John Bowman
Encyclopedia
John Bowman PhD
(born July 1942) is an Irish
historian and a long-standing broadcaster and presenter of current affairs and political programmes with Raidió Teilifís Éireann
(RTÉ). He chaired the audience-participation political programme Questions and Answers on RTÉ One
for 21 years. He is the father of comedian and journalist Abie Philbin Bowman
and the broadcaster and journalist Jonathan Philbin Bowman
.
in south Dublin. His father worked for Great Southern Railways
(later CIE
) and his mother was a nurse, originally from Co. Monaghan. Bowman was educated at Belvedere College
and Trinity College Dublin where he received a PhD
in political science. He joined Radio Éireann
in 1962, later becoming the presenter and commentator on numerous current affairs programmes, as well as an analyst of political developments and interviewer of politicians on radio and later on television. In the 1980s, he presented the current affairs programme Today Tonight
, the precursor to Prime Time
.
Bowman has won two Jacob's Awards
for his radio broadcasting, in 1970 and 1981, the latter for his presentation of the current affairs programme, Day by Day. In April 2008, hhe commented on RTÉ television coverage of the state funeral of former President of Ireland
Patrick Hillery
.
Bowman chaired the audience-participation political programme Questions and Answers on RTÉ One
television for 21 years, the final edition airing on 29 June 2009. He is the presenter of Bowman Sunday Morning (previously Bowman Saturday) on radio, a weekly compilation of material from broadcasting archives at home and abroad. He has also co-anchored RTÉ election coverage since the early 1980s.
In May 2011, he fronted RTÉ television coverage of Queen Elizabeth II's visit to the Republic of Ireland
.
Bowman wrote a history of RTÉ Television called Window and Mirror. RTÉ Television: 1961-2011. It was launched by launched by Taoiseach
Enda Kenny
at the National Museum in Dublin on 23 November 2011.
in 1993 and of Comhar, an environmental pressure group, from 1999 until 2004 http://www.enterprise-ireland.com/Innovation/Dr.+John+Bowman.htm.
a journalist, television and radio presenter died in an accident in March 2000. His daughter Emma Philbin Bowman works in Dublin as a psychotherapist http://independentpsychotherapy.com. His middle son Abie Philbin Bowman
is a columnist http://thedubliner.typepad.com/the_dubliner_magazine/2008/03/what-in-the-nam.html for The Dubliner magazine and a stand up comedian http://www.abielaughs.com, while in 2005 his youngest son Daniel initiated Be Not Afraid; a charity wristband campaign which raised over €80,000 in aid of Turning the Tide of Suicide and the Irish Red Cross http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/1491100/John-Paul-IIs-words-inspire-wristbands.html and later set up a youth-marketing firm, Spark http://www.sparkhq.ie.
PHD
PHD may refer to:*Ph.D., a doctorate of philosophy*Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*PHD finger, a protein sequence*PHD Mountain Software, an outdoor clothing and equipment company*PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
(born July 1942) is an Irish
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...
historian and a long-standing broadcaster and presenter of current affairs and political programmes with 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). He chaired the audience-participation political programme Questions and Answers on RTÉ One
RTÉ One
RTÉ One is the flagship television channel of Raidió Teilifís Éireann , and it is the most popular and most watched television channel in Ireland. It was launched as Telefís Éireann on 31 December 1961, it was renamed RTÉ Television in 1966, and it was renamed as RTÉ One upon the launch of RTÉ...
for 21 years. He is the father of comedian and journalist Abie Philbin Bowman
Abie Philbin Bowman
Abie Philbin Bowman is an Irish comedian and journalist. He is the writer/director/performer of "Jesus: The Guantanamo Years" which was staged in 2006 in the Project Arts Centre and the Underbelly as part of the Edinburgh Fringe...
and the broadcaster and journalist Jonathan Philbin Bowman
Jonathan Philbin Bowman
Jonathan Philbin Bowman was an Irish journalist and radio broadcaster.-Early life and education:Born in Dublin in 1969, Jonathan Philbin Bowman, the son of the historian and broadcaster John Bowman, was educated at Sandford Park School and at Newpark Comprehensive School in Dublin...
.
Life
Bowman was brought up in BallsbridgeBallsbridge
Ballsbridge is a suburb of Dublin, Ireland, named for the bridge spanning the River Dodder on the south side of the city. The sign on the bridge still proclaims it as "Ball's Bridge" in recognition of the fact that the original bridge in this location was built and owned by a Mr...
in south Dublin. His father worked for Great Southern Railways
Great Southern Railways
The Great Southern Railways Company was an Irish company that from 1925 until 1945 owned and operated all railways that lay wholly within the Irish Free State .-Formation:...
(later CIE
Córas Iompair Éireann
Córas Iompair Éireann , or CIÉ, is a statutory corporation of the Irish state, answerable to the Irish Government and responsible for most public transport in the Republic of Ireland and, jointly with its Northern Ireland counterpart, the Northern Ireland Transport Holding Company, between the...
) and his mother was a nurse, originally from Co. Monaghan. Bowman was educated at Belvedere College
Belvedere College
Belvedere College SJ is a private secondary school for boys located on Great Denmark Street, Dublin, Ireland. It is also known as St. Francis Xavier's College....
and Trinity College Dublin where he received a PhD
PHD
PHD may refer to:*Ph.D., a doctorate of philosophy*Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*PHD finger, a protein sequence*PHD Mountain Software, an outdoor clothing and equipment company*PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
in political science. He joined Radio 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...
in 1962, later becoming the presenter and commentator on numerous current affairs programmes, as well as an analyst of political developments and interviewer of politicians on radio and later on television. In the 1980s, he presented the current affairs programme Today Tonight
Today Tonight (Ireland)
Today Tonight is an Irish news and current affairs programme noted for its in-depth analysis, robust cross-examination of senior politicians and investigative reporting. The programme was brodacast on RTÉ One for the first time on Monday 6 October 1982....
