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Reading and the voice of the nation

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RTÉ Radio 1 Liveline presenter Joe Duffy will speak about his top 10 favourite books on Saturday at 11.30am to 1pm in Glór along with columnist Fiona Looney.

The Ennis Book Club Festival takes place this weekend. RTÉ radio Liveline host Joe Duffy will speak about his top 10 favourite books at the festival. Dearbhla Acheson spoke to the presenter about his passion for reading.

 

He has been described as the voice of the nation and the country’s best listener, but popular RTÉ radio host Joe Duffy still only sees himself as Mr Joe Soap.
Joe will be in Ennis at the weekend to speak at the Ennis Book Club Festival. Along with writer Fiona Looney, he will talk about his 10 favourite books, among them Brian Keenan’s An Evil Cradling and Angela’s Ashes.
Born in Dublin in 1956, Joe grew up in Ballyfermot. He initially worked as a social worker before joining RTÉ radio as a producer in 1989. Since then, he has worked his way through several shows, first as a reporter on the Gay Byrne Show and then as presenter of several programmes including the media programme Soundbyte.
Liveline was already an established chat show before Joe took it on but it has been in his very capable hands since 1999. Since then, the early afternoon talk show has taken on a distinctive character that is all Joe. “If people have a story to tell, they phone Liveline,” he says. “The topics come from the callers. They make the show what it is. And that could be anything, from dodgy dealers to your favourite holiday reading,” he said.
Growing up, Joe admits he loved reading and spent a lot of time in the small local library in Ballyfermot. “As I recall it, my favourite book then was anything that belonged to Enid’s Blyton Famous Five series and my favourite character was George – yes I thought George the tomboy was great. I still love reading. I’d be much more in favour of having plenty of books available for kids around the house than for the television always to be on. I don’t start another book until I’m finished the one I’m reading. I’m currently reading a book by Mariane Pearl called A Mighty Heart. I love a good movie but in the main, books are always better than the film version. The thing with a book is one can create their own idea of what a character looks like or how they speak and that idea can be ruined when they see the film, making the whole story disappointing to them,” he commented.
He believes his love of books growing up certainly enhanced his curiosity. “It gave me an inquisitive mind and I feel it is directly linked to the job I have ended up doing. I was always known as the most curious boy in the class and I suppose, I still wear that hat. I love finding out more about something, getting to the bottom of a subject. To a large extent, that’s what I do on Liveline,” Joe added.
“Growing up, I never thought I’d be doing what I’m doing today. I sit at my desk in work everyday surprised at myself. I never aspired to present a show like Liveline. I never know from one minute to the next on the show where the conversation will go, let alone from one show to the next.
“In just one programme we can discuss topics that are so far removed from each other, from books to the Celtic Tiger,” he explained.
“These days, of course, a lot of what we discuss relates to the recession the country is in and the effect that is having on people’s everyday lives. In years gone by, we covered a lot about the risks of pyramid schemes and warned people to be careful of buying holiday homes abroad. Little did we know when we were chatting about issues like that, the extent to which all those things would come back to haunt people and that effectively the whole country is a whole pyramid scheme. I mean, look at Nama and the Government’s handling of everything got to do with it and all that relates to it. The financial state that this country is now in as a result of the banking system is incomprehensible. We were dealing with stories relating to the banks and how the financial system that has prevailed in this country is affecting people’s lives. This week, we’re dealing a lot with small traders and businesses who can’t get money to keep their businesses going. The other big topic of discussion these days are headshops. We’ve been covering stories about headshops – and people who have taken substances – since the start of January and only now because of the publicity about the headshops are politicians coming on board,” Joe added.
He said he tries not to get involved in lobbying politicians. “But obviously, things that so many people across the nation are hearing on Liveline do bring pressure to bear on the political system and that is a good thing. I have been asked on a number of occasions to run for politics and by all parties but I’m not interested. I consider myself to be in a very privileged position doing what I do and I simply don’t want to join a political party”.
While Joe is a Dub through and through, he admits that he loves Ennis. “It’s a great town with a wonderful character and a lot to offer. I love the small intimate narrow streets,” he said.
During his visit to Ennis, he will be visiting a dear friend of his in the Poor Clare Convent. “I will be visiting a good friend of mine, Sr Bernadine in the Poor Clare Convent during my visit to Ennis this week. I did a piece for the Gay Byrne Show from there about 15 years ago and have kept up contact and my friendship with the sisters there, especially Sr Bernadine, since then.”
He added that he’s very much looking forward to being involved in the Ennis Book Club Festival. “I’m completely behind anything that encourages people to read and am delighted to be involved in the festival. I’ve heard that it’s a great event and it’s an honour to lend my name to the line-up,” he said.

 

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