Carrie Crowley
Encyclopedia
Carrie Crowley is an Irish
actress, Gaeilgeoir and former radio and television presenter. She has been described both as a "gay icon
" and "RTÉ's Miriam O'Callaghan
for the late 1990s". She appeared on television shows such as The Morbegs
and Echo Island
for Raidió Teilifís Éireann
(RTÉ). She also had her own chat show, Limelight, and co-presented Eurovision Song Contest 1997
with Ronan Keating
. More recently she has had acting roles in shows such as The Clinic
, School Run and An Crisis.
, Ireland. Her mother Nodhlaig (originally from The Rosses
, County Donegal
) was a teacher and her father Con (originally from Cork
) was a garda, while she also has one sister, Bríd. She first went on stage in a local production of Oliver!
.
.
Crowley began her broadcasting career on local radio in her home city of Waterford on WLR FM and presented several different shows between 1991 and 1996 before moving to RTÉ. She started out in children's programming co-presented the Irish language
versions of Echo Island with comedian Dara Ó Briain
, and starring in the pre-school series The Morbegs
.
In 1997 Crowley was offered the role as presenter of the Eurovision Song Contest 1997
(hosted by RTÉ) with Ronan Keating
. In 1998 she appeared again in the Eurovsion Song Contest before it began, speaking to Terry Wogan
and wishing him and Ulrika Jonson well before they started presenting the show.
After presenting the Eurovision, Crowley became one of the biggest stars on RTÉ in the 1990s. According to her this was a major problem at the time, she was working on several shows on RTÉ. She presented Potluck Mondays to Fridays at 5:30, on a Thursday night she had her own health show called Pulse and on Sundays she had her own prime-time chat show called Limelight. Limelight ran for two seasons. A female industry commentator later said: “Carrie was seen as the kind of safe bet that RTE management always go for a nice girl up from the country who wouldn't offend anyone. They're still doing it to their female presenters, making them look mumsy and safe, sending them out in awful concoctions.”
She later left television presenting to return radio presenting, co-presenting Fandango with Ray D'Arcy
on RTÉ Radio 1
. She appears on RTÉ Radio 1 every Sunday night.
Crowley has since distanced herself from her RTÉ career, describing herself as an "accidental tourist" at the station.
drama The Running Mate and TV3's School Run in 2009. She appeared in The Clinic
also in 2009. She has starred in Irish language short films including An Gaeilgeoir Nocht and has appeared in an episode of the Irish language television series An Crisis. She is currently working on a new drama series for TG4 called Anseo . In 2010 she teamed up with actors, Sorcha Fox, Jamie Carswell, writer/director Dónal O'Kelly and Kíla
to work on a play called The Adventures of the Wet Senor.
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
actress, Gaeilgeoir and former radio and television presenter. She has been described both as a "gay icon
Gay icon
A gay icon is a public figure who is embraced by many within :lesbian, :gay, :bisexual and :transgender communities...
" and "RTÉ's Miriam O'Callaghan
Miriam O'Callaghan
Miriam O'Callaghan is an Irish television current affairs broadcaster, chat show host and radio presenter with Raidió Teilifís Éireann . She has presented the leading current affairs show, Prime Time, since 1996, and her own chat show, Saturday Night with Miriam, since 2005...
for the late 1990s". She appeared on television shows such as The Morbegs
The Morbegs
The Morbegs was a popular Irish children's television show which was aired on The Den in Ireland around the late 1990s. It starred two furballs called Molly and Rossa who lived in Morbeg Land...
and Echo Island
Echo Island
Echo Island was an Irish television programme for children and young adults, shown on RTÉ Network 2. It was shown at 17:00 during The Den. The show effectively took over from Jo Maxi which had been aimed at Teenagers....
for Raidió Teilifís Éireann
Raidió Teilifís Éireann
Raidió Teilifís Éireann is a semi-state company and the public service broadcaster of Ireland. It both produces programmes and broadcasts them on television, radio and the Internet. The radio service began on January 1, 1926, while regular television broadcasts began on December 31, 1961, making...
(RTÉ). She also had her own chat show, Limelight, and co-presented Eurovision Song Contest 1997
Eurovision Song Contest 1997
The Eurovision Song Contest 1997, was the 42nd Eurovision Song Contest and it was held at the Point Theatre Dublin, Ireland, on 3 May 1997. Boyzone member Ronan Keating and Carrie Crowley were the presenters of the show....
with Ronan Keating
Ronan Keating
Ronan Patrick John Keating is an Irish recording artist, singer-songwriter, musician, and philanthropist. Keating debuted on the professional music scene alongside Keith Duffy, Mikey Graham, Shane Lynch and Stephen Gately, in 1994 as the lead singer of Boyzone. His solo career started in 1999, and...
. More recently she has had acting roles in shows such as The Clinic
The Clinic (TV series)
The Clinic is an award-winning Irish primetime television medical drama series produced by Parallel Film Productions for RTÉ. It debuted on RTÉ One in 2003 to positive reviews and proved to be one of the network's most popular shows. The show ran for seven seasons between September 2003 to November...
, School Run and An Crisis.
Early life
Crowley was born and raised in WaterfordWaterford
Waterford is a city in the South-East Region of Ireland. It is the oldest city in the country and fifth largest by population. Waterford City Council is the local government authority for the city and its immediate hinterland...
, Ireland. Her mother Nodhlaig (originally from The Rosses
The Rosses
The Rosses is a geographical and social region in the west of County Donegal, Ireland, centred around the town of Dungloe, which acts as the educational, shopping and civil centre for the area...
