Fionnuala Sweeney
Encyclopedia
Fionnuala Sweeney is an Irish
anchorwoman and reporter for CNN International
. She is an anchor and correspondent, based at the network's headquarters in Atlanta. Sweeney is the primary substitute anchor for Isha Sesay
in the 10 a.m. ET
/4 p.m CET
edition of International Desk, the fast-paced international news bulletin. Previously, she was based in London
, where she anchored World One, prior to World News Europe and International Correspondents. She is known around Europe for hosting Eurovision Song Contest 1993
from Millstreet
, County Cork
.
, Northern Ireland
, where she lived with her family until she was 12, when they moved to Dublin. She spent many school holidays in Glendowan, County Donegal
and she still visits Donegal regularly.
Sweeney studied at St. Dominic's High School
, before moving to Dublin, where she was a pupil at Alexandra College
. She later studied Journalism at the National Institute for Higher Education (now DCU), and she graduated with a bachelor's degree in English and History and a Higher Diploma in Education at the University College Dublin
.
Sweeney was also a music student at the School of Music, in Belfast, and later at Royal Irish Academy of Music
, in Dublin. She studied Speech and Drama in Belfast, finishing her studies at the Betty Ann Norton School of Speech and Drama, in Dublin.
as a newscaster in 1988.
. She became famous as the host of the 1993 Eurovision Song Contest
, which was seen by 350 million people.
The same year, she moved to CNN, where she worked as a writer and anchor at CNN International Headquarters in Atlanta, before becoming a full-time anchor and re-basing to London. She frequently reports from the Middle East
as well. Her most recent notable assignment there was during the hospitalization of Ariel Sharon
.
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...
anchorwoman and reporter for CNN International
CNN International
CNN International is an international English language television network that carries news, current affairs, politics, opinions, and business programming worldwide. CNN is one of the world's largest news organizations. It is owned by Time Warner, and is affiliated with CNN, which is mainly...
. She is an anchor and correspondent, based at the network's headquarters in Atlanta. Sweeney is the primary substitute anchor for Isha Sesay
Isha Sesay
Isha Sesay is a British journalist of Sierra Leonean descent, and an anchor for CNN International. Based at the network's world headquarters in Atlanta, she anchors BackStory, the program that is revealing a side of the news that is rarely seen. She is also the host and reporter of Inside Africa, a...
in the 10 a.m. ET
ET
- Film and television:*E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, a 1982 film*Entertainment Tonight, a daily television entertainment news show-Gaming:*E.T...
/4 p.m CET
CET
CET may mean:* Certified Electronics Technician, a service professional designation* Carbon emissions trading* Carrier Ethernet Transport* Center for Environmental Technology, a radio receiver designer....
edition of International Desk, the fast-paced international news bulletin. Previously, she was based in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, where she anchored World One, prior to World News Europe and International Correspondents. She is known around Europe for hosting Eurovision Song Contest 1993
Eurovision Song Contest 1993
The Eurovision Song Contest 1993 was the 38th Eurovision Song Contest and was held on 15 May 1993 in Millstreet, County Cork, Ireland. The presenter was Fionnuala Sweeney. Niamh Kavanagh was the winner of this Eurovision for Ireland with the song, "In Your Eyes"...
from Millstreet
Millstreet
Millstreet is a town in north County Cork, Ireland with a population of approximately 1,500. It is located at the foot of Clara Mountain. The town's Catholic church is dedicated to St. Patrick. Since October 1985, the town has been twinned with Pommerit-le-Vicomte in Brittany, France...
, County Cork
County Cork
County Cork is a county in Ireland. It is located in the South-West Region and is also part of the province of Munster. It is named after the city of Cork . Cork County Council is the local authority for the county...
.
Biography
Sweeney was born in BelfastBelfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
, Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
, where she lived with her family until she was 12, when they moved to Dublin. She spent many school holidays in Glendowan, 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...
and she still visits Donegal regularly.
Sweeney studied at St. Dominic's High School
St. Dominic's High School
St Dominic's Grammar School for Girls, formerly St Dominic's High School, is a Catholic grammar school for girls aged 11-18 , in Belfast, Northern Ireland..-History:...
, before moving to Dublin, where she was a pupil at Alexandra College
Alexandra College
Alexandra College is a private, single-sex school located in Milltown, Dublin, Ireland. It serves girls from ages 4 to 19 as boarding or day pupils. The school is one of the most prestigious in Ireland and ranks highly in Leaving Certificate results tables...
. She later studied Journalism at the National Institute for Higher Education (now DCU), and she graduated with a bachelor's degree in English and History and a Higher Diploma in Education at the University College Dublin
University College Dublin
University College Dublin ) - formally known as University College Dublin - National University of Ireland, Dublin is the Republic of Ireland's largest, and Ireland's second largest, university, with over 1,300 faculty and 17,000 students...
.
Sweeney was also a music student at the School of Music, in Belfast, and later at Royal Irish Academy of Music
Royal Irish Academy of Music
The Royal Irish Academy of Music is a linked college of Dublin City University located in Dublin, Ireland.It was founded in 1848 by a group of music enthusiasts and moved to its present address in Westland Row in 1871. The following year it was granted the right to use the title "Royal"...
, in Dublin. She studied Speech and Drama in Belfast, finishing her studies at the Betty Ann Norton School of Speech and Drama, in Dublin.
Early career
The first place Sweeney's voice was heard was as a newscaster on Chris Cary's Energy Power 103 FM where she was a co-presenter on "Wake Up With Energy" along with Pat Courtenay and Bob Gallico. Sweeney's on air name at Energy was "Lisa Moore". Like most of Ireland's successful broadcasters she got her broadcasting career break on the Superpirates which led to work at RTÉ 2FMRTÉ 2fm
RTÉ 2fm, or 2FM as it is more commonly referred to, is Raidió Teilifís Éireann's second national radio station. It broadcasts popular music programming aimed at a young Irish audience.- History :...
as a newscaster in 1988.
Career
A television journalist, Sweeney spent five years at RTÉRTE
RTÉ is the abbreviation for Raidió Teilifís Éireann, the public broadcasting service of the Republic of Ireland.RTE may also refer to:* Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, 25th Prime Minister of Turkey...
. She became famous as the host of the 1993 Eurovision Song Contest
Eurovision Song Contest 1993
The Eurovision Song Contest 1993 was the 38th Eurovision Song Contest and was held on 15 May 1993 in Millstreet, County Cork, Ireland. The presenter was Fionnuala Sweeney. Niamh Kavanagh was the winner of this Eurovision for Ireland with the song, "In Your Eyes"...
, which was seen by 350 million people.
The same year, she moved to CNN, where she worked as a writer and anchor at CNN International Headquarters in Atlanta, before becoming a full-time anchor and re-basing to London. She frequently reports from the Middle East
Middle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
as well. Her most recent notable assignment there was during the hospitalization of Ariel Sharon
Ariel Sharon
Ariel Sharon is an Israeli statesman and retired general, who served as Israel’s 11th Prime Minister. He has been in a permanent vegetative state since suffering a stroke on 4 January 2006....
.