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JOURNALIST AND BROADCASTER Keelin Shanley has died at the age of 51.
RTÉ announced her untimely death following an illness today. She passed away this afternoon at home in Dublin.
Shanley has been a stalwart of RTÉ news coverage since she joined the broadcaster, with stints on the stations’ pillars Prime Time and Morning Ireland. She also presented her own television show Morning Edition for two years before returning to radio, and eventually taking over as co-anchor on the Six One news on RTÉ One.
Always seen as one of the most talented broadcasters on the books, she was often asked to fill in for Seán O’Rourke on his daily radio show. Other credits to her name include The Consumer Show, the documentary Hacked and the Late Debate.
She is mourned by her husband Conor Ferguson and son and daughter, Ben and Lucy.
Keelin grew up in Monkstown, Co Dublin and studied Science in Trinity College, moving to Bologna to continue her research. However, she soon moved into journalism.
On top of her career with RTÉ, she worked with CNN World Report and Radio France International.
Managing Director of RTÉ News and Current Affairs Jon Williams paid tribute to Keelin saying she was “the best of us- and we are heartbroken”.
“From Prime Time Investigates to Morning Edition, Morning Ireland to the Six One News, there wasn’t a corner of RTÉ News & Current Affairs untouched by Keelin’s fearless, generous, and passionate journalism.
For Keelin, the story was never about her – always about others. Her legacy of over 20 years journalism with RTÉ saw her help tell the stories of so many often marginalised. She strove to inform, probe and encourage.
Always inquisitive, interested, thoughtful and kind. The fact that she presented our flagship Six One News while dealing with cancer is inspirational in itself and so typical of Keelin’s determination to live life to the full. Our hearts go out to Conor, Lucy and Ben and her wider family. We are all poorer for her loss.
RTÉ director general Dee Forbes described Keelin as a “passionate and dedicated public service journalist” who had “expertise that challenged and probed as well as an ease that endeared her to all”.
“Keelin was incredibly popular with all her colleagues. But our loss is nothing compared to that of her much-loved family. My sincere sympathies go to Conor, Lucy, and Ben, to Keelin’s extended family, and to her wide circle of friends,” said Forbes.
President Michael D Higgins said the nation will have been “greatly saddened” by her passing.
A statement reads: “People all over Ireland will have been greatly saddened by the news of the death of Keelin Shanley, broadcaster and award-winning journalist.
“Driven by a strong commitment to social justice, she brought great professionalism and dedication to her work as a journalist.
“Sabina and I send our deepest condolences to her husband Conor, their children Lucy and Ben, her wider family and her wide circle of friends.”
Interview
In March 2013, just after the launch of Morning Edition and to mark Daffodil Day, she spoke to Ryan Tubridy on the Late Late Show about having lived with a cancer diagnosis.
She was diagnosed with breast cancer on 25 February 2011, the same day as that year’s general election.
“I was horrified, I hadn’t a notion,” she said, before praising the healthcare she had received.
“It’s an awfully shocking word to hear… One of the worst things about it is to tell other people,” she added, likening it to an explosion in loved ones’ lives.
- With reporting from Adam Daly
Gone too soon rest in peace Keelin
Wow.. Really sad news, only 51.. Such a young age to pass, condolences to her family and friends.
Such a shame. She was a tremendous broadcaster. RIP
Rip
Had the pleasure of meeting her an amazing journalist and broadcaster. May she rest in peace
God rest her
Jaysus… that’s so sad r.i.p. condolences to her family and friends
An excellent broadcaster and journalist, a huge loss for the country. RIP
Sincere condolences to her family. Ireland has lost a talented broadcaster. Rest in peace Keelin.
Absolutely stunned to hear this. Talented broadcaster gone before her time. Thoughts are with her family. RIP
I am absolutely shocked as l had missed her on the six one news. She was a brilliant broadcaster. My heart goes out to her husband, children and extended family. May you rest in peace.
RIP.
Really sad to hear, gone so young. Rest in peace.
Sad news. Thought she got better. Codladh sámh Keelin x
Untimely death of an inspirational Legend.
Ar Dheis de go Raibh Anam.
I always like her but hadn’t realised she was ill, I’m shocked. RIP to a great broadcaster.
Such sad news,prayers for all her family and friends,RIP
So sorry and shocked to hear about Keelins passing. She was a great Journalist, especially with her science background.
A fair balanced and insightful journalist and commentator. Really saddened to hear this
RIP so young
Lovely lady, R.I.P.
So sorry and shocked to hear about Keelin’s passing. She was a great Journalist, especially with her background in Science, she brought a really good understanding to anything g of a technical nature.
So very sad a brave young intelligent woman may she RIP
So sad
Ah dreadful horrible thing to hear. I did wonder where she was of late. Super broadcaster. Met her once in Georges Arcade Market in Dublin as we leafed through some vinyl, lovely pleasant woman, happy to shoot the breeze a while. Thoughts with her family and colleagues, may she rest in peace.
So young very sad, RIP
Very sad news,she was an excellent broadcaster and lovely personality.
Sincere condolences to her husband and children,extended family and friends.RIP
Tragic
Very sad,she was one if the best. RIP.
Thoughts are with her husband and children.Sad news. RIP. Keelin
What a shock. Excellent presenter. Was fully expecting to see her anchor the election results shows on RTE over the next few days. She was brilliant at it. RIP.