, County Donegal
County Donegal
County Donegal is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Border Region and is also located in the province of Ulster. It is named after the town of Donegal. Donegal County Council is the local authority for the county...
) was a teacher and her father Con (originally from Cork
Cork (city)
Cork is the second largest city in the Republic of Ireland and the island of Ireland's third most populous city. It is the principal city and administrative centre of County Cork and the largest city in the province of Munster. Cork has a population of 119,418, while the addition of the suburban...
) was a garda, while she also has one sister, Bríd. She first went on stage in a local production of Oliver!
Oliver!
Oliver! is a British musical, with script, music and lyrics by Lionel Bart. The musical is based upon the novel Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens....
.
Broadcasting career
Before she began a career in television Crowley was a secondary school teacher. She first started on RTÉ on the children's TV show The MorbegsThe Morbegs
The Morbegs was a popular Irish children's television show which was aired on The Den in Ireland around the late 1990s. It starred two furballs called Molly and Rossa who lived in Morbeg Land...
.
Crowley began her broadcasting career on local radio in her home city of Waterford on WLR FM and presented several different shows between 1991 and 1996 before moving to RTÉ. She started out in children's programming co-presented the Irish language
Irish language
Irish , also known as Irish Gaelic, is a Goidelic language of the Indo-European language family, originating in Ireland and historically spoken by the Irish people. Irish is now spoken as a first language by a minority of Irish people, as well as being a second language of a larger proportion of...
versions of Echo Island with comedian Dara Ó Briain
Dara Ó Briain
Dara Ó Briain is an Irish stand-up comedian and television presenter, noted for hosting topical panel shows such as The Panel and Mock the Week....
, and starring in the pre-school series The Morbegs
The Morbegs
The Morbegs was a popular Irish children's television show which was aired on The Den in Ireland around the late 1990s. It starred two furballs called Molly and Rossa who lived in Morbeg Land...
.
In 1997 Crowley was offered the role as presenter of the Eurovision Song Contest 1997
Eurovision Song Contest 1997
The Eurovision Song Contest 1997, was the 42nd Eurovision Song Contest and it was held at the Point Theatre Dublin, Ireland, on 3 May 1997. Boyzone member Ronan Keating and Carrie Crowley were the presenters of the show....
(hosted by RTÉ) with Ronan Keating
Ronan Keating
Ronan Patrick John Keating is an Irish recording artist, singer-songwriter, musician, and philanthropist. Keating debuted on the professional music scene alongside Keith Duffy, Mikey Graham, Shane Lynch and Stephen Gately, in 1994 as the lead singer of Boyzone. His solo career started in 1999, and...
. In 1998 she appeared again in the Eurovsion Song Contest before it began, speaking to Terry Wogan
Terry Wogan
Sir Michael Terence Wogan, KBE, DL , or also known as Terry Wogan, is a veteran Irish radio and television broadcaster who holds dual Irish and British citizenship. Wogan has worked for the BBC in the United Kingdom for most of his career...
and wishing him and Ulrika Jonson well before they started presenting the show.
After presenting the Eurovision, Crowley became one of the biggest stars on RTÉ in the 1990s. According to her this was a major problem at the time, she was working on several shows on RTÉ. She presented Potluck Mondays to Fridays at 5:30, on a Thursday night she had her own health show called Pulse and on Sundays she had her own prime-time chat show called Limelight. Limelight ran for two seasons. A female industry commentator later said: “Carrie was seen as the kind of safe bet that RTE management always go for a nice girl up from the country who wouldn't offend anyone. They're still doing it to their female presenters, making them look mumsy and safe, sending them out in awful concoctions.”
She later left television presenting to return radio presenting, co-presenting Fandango with Ray D'Arcy
Ray D'Arcy
Raymond 'Ray' D'Arcy is an Irish television and radio presenter. He currently presents a weekday morning radio programme, The Ray D'Arcy Show, on Today FM...
on RTÉ Radio 1
RTÉ Radio 1
RTÉ Radio 1 is the principal radio channel of Irish public-service broadcaster Raidió Teilifís Éireann and is the direct descendant of Dublin radio station 2RN, which began broadcasting on a regular basis on 1 January 1926...
. She appears on RTÉ Radio 1 every Sunday night.
Crowley has since distanced herself from her RTÉ career, describing herself as an "accidental tourist" at the station.
Acting career
In 2008 she appeared in the TG4TG4
TG4 is a public service broadcaster for Irish language speakers. The channel has been on-air since 31 October 1996 in the Republic of Ireland and since April 2005 in Northern Ireland....
drama The Running Mate and TV3's School Run in 2009. She appeared in The Clinic
The Clinic (TV series)
The Clinic is an award-winning Irish primetime television medical drama series produced by Parallel Film Productions for RTÉ. It debuted on RTÉ One in 2003 to positive reviews and proved to be one of the network's most popular shows. The show ran for seven seasons between September 2003 to November...
also in 2009. She has starred in Irish language short films including An Gaeilgeoir Nocht and has appeared in an episode of the Irish language television series An Crisis. She is currently working on a new drama series for TG4 called Anseo . In 2010 she teamed up with actors, Sorcha Fox, Jamie Carswell, writer/director Dónal O'Kelly and Kíla
Kíla
Kíla are an Irish folk music/World music group, originally formed in 1987 in the Irish Language secondary school, Coláiste Eoin in Co. Dublin. Kila's blend of Irish traditional music and World Music with a modern rock sensibility is generally credited with breathing new life into contemporary Irish...
to work on a play called The Adventures of the Wet Senor.