, the precursor to Prime Time
Prime Time
Prime Time is an Irish news analysis, current affairs and politics programme. It is broadcast on RTÉ One on Tuesday and Thursday nights between 21:30 and 22:10. It is currently presented by Miriam O'Callaghan, who has presented the programme since its commencement in 1996...
.
Bowman has won two Jacob's Awards
Jacob's Awards
The Jacob's Awards were instituted in December 1962 as the first Irish television awards. Later, they were expanded to include radio. The awards were named after their sponsor, W. & R. Jacob & Co. Ltd., a biscuit manufacturer, and recipients were selected by Ireland's national newspaper television...
for his radio broadcasting, in 1970 and 1981, the latter for his presentation of the current affairs programme, Day by Day. In April 2008, hhe commented on RTÉ television coverage of the state funeral of former President of Ireland
President of Ireland
The President of Ireland is the head of state of Ireland. The President is usually directly elected by the people for seven years, and can be elected for a maximum of two terms. The presidency is largely a ceremonial office, but the President does exercise certain limited powers with absolute...
Patrick Hillery
Patrick Hillery
Patrick John "Paddy" Hillery was an Irish politician and the sixth President of Ireland from 1976 until 1990. First elected at the 1951 general election as a Fianna Fáil Teachta Dála for Clare, he remained in Dáil Éireann until 1973...
.
Bowman chaired the audience-participation political programme Questions and Answers on RTÉ One
RTÉ One
RTÉ One is the flagship television channel of Raidió Teilifís Éireann , and it is the most popular and most watched television channel in Ireland. It was launched as Telefís Éireann on 31 December 1961, it was renamed RTÉ Television in 1966, and it was renamed as RTÉ One upon the launch of RTÉ...
television for 21 years, the final edition airing on 29 June 2009. He is the presenter of Bowman Sunday Morning (previously Bowman Saturday) on radio, a weekly compilation of material from broadcasting archives at home and abroad. He has also co-anchored RTÉ election coverage since the early 1980s.
In May 2011, he fronted RTÉ television coverage of Queen Elizabeth II's visit to the Republic of Ireland
Queen Elizabeth II's visit to the Republic of Ireland
Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh made a state visit to the Republic of Ireland from 17 May to 20 May 2011, at the invitation of the President of Ireland, Mary McAleese....
.
Bowman wrote a history of RTÉ Television called Window and Mirror. RTÉ Television: 1961-2011. It was launched by launched by Taoiseach
Taoiseach
The Taoiseach is the head of government or prime minister of Ireland. The Taoiseach is appointed by the President upon the nomination of Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Oireachtas , and must, in order to remain in office, retain the support of a majority in the Dáil.The current Taoiseach is...
Enda Kenny
Enda Kenny
Enda Kenny is an Irish Fine Gael politician, and has been the Taoiseach since 2011. He has led Fine Gael since 2002. He served as Minister for Tourism and Trade from 1994 to 1997. He is also a two-term Vice President of the European People's Party.Kenny has been a Teachta Dála for Mayo since...
at the National Museum in Dublin on 23 November 2011.
Activism
Bowman was President of The Irish Association for Cultural, Economic and Social RelationsThe Irish Association for Cultural, Economic and Social Relations
The Irish Association for Cultural, Economic and Social Relations was founded in 1938 as an all-Ireland organisation.-References:...
in 1993 and of Comhar, an environmental pressure group, from 1999 until 2004 http://www.enterprise-ireland.com/Innovation/Dr.+John+Bowman.htm.
Personal life
He is married to psychiatrist Eimer Philbin Bowman and they have had four children: Jonathan, Emma, Abie and Daniel. His eldest son Jonathan Philbin BowmanJonathan Philbin Bowman
Jonathan Philbin Bowman was an Irish journalist and radio broadcaster.-Early life and education:Born in Dublin in 1969, Jonathan Philbin Bowman, the son of the historian and broadcaster John Bowman, was educated at Sandford Park School and at Newpark Comprehensive School in Dublin...
a journalist, television and radio presenter died in an accident in March 2000. His daughter Emma Philbin Bowman works in Dublin as a psychotherapist http://independentpsychotherapy.com. His middle son Abie Philbin Bowman
Abie Philbin Bowman
Abie Philbin Bowman is an Irish comedian and journalist. He is the writer/director/performer of "Jesus: The Guantanamo Years" which was staged in 2006 in the Project Arts Centre and the Underbelly as part of the Edinburgh Fringe...
is a columnist http://thedubliner.typepad.com/the_dubliner_magazine/2008/03/what-in-the-nam.html for The Dubliner magazine and a stand up comedian http://www.abielaughs.com, while in 2005 his youngest son Daniel initiated Be Not Afraid; a charity wristband campaign which raised over €80,000 in aid of Turning the Tide of Suicide and the Irish Red Cross http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/1491100/John-Paul-IIs-words-inspire-wristbands.html and later set up a youth-marketing firm, Spark http://www.sparkhq.ie.
Publications
- De Valera and the Ulster question, 1917-1973 (1983) - ISBN 0-19-822776-0 :9780198227762
- Portraits: Belvedere College, Dublin, 1832-1982 (1982) - ISBN 0-7171-1235-7
- Jonathan: Jonathan Philbin Bowman - memories, reflections, tributes (2002) - ISBN 0-9541488-0-0
- The Election Book, Reminiscences of an on-the-run Psephologist (2007) - ISBN 1-84717-031-5