourself up constantly because in your heart you know you aren’t struggling with the things others are and people pointing that out only heaps the guilt on. No one and I absolutely mean no one wants to be feeling so low, it’s a dreadful illness and just like any illness the all the patient wants to be is well. Best of luck to everyone suffering hope your recovery will be soon and complete and I hope you have the love and support of some kind patient people. And to those kind patient people stay well and strong, it will get better for your loved one.
We’ll done John. Only recently, Stephen Fry talked about his long battle with depression. Someone wondered how he could be depressed, when he’s got money. He tried to explain how it’s like any disease, in that it doesn’t choose it’s victims based on wealth.
As long as the topic is avoided and swept under the carpet, their will be ignorance. Get it out in the open. Depression doesn’t like open spaces. As far as I’m aware, support is the best weapon in fighting this debilitating sickness.
Best of luck to John and everyone else who’s suffering depression.
“I’m not a praying man but, Superman, if you can hear me”. Homer Simpson
Great to hear you back John.
Glad to hear John back on the airwaves. Wishing you health and happiness. Depression does not only effect the individual but the people we love and are close to us. I do not know how my lovely wife/ best friend has managed to stay at my side. Every day is difficult , a form of endurance test. It is great to hear well known personalities talking about their personal battle with depression. My battle continues.
Joe, your sensitivity to those around you despite the weight bearing down on you is every bit as inspiring and encouraging as any well know personality. Be well.
Delighted you are back John.Beir Bua.
Fair play to you John wish there were more people like you on the airwaves.now while your at it blast the political class while you have that mike.
Welco.e back John. Mornings weren’t the same without you.
What an inspiration to us all – go raibh maith agat John.
It also seems like John has support n respect from family n friends, so basic but so vital. Thank u for speaking out about ur depression :-)
A good thing happened today. John Murray returned. :-)
Silverharp, it doesn’t matter who’s talking about it, it’s irrelevant. The point is that we get a discussion going about mental health issues in this country because we just don’t talk about it. And that is detrimental to anyone with depression because not talking makes it a million times worse – trust me I know. To the likes of Conor and John I say thank you for getting the country talking about such an important issue. It’s a very brave step and you are great to do it. Great to have you back John. RTE1 wasn’t the same without you! Stay well x
Well as I am not allowed to be critical of the role of RTE personalities and talking heads in relation to the wider community I just think it would be better to hear bottom up stories like the recent ones on suicide which were much more powerful. the 15 minute news cycle like chinese food will be soon forgotten
Not to disagree with the basic point that it’s unhelpful to pretend that it doesn’t exist, but most of us depressives have no desire to talk about it. Going to the other extreme of exploring every nook and cranny of it is probably not a lot better. I don’t think you are suggesting this, but some people (funnily enough, those who have a financial stake in it) seem to want to. We all cope differently. Plenty of us have packed depression in a box marked “Toxic – Do Not Open” and shoved it in the corner. The box is still there and not to be ignored, and it’s not shameful to have the box. But we don’t especially want to poke at it.
us depressives – lol
Welcome back John Murray, delighted that you are and great to hear you are on the road again. Well done on talking about your illness and great you got through it. Best wishes going forward and hope you and your family enjoy the moment
Well done John you’ve done so well. Look after yourself
What an Inspiration to us all – Go raibh maith agat John
Well said and welcome back. Huge respect for you and yours.
Used to listen to him when he was on Morning Ireland. Great to see John back on Air. Wishing him the best of luck for the future.
Really, luck isn’t what he needs. It is a decent programme. The show is dreadful. The personal story is fair enough, but the problem is with RTE and its programming not with any individual’s health
Well done!
Yes I suffer from depression .maybe I should say I did suffer I’m on medication for it and am very well.can do everything I want to do.my professor is a wonderful man.pat mckeon.
6 months is a quick recovery in the world of depression, though i’m sure he’s just finding his feet now. 3 years down would be an average minimum unless you’re not ‘that’ depressed or them pills work for some. someone told me recently they had a nervous breakdown, they’d been in hospital for a day and let home the next. it must have been something else as it certainly was not a breakdown. Sometimes highlighting it can make others aware of how much an easy excuse it is to use. It ain’t no Tuesday’s blues. Or another been told to go down to the cancer ward and look at all those people fighting to live while you’re feeling sorry for yourself. Thats another old nugget fired out by the ignorant. Wouldn’t wish it on them god love them.
nice to hear u back on radio this morning all the best
Never had a problem with Johns depression, It was an open secret as only in Ireland every dog in the street had heard about it and spoken about it ,
What fascinated me was that the usual gutter press such as the Indo or Mail did not make one mention of it over the last seven months . I admire the editors of these rags for doing so and let the man have some privacy but I do wish they had the same respect for people in other areas of public life when they go through similar hell .
We seem to live in country where the media decide who is going to be the victim this week and who’s life is going to be made hell and who is going to be let live in peace
A powerful biased press is a dangerous thing to have especially when you consider how few people are involved in the game here .
I would love to see some kind of debate around it here but unlikely if the removal of last nights post is anything to go by
Well said. Five of my comments now deleted on this thread. Ludicrous.
Just to say john I love your programme and admire you all the more for your courage and humanity
I wish him well. Never liked his show though, thought it was terrible how for the first few minutes of his shows he would make jokes about other people’s problems, hope he has more respect for others now.
Don’t write anything but fawning praise as your comment will be removed. I had a mildly critical comment of his show removed within minutes.
I’ve had five comments deleted. Nothing offensive – I actually said I liked him as a broadcaster – and I named no names. I agreed with someone else that the media are awful quiet when one of their own do something indiscreet or criminal. All my comments were deleted, seriously losing patience with this.
The criminality wasn’t related to Murray but to the alleged offences committed by Tom Humphries and the disgraceful silence of most of the Irish media. Imagine, say a footballer, was accused of the same thing.
I recently have a good luck spell cast on me by Dr ekaka email: ekakaspelltemple@yahoo.com spell temple and I want anyone to tell me how it use to work because still I had this spell cast on me different companies has been coming to me for me to work with them and I do not really know which of the companies is the right one for me and I’m so happy because since last 7months I lost my job and I have been looking for job and I was unable to get one for myself till I had this spell cast on me so is there anyone that can advice me on which of the companies that is right for me? And I also thank Dr.ekaka for his help too anyone in need of help with spell I will advise you to contact him
have your say