Terrible news, she always came across as a warm caring person. Will always remember the incident on the stage at the Gaelic grounds when Limerick came home after winning the all- Ireland and the fireworks went off alongside her. Rip.
So sorry and shocked to hear about Keelin’s passing. She was a great Journalist, especially with her background in Science, she brought a really good understanding to anything of a technical nature.
A wonderful broadcaster. More importantly a family person, a family that is now grieving. Rip Keelin. Sympathies to all.
Untimely death of an inspirational Legend.
May her gentle soul Rest In Peace.
Wow that’s a shock!! Great talent too young RIP
I am so sorry to hear of the passing of Keelin, a marvellous broadcaster with a beautiful smile. May she rest in Peace in the palm of God’s hand. R.I.P.
Ar dheis Dé go raibh a h’anam dílis’
That horrible disease takes another well before their time, RIP Keelin.
Gone too soon. Great broadcaster. May she rest in peace. Condolences to her husband and children and all her friends and extended family. Another extraordinary bright light has gone out way before its time. Coladh go Samh Keelin
Very sad news
Stunned and deeply saddened to hear this news. I loved her voice and her broadcasting skills. Life can be so unfair. I hope her children grow to realise just how amazing a broadcaster she was. May she Rest in Peace. Sincere sympathy to her husband, kids and family.
God’s grace and blessings to her and family
Jesus that’s so terrible…So so sorry to hear this
Awful loss. She had a wonderful voice.
Ah no… that’s really sad news . Keelin was an excellent broadcaster and journalist … A very sad day…
So sorry to hear Beautiful soul
Ah no!! RIP Keelin. An outstanding journalist and broadcaster. A sad day indeed !
Very sad news. Had wondered where she was in recent months.
Condolences to her family and friends.
Rest in Peace Keelin.
So sad R.I.P
RIP.
Oh my God.
So sad.to loose such a brilliant broadcaster. Tragic loss for her family.RIP.
RIP.
Very sad… Young woman in her prime RIP
Sad news. Such a young woman. RIP
Omg that’s so sad. She was great on the six one with Caitroina
One of the few I actually liked on RTE. Very sad news. Condolences to her family.
Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis.
God that’s so sad at a young age. RIP
Ah no!! RIP Keelin. An outstanding journalist and broadcaster. A sad day indeed !
Ah no!! RIP Keelin. An outstanding journalist and broadcaster. A sad day indeed !
Very saddened and shocked by this horrible news. What an authentic and sincere voice in Irish journalism and broadcasting. My deepest sympathies to her family and friends, as well as her colleagues in RTE and beyond. Let’s continue to fight this disease with our pockets on daffodil day and every day. Rest in Peace, Keelin.
Very sad news. She had a fantastic radio voice. Sadly missed
Was wondering why she was not back on the six one news, now I know,so sad and so young,RIP Keelinn
A brilliant broadcaster so young. Life is very cruel so sad. Condolences to her family.
Am actually gutted to hear this, really liked her as a broadcaster. Extremely sad news…..R.I.P. Keelin.
I wondered why she wasn’t presenting news bulletins in recent months . Knew she had been ill before and suspected that health might be the reason. Sadly I was right. May she RIP.
That’s very sad news, loved hearing her on the radio.
Rest In Peace Keelin.
SHOCKED- A great Journalist- sad news. Respects to her family and friends- RIP
Oh what an awful loss, my she rest easy, gone far too young.
I’m in shock reading about this untimely death. There was always something so lovely and gentle about keelin. She was truly one of a kind. She was so kind hearted and a very fair broadcaster
My deepest sympathy to all her family and friends. RIP
R I P May she rest in peace. Condolences to her family. Really shocked to hear this sad news
Ahh
Very Sad News
Condolences to her family. RIP
Rte Curse continues …
@A: is there an unusual cluster of cancers at RTE?
RIp.
She hid her illness very well, and with great courage. May she R.I.P.
Rest in peace keelin.Curse of a disease.
REST IN PEACE Keelin.
So so sad RIP
51 no age at all
Very sad. May she rest in peace.
I am so deeply sad to hear this. So very talented and intelligent – she will be deeply and widely missed.
Very sad for friends and family
Very sad day, a wonderful presenter
RIP Keelin
Shocking news, sympathies to all concerned. When was she last on Six One? It must only b a few weeks ago. An excellent journalist. May she RIP
REST IN PEACE Keelin.
REST IN PEACE Keelin.
Brilliant journalist. R.I.P.
REST IN PEACE Keelin.
She was a wonderful presenter with a fantastic, strong voice and much the same personality. May she Rest In Peace.
No one on earth truely knows when our final min on this earth will be. Try enjoy it as much as possible also no one truly knows if there is anything after this life how could they? May she rip
My beauty queen of news.. ‘do not go gentle into the goodnight, roar, roar at the dying of the light ( a bridged) goodbye K!
Poor woman, Life is so fragile.
This sad news really brought me down to earth with a bump this afternoon.
Really depressing. I feel for Keelin’s family and friends. How cruel.
Just an awful loss
Peace to her husband and son and daughter .
So very sad. Keelin will be missed.
Makes no sense
Hard to understand nature takes no prisoners
Very sad, condolences to all her family & friends, May she rest in peace
Shocking news. Another great journalist gone. So sorry to hear this dreadful news.
Incredibly sad.. devastating for her family and friends… God speed…
Yeowwwwwwww GOWAN MARY LOU!!!!!!!
@Dillon Murray: I feel embarrassed for you.
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