Paddy Murray
Encyclopedia
Patrick Thomas Murray in Dublin, Ireland
, is a journalist and writer. He has written for the Evening Herald
, Sunday World
, and spent time as editor of the Sunday Tribune
.
Educated at Blackrock College
, he spent a year attending University College Dublin
(UCD). While there he wrote and performed comedy sketch shows as part of a three-man comedy group, The Machine. His partners in The Machine were Brendan Martin and Billy McGrath. While the trio were writing and rehearsing sketches for a forthcoming show, another student knocked on their door to offer a sketch he had written. The student's name was Dermot Morgan
, who later found fame as the titular character in the television series Father Ted
. Murray and Martin were instrumental in giving Morgan his break on television when they introduced him to the producer and writing team of RTÉ comedy series The Live Mike
.
After leaving UCD, Murray studied journalism at the College of Commerce in Rathmines, Dublin. His first job at the end of the course was with the Evening Herald
in Dublin. Apart from a short time in the UK in the 1970s, Murray has been employed by Independent Newspapers or one of its subsidiaries for most of his professional life. He was editor of the Sunday Tribune
from 2003 until 2005.
Murray's comedy writing credits include: Week Ending
BBC Radio4; The Two Ronnies
and Dave Allen at Large both BBC TV; The Live Mike
, The Late Late Show
, Twink
and many others. He has also written for stage, revue and stand-up comedians.
Murray continues to write a regular column in the Dublin paper, the Sunday World
under the name "Every day is Paddy's day". He also writes a widely-read blog under the title "Paddy Murray: Ireland, the world and beyond". Murray describes himself as a "Partner, father, Christian, rugby fan, music lover, Irishman". He was been appointed editor of a the Blackrock College 150th anniversary book Fearless and Bold, due for publication in November 2009.
In 2005, Murray became a father when his partner Connie gave birth to their daughter Charlotte.
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
, is a journalist and writer. He has written for the Evening Herald
Evening Herald
The Evening Herald is a mid-market tabloid evening newspaper published in Dublin, Ireland by Independent News & Media. It is published Monday-Saturday, and has three editions — City Edition, City Final Edition and National Edition...
, Sunday World
Sunday World
The Sunday World is an Irish newspaper published by Sunday Newspapers Limited, a division of Independent News and Media. It is the largest selling "popular" newspaper in the Republic of Ireland and is also sold in Northern Ireland .-Origins:The Sunday World was Ireland's first tabloid newspaper...
, and spent time as editor of the Sunday Tribune
Sunday Tribune
The Sunday Tribune was an Irish Sunday broadsheet newspaper published by Tribune Newspapers plc. It was edited in its final years by Nóirín Hegarty, who changed both the tone and the physical format of the newspaper from broadsheet to tabloid. Former editors include Conor Brady, Vincent Browne,...
.
Educated at Blackrock College
Blackrock College
Blackrock College is a Catholic voluntary secondary school for boys aged 14–18, located in Williamstown, Blackrock, County Dublin, Ireland. The College was founded by French missionaries in 1860, to act as a school and civil service training centre. Set in of grounds, it has an illustrious...
, he spent a year attending 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...
(UCD). While there he wrote and performed comedy sketch shows as part of a three-man comedy group, The Machine. His partners in The Machine were Brendan Martin and Billy McGrath. While the trio were writing and rehearsing sketches for a forthcoming show, another student knocked on their door to offer a sketch he had written. The student's name was Dermot Morgan
Dermot Morgan
Dermot John Morgan was an Irish comedian, actor and former schoolteacher, who achieved international renown for his roles as Father Ted Crilly in the Channel 4 sitcom Father Ted and a strip club MC in Taffin....
, who later found fame as the titular character in the television series Father Ted
Father Ted
Father Ted is a comedy series set in Ireland that was produced by Hat Trick Productions for British broadcaster Channel 4. Written jointly by Irish writers Arthur Mathews and Graham Linehan and starring a predominantly Irish cast, it originally aired over three series from 21 April 1995 until 1 May...
. Murray and Martin were instrumental in giving Morgan his break on television when they introduced him to the producer and writing team of RTÉ comedy series The Live Mike
The Live Mike
The Live Mike was an Irish comedy variety and chat show presented by Mike Murphy. It was first broadcast on RTÉ 1 on 9 November 1979. The programme featured a candid camera piece by Murphy himself, parody songs and comedy sketches by Adele King, Dermot Morgan and Fran Dempsey, as well as a serious...
.
After leaving UCD, Murray studied journalism at the College of Commerce in Rathmines, Dublin. His first job at the end of the course was with the Evening Herald
Evening Herald
The Evening Herald is a mid-market tabloid evening newspaper published in Dublin, Ireland by Independent News & Media. It is published Monday-Saturday, and has three editions — City Edition, City Final Edition and National Edition...
in Dublin. Apart from a short time in the UK in the 1970s, Murray has been employed by Independent Newspapers or one of its subsidiaries for most of his professional life. He was editor of the Sunday Tribune
Sunday Tribune
The Sunday Tribune was an Irish Sunday broadsheet newspaper published by Tribune Newspapers plc. It was edited in its final years by Nóirín Hegarty, who changed both the tone and the physical format of the newspaper from broadsheet to tabloid. Former editors include Conor Brady, Vincent Browne,...
from 2003 until 2005.
Murray's comedy writing credits include: Week Ending
Week Ending
Week Ending... was a satirical radio current affairs sketch show, first broadcast on BBC Radio 4, usually on Friday evenings. It was devised by writer/producers Simon Brett and David Hatch, and was originally hosted by Nationwide presenter Michael Barratt.The show's title was always announced as...
BBC Radio4; The Two Ronnies
The Two Ronnies
The Two Ronnies is a British sketch show that aired on BBC1 from 1971 to 1987. It featured the double act of Ronnie Barker and Ronnie Corbett, the "Two Ronnies" of the title.-Origins:...
and Dave Allen at Large both BBC TV; The Live Mike
The Live Mike
The Live Mike was an Irish comedy variety and chat show presented by Mike Murphy. It was first broadcast on RTÉ 1 on 9 November 1979. The programme featured a candid camera piece by Murphy himself, parody songs and comedy sketches by Adele King, Dermot Morgan and Fran Dempsey, as well as a serious...
, 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...
, Twink
Adele King
Adele King is an Irish entertainer better known as Twink from her time as a member of a group called Maxi, Dick and Twink which was a girl band in Ireland in the late 1960s and 1970s. She is Chloë Agnew's mother....
and many others. He has also written for stage, revue and stand-up comedians.
Murray continues to write a regular column in the Dublin paper, the Sunday World
Sunday World
The Sunday World is an Irish newspaper published by Sunday Newspapers Limited, a division of Independent News and Media. It is the largest selling "popular" newspaper in the Republic of Ireland and is also sold in Northern Ireland .-Origins:The Sunday World was Ireland's first tabloid newspaper...
under the name "Every day is Paddy's day". He also writes a widely-read blog under the title "Paddy Murray: Ireland, the world and beyond". Murray describes himself as a "Partner, father, Christian, rugby fan, music lover, Irishman". He was been appointed editor of a the Blackrock College 150th anniversary book Fearless and Bold, due for publication in November 2009.
In 2005, Murray became a father when his partner Connie gave birth to their daughter Charlotte.