Noel Curran
Encyclopedia
Noel Curran is a radio and television producer and current Director-General of RTÉ
. He joined Raidió Teilifís Éireann
(RTÉ) as a reporter in 1992 after a period working as a business journalist for Business & Finance magazine. He later produced both Kenny Live
and The Late Late Show
. He produced Eurovision Song Contest 1997
, held in Dublin and presented by Ronan Keating
and Carrie Crowley
. He later married Eimear Quinn
, the 1996 winner
.
Curran left RTÉ in 2000 to join an independent production company but returned as editor of current affairs, where he helped launch the Prime Time
Investigates series of documentaries. In 2003, he was appointed as managing director of TV -- and with an increase in the licence fee he was in command of a €100 million budget. He was appointed Director-General of RTÉ
from 1 February 2011 on 9 November 2010, succeeding Cathal Goan
who had decided to retire after Goan's first term that ended at end January 2011.
, County Monaghan
. Noel Curran's experience in Irish media goes from the print industry to senior management level in broadcasting, into the higher level with diverse production experience in Current Affairs and Entertainment programmes in addition to work in the independent production sector. He studied Communications in Dublin City University
and joined RTÉ in 1992 as a reporter and went on to produce and become editor in RTÉ Television
. He was executive producer of Eurovision Song Contest 1997 for RTÉ Television
and completed two terms as Editor of Current Affairs in the News Division, where he established the Prime Time
Investigates programme strand. He joined RTÉ's Executive as Managing Director of Television in 2003.
In March 2010, Curran left RTÉ to pursue a consultancy and other private business interests before being interviewed and then appointed DG by the RTÉ Board effective from 1st February 2011 in November 2010.
Speaking at his alma mater
Dublin City University in October 2011, Curran admitted RTÉ had paid its presenters too much money and “We may, during this process of renegotiation lose some of our most talented and loved presenters to our competitors. That would be very regrettable, but if some choose to leave, we will adjust, find new voices and new ways to deliver services and programmes." He described the broadcasting of "Mission to Prey
", the 2011 Aoife Kavanagh
programme that defamed Fr. Kevin Reynolds
by falsely claiming he had raped a woman and fathered a child in Kenya
, as "one of the gravest editorial mistakes ever made" at RTÉ.
Director-General of RTÉ
The Director-General of Raidió Teilifís Éireann is chief executive and editor in chief of RTÉ. The current Director-General is Noel Curran, and is the most senior person in the Public Service Broadcaster, Noel Curran replaced Cathal Goan in the role in February 2011.The RTÉ Board appoints the...
. He joined 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) as a reporter in 1992 after a period working as a business journalist for Business & Finance magazine. He later produced both Kenny Live
Kenny Live
Kenny Live is an Irish weekly chat show on RTÉ that was hosted by Pat Kenny. The show debuted in 1988 and aired every Saturday night, except during the summer months, directly after the main evening news...
and The Late Late Show
The Late Late Show
The Late Late Show, sometimes referred to as The Late Late, or in some cases by the acronym LLS, is the world's longest-running chat show by the same broadcaster and the official flagship television programme of Irish broadcasting company RTÉ...
. He produced 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....
, held in Dublin and presented by 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...
and Carrie Crowley
Carrie Crowley
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...
. He later married Eimear Quinn
Eimear Quinn
Eimear Quinn is an Irish singer. Dublin born Eimear joined her first choir at four years of age and at fifteen she started formal vocal training at the College of Music under the tutelage of Jody Beggan. Eimear later graduated with a degree in Music from National University of Ireland Maynooth...
, the 1996 winner
Eurovision Song Contest 1996
The Eurovision Song Contest 1996 was the 41st Eurovision Song Contest and was held on 18 May 1996 in Oslo Spektrum in Oslo, Norway. The presenters were Ingvild Bryn and Morten Harket. Harket, lead singer of a-ha, opened the show with a performance of his single "Heaven's Not For Saints". Eimear...
.
Curran left RTÉ in 2000 to join an independent production company but returned as editor of current affairs, where he helped launch the 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...
