Paddy O'Byrne
Paddy O'Byrne | |
|---|---|
| Born | 8 December 1929 |
| Died | 4 December 2013 (aged 83) |
| Occupation(s) | Radio broadcaster, actor |
| Years active | 1967–2004 |
Paddy O'Byrne (8 December 1929 – 4 December 2013) was an Irish radio broadcaster and actor who became one of the best-known radio personalities in South Africa.[1]
Early life
O'Byrne was born in Killiney, a suburb of Dublin, Ireland. He attended St Mary's College, Dublin, Castleknock College and University College Dublin, where he earned a degree in Legal and Political Science. In 1952, he was called to the Kings Inns. In 1954, he abandoned a legal career in favour of the performing arts, joining the George Mitchell Singers in London but had a "day job" working for an insurance company. During the summer season in Llandudno, he met and later married a singer and dancer from Dublin named Vicky Fitzpatrick. They had three children Jane, John (died 1980) and Dominic.[2]
Career in South Africa
O’Byrne emigrated to South Africa in 1958. In 1961, he won a competition called The Voice of South Africa, thereby gaining a contract with the South African Broadcasting Corporation and a new career.[2] As was commonly the case at the time, both among Irish actors abroad as well as many South Africans in the theatre and broadcast media, he used Received Pronunciation for his professional speaking voice.[3][4][5][6]
In 1980, when the radio station Talk Radio 702 was launched in Johannesburg, he was the first announcer heard on it. He also worked for Radio Today and Radio Veritas, a Roman Catholic station, in Johannesburg and for Fine Music Radio in Cape Town.[2] He also worked for the BBC and Capital Radio in the United Kingdom, during the 1980s.Cite error: A <ref> tag is missing the closing </ref> (see the help page).
In 2010, at the MTN Radio Awards Gala, in Johannesburg, O’Byrne was honoured for his contribution to South African broadcasting, being named one of the inaugural inductees into the Radio Hall of Fame.[2]
Narrator
He narrated two movies from the The Gods Must Be Crazy film series.
Death
Paddy O'Byrne died on 4 December 2013, aged 83, in Mullingar, County Westmeath, Ireland. He was survived by his two surviving children, five grandchildren and two brothers.[7] He was the son of Justice John O'Byrne (1884 – 1954) and Marjorie (née McGuire).[2]
References
- ^ "The death has occurred of Paddy O'BYRNE" (5th December 2013) RIP.ie 'End of Life Matters'
- ^ a b c d e "The late Paddy O’Byrne, a major radio name in two countries, dies in Mullingar" (11 December, 2013) Westmeath Examiner, Mullingar, County Westmeath, Eire
- ^ Emma Clarke (Nov. 2, 2007) The Power and Prejudices of Received Pronunciation
- ^ Prof. David Crystal (March, 2007) Language and Time: RP and its Successors, BBC – Voices
- ^ Stan Carey (November 08, 2011) "RP and Dortspeak", Macmillan Dictionary blog
- ^ Peter Roach (2001) British English: Received Pronunciation, School of Linguistics and Applied Language Studies, University of Reading
- ^ "Veteran broadcaster, popular actor O’Byrne dies" (06 Dec 2013) The Witness, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa
External links
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