Investigates series of documentaries. In 2003, he was appointed as managing director of TV -- and with an increase in the licence fee he was in command of a €100 million budget. He was appointed Director-General of RTÉ
Director-General of RTÉ
The Director-General of Raidió Teilifís Éireann is chief executive and editor in chief of RTÉ. The current Director-General is Noel Curran, and is the most senior person in the Public Service Broadcaster, Noel Curran replaced Cathal Goan in the role in February 2011.The RTÉ Board appoints the...
from 1 February 2011 on 9 November 2010, succeeding Cathal Goan
Cathal Goan
Cathal Goan is a radio and television producer. He played a main role in the launch of TG4. He was appointed Director-General of RTÉ in 2003, announcing his departure in 2010....
who had decided to retire after Goan's first term that ended at end January 2011.
Career
Curran was born in CarrickmacrossCarrickmacross
Carrickmacross or Carrickmacros is a town in County Monaghan, Ireland. The town and environs had a population of 4,387 according to the 2006 census, making it the second largest town in the county. The town won the prestigious European Entente Florale Silver Medal Award. It is a market town which...
, County Monaghan
County Monaghan
County Monaghan 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 Monaghan. Monaghan County Council is the local authority for the county...
. Noel Curran's experience in Irish media goes from the print industry to senior management level in broadcasting, into the higher level with diverse production experience in Current Affairs and Entertainment programmes in addition to work in the independent production sector. He studied Communications in Dublin City University
Dublin City University
Dublin City University is a university situated between Glasnevin, Santry, Ballymun and Whitehall on the Northside of Dublin in Ireland...
and joined RTÉ in 1992 as a reporter and went on to produce and become editor in RTÉ Television
RTÉ Television
RTÉ Television is a department of Ireland's state broadcaster Raidió Teilifís Éireann.The first channel to broadcast was Telefís Éireann which began broadcasting on 31 December 1961...
. He was executive producer of Eurovision Song Contest 1997 for RTÉ Television
RTÉ Television
RTÉ Television is a department of Ireland's state broadcaster Raidió Teilifís Éireann.The first channel to broadcast was Telefís Éireann which began broadcasting on 31 December 1961...
and completed two terms as Editor of Current Affairs in the News Division, where he established the 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...
Investigates programme strand. He joined RTÉ's Executive as Managing Director of Television in 2003.
In March 2010, Curran left RTÉ to pursue a consultancy and other private business interests before being interviewed and then appointed DG by the RTÉ Board effective from 1st February 2011 in November 2010.
Speaking at his alma mater
Alma mater
Alma mater , pronounced ), was used in ancient Rome as a title for various mother goddesses, especially Ceres or Cybele, and in Christianity for the Virgin Mary.-General term:...
Dublin City University in October 2011, Curran admitted RTÉ had paid its presenters too much money and “We may, during this process of renegotiation lose some of our most talented and loved presenters to our competitors. That would be very regrettable, but if some choose to leave, we will adjust, find new voices and new ways to deliver services and programmes." He described the broadcasting of "Mission to Prey
Mission to Prey
"Mission to Prey" is the title of an episode of the RTÉ programme Prime Time Investigates broadcast in May 2011. It was presented by RTÉ's Aoife Kavanagh....
", the 2011 Aoife Kavanagh
Aoife Kavanagh
Aoife Kavanagh is a journalist with Raidió Teilifís Éireann , the Irish national radio and television broadcaster. She contributed to the RTÉ programmes Morning Ireland and Prime Time Investigates . Kavanagh made national news headlines herself in 2011 when she was at the centre of a controversy...
programme that defamed Fr. Kevin Reynolds
Fr. Kevin Reynolds
Fr. Kevin Reynolds is an Irish Catholic priest, falsely alleged by Raidió Teilifís Éireann in its Prime Time programme, to have raped and impregnated a minor Kenyan woman named Veneraanda and fathering a child called Sheila, during his time as a missionary...
by falsely claiming he had raped a woman and fathered a child in Kenya
Kenya
Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
, as "one of the gravest editorial mistakes ever made" at RTÉ.